Poolplayers set to go to Las Vegas

By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
June 18, 2004
Five poolplayers from Collinsville can begin making plans for their trip to Las Vegas in late August after they rallied to win the American Poolplayers Association Meridian City Finals last weekend.
Wade Spears, Andrew Bateman, Drew Spears, Brandon Simmons and Mike Reid compose the Hooters team which came from the losers' bracket to win the tournament at Shooter's Billiard Center.
Puff's Dragons from Hattiesburg was undefeated going into the finals. The first team championship match was tied 2-2 with the last individual match going double hill before Hooters won.
Hooters won the second championship match 3-0 around 3 a.m. on Monday to secure the trip to the APA National Team Championships at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Vegas, Aug. 20-28.
Penny Goss and Greg Hayes won the Jack and Jill Tournament. James Hickman won the local qualifier for persons rated 4 or 5 and will go to a regional in November. Tonio Martinez won the Top Gun championship.
Chance receives CoSIDA money
Cassie Chance, a graduate of Northeast Lauderdale and East Mississippi Community College, is one of four students nationally to receive College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) scholarships.
Chance, a senior at Mississippi State University this fall, received one of the organization's two Undergraduate Scholarships, which provide $2,500 apiece.
To be eligible, candidates must maintain a 3.00 cumulative grade-point-average and express an interest to pursue a career in sports information.
Chance recently served as an intern for the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, writing stories for that group's Fastpitch Delivery while also conducting weekly polls and aiding in Web site production.
She is a volunteer with the Mississippi State athletic media relations office, working on the statistical crews for basketball, volleyball, and football.
Chance also worked as a media relations assistant for the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Final Four last April and previously spent two years as sports information director at EMCC.
Chance has a 3.23 GPA as a communications major and expects to graduate in December 2005.
Surles qualifies for nationals
Fran Surles of Meridian qualified for the National High School Rodeo Association finals in Gillette, Wyo., this summer with a fourth-place showing in the Mississippi High School Rodeo finals at Jackson.
Rowdy Lee of Poplarville and Erika Johnson of Lena were named overall cowboy and cowgirl.
Leftovers from the Hully
Pearl River Community College men's basketball coach Richard Mathis recalled one of his favorite Steve Hull stories during last week's benefit golf tournament at Dancing Rabbit Golf Club.