State Games of Mississippi honors athletes of the year

By By Ryan Satcher / staff writer
Aug. 22, 2004
The State Games of Mississippi announced the 2004 BellSouth Sportsmen of the Year awards on Saturday night during a banquet at Quality Inn.
Deedra Sims of Vicksburg and Jack Mallette of Madison were chosen out of 17 nominees as the 2004 State Games Athletes of the Year.
Seventeen athletes were also named as Sportsmen of the Year in 12 different State Games events.
The two BellSouth Athletes of the Year were nominated by coaches, officials, volunteers, spectators and other athletes for the event based on participation, sportsmanship and achievements.
The two athletes will work with the State Games of Mississippi throughout the year to promote amateur athletics and will also carry the torch in the 2005 State Games of Mississippi opening ceremony.
Sims, a 27-year-old, won the award for her participation in the Dressage event in the 2004 State Games.
This was her first year to compete in the State Games. She was unable to participate in past years because of Multiple Sclerosis.
She was able to compete this year after Hippotherapy, which is an unconventional form of physical therapy which uses the motion of a walking horse to stimulate a rider to enhance balance, posture, mobility, coordination and strength.
"She has a very sportsmanlike attitude and always congratulates everyone after their ride," said Dressage Commissioner and 2001 Athlete of the Year Wanda McAlister. "Deedra is always striving to better herself, and even with her challenges she always remains determined."
According to Sims, being chosen for the award was a great honor.
"I feel great," said Sims. "It is a blessing. I love my horse and I enjoy participating in the State Games."
Mallette, a 44-year-old Masters Swimmer and Track and Field participant, has competed in 10 of the 13 State Games and won his 100th medal while participating in the Track and Field event this year.
Mallette has not only enjoyed great success during the State Games but has also helped make the two events more successful.
"Jack displays a positive attitude and always has great remarks about the State Games of Mississippi," said masters swimming commissioner Wade Heggie. "Jack's love for fun, friendly competition is seen by all involved and he is an inspiration to his fellow peers."
"I'm quite shocked to be honest," said Mallette. "I do this because I love it. I've gotten a lot of people to come here with me and I really want to see the State Games movement develop into a serious statewide venture. There are people around the state that are unaware of it so I try to get two or three people to come with me every year."
Mallette picked up 15 gold medals by winning six track and field golds and nine swimming gold medals.
According to Mallette, he is thinking about adding a few events next year.
"Next year I'm adding at least three more sports," said Mallette. "I've kind of turned into a State Games junkie. I'm going to start slowing down after I get 500 medals which will probably be when I'm in my 80s."
Other nominees and recipients of Event Athletes of the Year were Daniel Roberts and Sonya Trosper in Archery; Tyrone McAlpine and Denise Rutledge in Bowling; Joseph Ivy in Canoe/Kayak; Scott Crenshaw and Judy Crowson in 5K Road Race; Darryl Bryan in Martial Arts; Joe Morrow in Powerlifting; Nicholas Dixon in Stickball; Herb Bennett in Table Tennis; Lynn Rogers in Masters Swimming; Aaron Ng and Maggie Vaughan in Youth Swimming and Scott Therrell in Waterskiing.
"We are very proud of all this year's nominees for their success and hard work," said April Luke, Executive Director of the State Games of Mississippi. "It is a huge accomplishment to be nominated out of over 5,000 athletes."