James Hayes was looking for the right fit.
More than two years ago, Hayes stood nearly 5-foot-8 and weighed around 150 pounds and realized there weren’t many outside linebackers that size who made their presence felt on the football field.
Wanting to stay active and to find a sport that suited his skill and his stature, Hayes started to play pickup soccer with his sister, Jessika. Hayes didn’t know much about the game, but he felt his speed and competitiveness would be assets, so he tried out for the Columbus High School boys soccer team and started to learn about his new love.
On Thursday, Hayes reached a destination he never imagined when he signed a National Letter of Intent to play soccer at Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia.
“I was not expecting to get to this level and skill where I would get a chance to sign,” Hayes said. “I was pretty happy today. It was a surreal moment. I am proud of myself for all of the hard work I have put in. I am glad it paid off.”
Hayes is in his third year playing for coach Ben Moore. He spent the first part of his high school career as a left fullback. This season, Moore said the Falcons are using Hayes in a much more versatile role as a sweeper, center midfielder, or as a forward. Moore said Hayes has emerged as one of the team’s most skilled players and best leaders. He said Hayes helped organize training sessions in the offseason to help keep everyone sharp and recruited players to join the squad for the 2013-14 season.
“James Hayes is a very versatile player,” Moore said. “He is a team leader. He is great kid. He has matured within the last two years tremendously. I am extremely proud of him. He has been determined and stuck with it. The Rangers are lucky to have a passionate, skilled player like James.”
Moore referred to Hayes as a “great” or “good” kid numerous times when asked to comment about him. He praised Hayes for coming back from a knee injury that forced him to miss part of one season. He also credited Hayes for working for hours on his own to hone his skills and to make himself into a better player.
On Thursday, he couldn’t help but smile when Hayes told him he never would have imagined soccer would help him get a chance to play a sport in college.
“The sky is the limit like that for a kid whose work ethic is top notch,” Moore said. “If he is willing to put in the time and the effort, which he is, the sky is the limit. I foresee him playing Division III or Division II, if he likes. Putting in the time and effort and getting grades with a kid like that, I don’t see any problems.”
Moore also feels Hayes will be able to make the transition to college soccer because he is passionate about the game and he has matured into a more vocal leader. He acknowledges Hayes sometimes wears his emotions on his sleeve and is eager to play more of an attacking role to help the Falcons score, but he welcomes that competitive spirit because it motivates the others to push themselves to be their best.
Hayes thanked his sister, Jessika, for being his “biggest inspiration.” He admits he wasn’t very good on the ball when he first started to play, but he said he stayed with the games and attended pickup games at the Joe Cook Complex with Jessika and one of her friends, Landon Williams, who organized the games. Jessika has moved on to college, so James has had to take on the role of ring leader for those games. It is something he has enjoyed doing because he knows work like that is part of the reason he was able to realize a goal Thursday he never imagined would come his way.
“I have worked hard to get better,” Hayes said. “There were so many times me and (Jessika) would play in the backyard. Then two to three times a week we could get people together and just play. That helped a lot. I wouldn’t where I am today without all of that.
“I feel I have come a tremendous way, a very, very long way since when I started. I am satisfied with it, but I am going to keep progressing on it. I am happy to be where I am skill wise and to have the knowledge I have. I am pretty proud of myself.”
Hayes understands he will have to make a similar progression if he wants to compete at the junior college level. He relishes the challenge because he knows his work ethic helped him become a force on the field in soccer when a lack of size made it difficult for him to do that in football.
“I feel I will be able to make the transition well because now we play in freezing temperatures and next year we will be playing in the heat,” Hayes said. “I know I am going to work extremely hard and play against people at the top of their game who are going to be strong and fast and have great skill. They are going to be people that made it to college for a reason. … It is going to be motivation thinking about all of the dudes who made it up there who are going to be taller, stronger, and faster, and that is going to keep me working to make myself stronger and faster so I can compete with them.”
Basketball
n Jackson Academy 40, Starkville Academy 33: At Jackson, Sallie Kate Richardson had 17 points, six rebounds, and three blocked shots Thursday, but the Lady Volunteers lost on the road.
Nora Kathryn Carroll had eight points and five rebounds, and Taylor Campbell added six for Starkville Academy.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor.
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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