Chris Webber wasn’t going to let Billy Thomas leave McAllister’s without asking the question the had been nagging him all summer.
“So when do we start practice,” Webber asked Thomas, who was sitting in his car in the drive-thru waiting for his food.
Thomas, who coached the Columbus Christian Academy girls track and field team at the end of the 2014-15 school year, didn’t have an answer. He didn’t even know if there was enough interest at the school to field a team, so he encouraged Webber to talk to his friends and see if the interest was there to have a team.
Months later, Thomas and Webber could look back at the encounter and smile because it just might have been the chance meeting that helped make history.
On Monday, Webber and Elijah Carlstrom finished first and second to lead a strong pack finish that helped the CCA boys cross country team win the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class AA title at Choctaw Trails in Jackson. Webber, a sophomore, won the 5-Kilometer race with a time of 19 minutes, 27.86 seconds. Carlstrom, another sophomore, took second (19:46.35). While those two times set the pace, the Rams used strong finishes by its third through fifth runners (Dawson Shaw, Dakota Shaw, and Nate Parker) to claim the team title with 32 points in the seven-team field.
“It is crazy,” Webber said of the notion that a first-year program won the state title. “The fact that we grabbed a bunch of guys together and had a few practices, I thought it was crazy that we were able to win the state title. With no seniors, we are all returning, so I guess I hope to get two state championships in a row.”
The championship is the school’s first in MAIS competition. Thomas believes the school has been a part of the state’s private school organization for about 10 years.
Dawson Shaw (21:36.21), Dakota Shaw (21:44.98), and Parker (22:19.86) eased Thomas’ anxiety when he saw them round the corner and attack the final 400-meter uphill climb. He also praised the effort of Jack Baker (22:59) and Tyler Looney (23:11) for finishing sixth and seventh and displacing runners from other teams in the final standings to ensure the team was going to take the title in its first year of existence.
Dawson Shaw, who is the quarterback on the school’s football team, and Jaden Bennett are the team’s only juniors. Without any seniors, Thomas said everyone figures to return next season, which should give the squad of four middle-schoolers a chance to be competitive for years to come.
In fact, Thomas said the boys basketball team was practicing at the school when the cross country squad returned to Steens. He said several members of the boys basketball team said they were going to join the team next year when they learned the cross country team had won the state title. That is gratifying news for Thomas, who is president of the CCA School Board and has coached several sports at the school throughout the years. He said the school will add a girls cross country team next school year and a golf team later this school year. That news comes on the heels of the decision to add boys soccer last school year and a fast-pitch softball team earlier this year.
Thomas said he always has been willing to create opportunities for all student-athletes to have an opportunity to compete. He said he understands all boys might not want to play football and boys basketball, two of the most successful sports at the school, so he was excited about the chance to create a cross country team. He had no idea that choice would result in the school’s first MAIS crown.
“We competed in a few meets (as a team) during the season, and Chris and Elijah were the front-runners for us,” Thomas said. “Every meet we competed in we were running against Class AAAA and Class AAA teams. Even when we would go to public school meets, those meets were teams from all classes. I didn’t know how we were going to do when it came to our class. I felt pretty good about it because we had done well in the few meets we had, but you never know.”
Thomas said Webber has helped motivate the rest of the team. He said Webber’s goal is to compete in cross country in college, so he has worked hard, followed a diet, and has been “all in.” His example has motivated Carlstrom, who attended several other meets with Webber where they competed as individuals.
“(Webber) has been a really good example for the rest of the team,” Thomas said. “Elijah has become a better runner being friends with Chris. They have become friends and the other guys have followed through.”
Still, Thomas realized two runners weren’t going to win a title for CCA. Webber wasn’t nearly as optimistic, saying he didn’t think the Rams had a chance to win the championship. He felt the team was just going to show up and “do our thing,” but he and his teammates were in for a surprise at the end of the race.
“I was really surprised how we did,” said Webber, who also a member of the school’s boys soccer and track and field teams. His best time for the season is 17:59. “I am proud all of the guys. We had four guys in the top 10, so I am real proud of them.”
Elliot Baker (24th, 23:11), Jonathan Peal (30th, 24:26.83), and Bennett (44th, 26:04) rounded out Columbus Christian’s 10-member contingent.
n In Class AAA, the Starkville Academy girls placed sixth out of 12 teams in the two-mile race, while the boys finished sixth out of 10 teams in the 5-K.
Jordan Crowley finished second overall (13:19.19) to lead the girls. Sadie Strickland (15th, 14:37.16), Ainsley Ham (35th, 15:18.22), Lane Spradling (36th, 15:21.11), Emma Woodward (80th, 18:16.86), Sarah Morgan Pellum (96th, 19:59.67), and Gracie Parrish (99th, 20:53.98) rounded out the team’s competitors.
In the boys race, Aiden Williard finished third (18:31.25). Bates Bennett (16th, 20:30.13), Nathan Pollan (40th, 23:04.73), Garrett Smith (51st, 23:45.89), Pierce Fondren (60th, 24:49.54), Rives Clark (62nd, 25:00.46), Jack Wiggins (68th, 25:30.16), Kyle Hubbard (85th, 29:17), Michael Winfield (88th, 30:01.13), and Will Christiansen (93rd, 38:17.98) rounded out the competitors.
Heritage Academy’s Nick Hairston finished 53rd with a time of 24:01.96.
Basketball
n Bowling Green (La.) 58, Starkville Academy 28: the Buccaneers outscored the Lady Volunteers 36-10 in the second en route to their victory Tuesday.
Bonner Hughes had eight points and four rebounds to lead Starkville Academy. Sarah Pellum had six points, Adrienne Futral had five points and three steals, while Maris Moorehead had four rebounds.
On Monday, Starkville Academy lost to East Rankin Academy 41-26. Hughes had five points and three steals. Futral had five points, while Milla Davis had seven rebounds.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.