Several Lumpkin athletes signed to play at the collegiate level following their successful seasons at LCHS.
Nicole Limehouse, Mary Mullinax, Lexi Pierce, and Kate Jackson put pen to paper this school year as they set their sights on working toward a bright future.
Limehouse earned her way to an athletic scholarship following her time on the Lady Indians’ soccer team.
After a tenure with the Indians, she signed with Centre College out of Danville, Kentucky.
Limehouse reflected on how the payoff felt after the years of strenuous hard work.
“It is very exciting. It keeps me motivated and optimistic that I can also have successful years at Centre.”
When asked what piqued her interest in the Centre College, Limehouse pointed to the various opportunities the school provides.
“Centre has very strong academics and athletics and a great travel abroad program for student-athletes,” she said.
She looks to pursue a promising future in being a dentist or veterinarian following a degree in biology.
Limehouse continues to look ahead to future success.
“I’m looking forward to joining a new family and making new chances for myself to succeed at a different level,” she said.
Limehouse quickly praised her parents for helping motivate her through school.
“I will always thank my mom and dad for helping and pushing me through every obstacle I’ve gone through my soccer career and always supporting me no matter what.”
MULLINAX
Three teammates on the State Champion girls basketball team will now have the chance to prove their talent in college.
Mullinax, Lumpkin’s co-player of the year last season is taking her skill set to Emory University.
She says she feels great about reaching the college level of sports.
“The achievement feels great. Whenever I set a goal for myself, I work really hard to make it happen, and playing on the collegiate level was one of my biggest goals,” Mullinax said. “Now that I will play at Emory next year, I can say I have completed that goal. All the hard work paid off.”
She was quick to praise those who helped her reach this accomplishment.
“I give all glory to God as He is the reason I am where I am today,” she added. “I also give credit to my parents because they are my number one supporters. They always stood by my side through my highs and lows, urging me to reach for the stars.”
She also credited her coaches and teammates.
“I also want to thank my coaches—Coach [David] Dowse, Coach Kristi, Coach Webb, and so many others. Without them, I wouldn’t be the player I am today. I also credit my amazing teammates and friends, who have been by my side through it all,” she said.
Mullinax looks to earn a degree in biomedical engineering or pre-law. She says she is looking forward to the school’s several opportunities.
“I am looking forward to meeting new people and friends. Emory has so many different opportunities, and I’m excited to learn more about them,” she said. “I am also looking forward to traveling with the basketball team as our region is up north, so we get to fly.”
Her tips for younger athletes hoping to get into college?
“I would advise younger athletes to dream big and always believe in yourself,” she said. “Be the hardest worker, stay true to yourself, trust God, and everything will work out.”
JACKSON
Lady Indians’ rebounding machine Jackson signed with Emmanuel College, and she says she is split between choosing two promising career paths.
“I’m still a little uncertain on what I would like to be,” she said. “I am deciding between an Anesthesiologist Assistant or a Teacher.”
Jackson said both are rewarding careers in their own ways.
With several of her teammates getting the chance to play in college, Jackson pointed out the LCHS girls basketball team’s hard work that played a big role in their success.
“Our team always works super hard in practices, taking every drill very seriously. My team was very special these past years, and each girl on it was very talented,” she said. “I’m really happy that some will also be continuing their basketball careers, and I’ll be able to play some of them in the future.”
PIERCE
Lumpkin’s talented point guard Pierce decided to remain in the area for college, as she signed with the University of North Georgia.
She says staying in the area was a significant factor in making that decision.
“I love my home town and UNG is a great academic school,” Pierce said. “And they have, in my opinion, one of the best basketball programs. Coach Buffy Burson is so great. She sets high standards and believes in accountability, and those are the characteristics that are very important to me.”
Pierce describes her sense of accomplishment with reaching the collegiate level.
“I have always dreamt of playing at the college level, but to actually achieve that goal is an indescribable feeling I can’t really put into words,” she said.
She wants to become an elementary teacher after earning a degree in early childhood education.
Pierce looks ahead to what she hopes to achieve at UNG.
“I want to help win a national championship with the UNG women’s basketball program,” she said. “I also want to get the best education I can to become the best teacher possible so I can help others once I am finished.”