8 MGCCC teams earn NJCAA Academic awards

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast had eight teams earn NJCAA Academic Awards in 2024-25, including three in the top 10 of their respective sports.

Teams that finish with a 3.30 GPA or better receive NJCAA Academic Team of the Year Honorable Mention recognition.

Coach Sam Blackburn's women's tennis team had the highest GPA among Gulf Coast teams, finishing with a 3.79 GPA. They tied for third-best in the country and were 12^th in the NJCAA championship after Region 23 and MACCC runner-up finishes.

Softball had a 3.63 GPA while returning to the playoffs. The Bulldogs went 36-19.

Coach Ryan Joiner's women's soccer team finished ninth in the country with a 3.62 GPA. They went 9-5-1 with another trip to the postseason.

Coach Chris Handy's men's soccer team had a 3.54 GPA and went to the NJCAA Championship in Huntsville, Ala. They finished as MACCC runner-up and tied for the fifth-best GPA in the country.

Blackburn's men's tennis team also had a 3.54 GPA on the way to setting a new school and MACCC record for top finish at the NJCAA Championship. They came back from South Carolina as the ninth-best team in the country. 

Coach Zach Allen's first baseball team posted a 3.45 GPA after winning 12 more games than the season before. The Bulldogs went 38-19 and missed the championship round of the Region 23 Tournament by one game.

Coach Brad Thornton's golf squad repeated as NJCAA champions and repeated as Academic Award winners. They had a 3.27 GPA. 

Coach Hope Adams's women's basketball team posted a 3.24 GPA while going back to the playoffs.

For more information on MGCCC's 12 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.