MGCCC will cut ribbon on new soccer complex at Meet The Team night

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College will hold its Meet The Team night on Aug. 23 at the newly renovated Soccer Complex.

It will be officially opened at a 5:30 p.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by festivities surrounding the start of the 2016 soccer season.

Gulf Coast's new soccer complex is the finest among state community colleges, featuring men's and women's locker rooms, coaches' offices, public restrooms, and ticket and concession stands. Decorative fencing surrounds the entire complex, and new covered home and away team benches are ready for the upcoming season.

"We are proud to unveil our new soccer facilities to the public and have them available for our teams," MGCCC President Dr. Mary S. Graham said. "Our programs produce talent that goes on to excel at the next level in the classroom and on the field. These improvements help our college continue that mission."

The women and men earned NJCAA Academic Team of the Year honorable mention awards last year for having GPAs above 3.0. Ten players received NJCAA Academic Awards, including Bree Bonner who graduated with a 4.0 GPA. There were 11 players honored with Academic All-MACJC awards for having GPAs above 3.25.

Men's soccer coach Chris Handy and women's soccer coach Jackie Rhodes see their teams start their 2016 regular season at home on Aug. 26 when Itawamba visits the new MGCCC Soccer Complex.

The decorated MGCCC Band of Gold, Perkettes and cheer squad will open the Meet The Team ceremonies starting at 6. Women's coach Jackie Rhodes will introduce her team, followed by men's coach Chris Handy.

Each team will have a 30-minute scrimmage while the other is available to sign posters that will be distributed to the fans.

For more information on MGCCC's 10 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCAthletics on Twitter and BulldogLIVE on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.