FCA Breakfast of Champions set for Friday

Published 3:55 pm Monday, March 25, 2024

The Greater Meridian Fellowship of Christian Athletes will recognize student athletes in East Mississippi who are “Champions of Character” on Friday at the 7th Annual Jackie Slay “Breakfast of Champions.”

The annual event will begin at 7:30 a.m. at the MSU Riley Center featuring legendary Southern Mississippi Baseball Coach Scott Berry.

Over 30 student-athletes from Kemper, Lauderdale, Clarke and Jasper counties will be honored at the event, as the Greater Meridian area covers 15 high schools and two community colleges.

Also recognized will be the winner of the 2024 Mac Barnes Coach of the Year Award and Mark Bryan Male and Female Athletes of the Year Award.

“It is an event unlike any other,” Dusty Culpepper, FCA board member said. “We will be recognizing athletes who are champions of character, and may not be your star athlete, but the ones who live and play with integrity.”

This year’s keynote speaker will be recently retired University of Southern Mississippi Baseball coach, Scott Berry.

Berry is the all-time winningest coach in Southern Miss baseball history. He announced his retirement from coaching in May 2023 finishing his reign as head coach with a 46-20 record, and the Golden Eagles hosting a second consecutive NCAA Super Regional in Hattiesburg against the University of Tennessee.

Berry, 60, guided the Golden Eagles for 14 seasons and has been a part of the program for 23 years, joining the staff as an assistant coach under Coach Corky Palmer for the 2001 campaign. He is one of only five coaches to lead the Golden Eagle program since the 1959 campaign.The Neosho, Mo., native, and four-time Conference USA Coach of the Year, led the Golden Eagles to five regular season conference crowns, five league tournament titles and eight NCAA Tournament berths, including two regional hosting and two super regional hosting opportunities.

The Golden Eagle program has currently produced more consecutive 40-plus win seasons than any other Division I program with seven, and will have the most consecutive 30-plus win seasons at 22. Berry surpassed Hill Denson in 2022 as the school’s all-time winningest baseball coach, and finished his career with 528 victories.

Businesses or individuals who are interested in sponsoring the event can reach Dalton Smith, Greater Meridian Area Director at daltonsmith@fca.org.

FCA’s mission is “to lead every coach and athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His church.”