Lady Jets receive donations to help with National Tournament Trip
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South Georgia Technical College Athletic Director and Lady Jets head coach James Frey and Lady Jets sophomore basketball standouts Shaineequah Fluellyn from Molena, Georgia and Desiree Corbin of Griffin, Georgia were the special guests of Dr. Lou Riccardi at the Americus Rotary Club meeting recently.
Dr. Lou Riccardi and the Americus Rotary Club congratulated Coach Frey and the South Georgia Technical College Lady Jets on earning the right to represent Americus and Sumter County and Georgia in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Women’s Division I National Tournament in Lubbock, Texas, March 20th – 25th. The Lady Jets are currently 29 – 4 this season.
Dr. Riccardi, the Americus Rotary Club and several club members presented Lady Jets head coach Coach James Frey and the players with checks to the South Georgia Technical College Foundation to help with the expenses incurred with the trip to Lubbock, Texas.
The Lady Jets won the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) regular season championship for the second consecutive year, won the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XVII tournament, and then defeated Denmark Technical College from Denmark, South Carolina in the NJCAA District J Tournament. That victory allowed the Lady Jets to earn the right to advance to the NJCAA Division I women’s basketball National Tournament in Lubbock, Texas.
The 15th ranked Lady Jets will face the 18th seeded Motlow State Community College Lady Bucs from Tullahoma, TN in the first round of the NJCAA National Tournament on Monday, March 20th at 3 p.m. eastern standard time. That game will be broadcast live on WISK/WDEC radio locally and will air live on the internet on NJCAA TV (njcaatv.com).
“On behalf of the South Georgia Technical College Lady Jets team and our entire athletic program, I would like to thank Dr. Riccardi and the Americus Rotary Club for these donations,” said Coach Frey. “These young ladies have worked extremely hard on the court, but also in the classroom. They will represent our state and our community well at the national tournament. I can’t tell you how much we appreciate your support,” said Frey.
Sophomore guard Shaineequah Fluellyn was selected as the Most Valuable Player during the NJCAA Region XVII tournament and also earned the GCAA 2nd team All-conference honors. Sophomore forward Desiree Corbin was first team GCAA All-Conference.
Dr. Riccardi shared with the Rotary Club members that Coach Frey has been with the South Georgia Technical College Lady Jets program as the head coach for five years and has amassed a 134 – 34 record. He has been named Coach of the Year or Co-coach of the Year by the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association Conference three times and has taken his team to the national tournament three times in the past five years.
“This is a tremendous group of athletes,” said Dr. Riccardi. “I would like to wish you and the entire team much success in Lubbock, Texas. Go Lady Jets!”
In addition to the donation from Dr. Lou Riccardi and the Americus Rotary Club, Rick Whaley and Citizens Bank made a contribution as well as several other individuals and supporters.
The SGTC Jets Booster Club also raffled off a manicure/pedicure and Cheryl Bailey was the winner. That raffle raised $380 toward the National Tournament Trip. Special thanks to the Booster Club and everyone who purchased tickets.