2024 Ochsner Rush Health Athletes of the Year Named
MERIDIAN, MS – Three athletes who competed in the 2024 State Games of Mississippi bring special qualities to multiple sports and were named Ochsner Rush Health Athletes of the Year. The titles go to Rowdy Briscoe of Choctaw (Youth Athlete), Jaycie Collins of Meridian (Female Athlete) and Scott Gray (Male Athlete).
The State Games of Mississippi hosted more than 5,000 amateur athletes in 40 sports in 2024. “It has been amazing to see the levels of competition and the spirit during this year’s events,” said Missye Dozier, Executive Director of the Games. “And we are so grateful to our sponsors and volunteers as they continue to stand strong in support of everything we do for Mississippi’s amateur athletes.”
Based on the national program, the State Games of Mississippi established the annual “Athlete of the Year” award to recognize Mississippi’s amateur athletes. Coaches, officials, athletes, volunteers, and spectators nominated athletes from each of the 2024 sports for the award. The nominated athletes personify the ideals of the State Games movement, such as participation, sportsmanship, special attributes, achievements, efforts, and positive attitudes. Three final winners are chosen: Male, Female and Youth Athletes of the Year.
The State Games also named the 2024 Volunteer of the Year, Shellie Burgess of Brookhaven. Shellie is no stranger to volunteering as she has eight children and has been named 2022 Enterprise Parent of the Year, is an active member of the Lincoln County School District and has served as the president of the Parent Teacher Organization for the past five years. She and her husband Kelly are also active members of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church.
Rowdy Briscoe — 2024 Youth Athlete of the Year
Thirteen-year-old Rowdy Briscoe of Choctaw has always loved Stickball. “I got my own stickball sticks at two-years-old,” he said. “I learned to play from my dad, uncles, friends and watching the games at the Choctaw Indian Fair. It is part of our tradition from our Tribe (Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians) and we are the next generation to help keep this ‘granddaddy of all sports’ alive.” In the 8th Grade at Neshoba Central Middle School, Rowdy has been playing stickball for five years and has participated in State Games for six years. In 2024 Rowdy and his team, Beaver Dam, took home the gold medal – and Rowdy was named MVP by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. Not just a stickball athlete, he has participated in State Games Youth Baseball, bringing home one bronze medal and two silver medals. Outside of State Games, Rowdy and his team have won their 4th Championship for the World Series of Stickball, Pushmataha division.
Jacelyn “Jaycie” Collins — 2024 Female Athlete of the Year
Meridianite Jaycie Collins is a gold-medal swimmer who wins in many events at the age of 31. A State Games participant for two years, Jaycie took home five gold medals in 2023 and 2024 in freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly and individual medley. “I am a Down Syndrome athlete,” Jaycie said. “I am short, I have limited arm span, my legs are not terribly long but I love to swim and have learned to use what God created to win in swimming.” Outside of State Games, Jaycie participates in the Mississippi Special Olympics. She was a Mississippi Swim Team Delegate to the National Special Olympics in Seattle, Washington in 2018 and a Mississippi Swim Team Delegate to the National Special Olympics in Orlando, Florida in 2022.
Lewis “Scott” Gray Jr. — 2024 Male Athlete of the Year
Scott Gray of Meridian has been involved in the sport of volleyball for more than 44 years and has participated in the State Games of Mississippi for more than 30 years as a participant and a sport commissioner. This 60-year-old is proud of his record over the years, winning three gold medals and many silver and bronze medals. “This year our team took a silver, but I was more proud that I was able to compete in the heat,” he laughs. In the early days of the State Games Scott remembers his work setting up the nets for the volleyball tournaments and pushing hard to make volleyball an enduring State Games sports. Outside of State Games he has competed in multiple tournaments all while coaching soccer for 20 years, raising three kids who love to play and having three knee surgeries. He says he could not have done any of it without the support of his wife, Dawn Marie.
Other nominees for the 2024 Ochsner Rush Health Athlete of the Year included:
2 Gun Competition Justin Lewis
22 Caliber Rifle Competition Caden Dees
5K Road Race Ryan Thompson
Archery Youth Talmadge “Trip” Alexander
Axe Throwing Wade Wicht
All-Star Baseball Preston Sowell
High School Baseball Jackson Irvin
Junior High Baseball Bryson Faia
Bowling Will King
Cornhole Scotty Massey
Cycling Randal Rawson
Disc Golf Daryl Gilbert
Equestrian Cassidy Martin
Fencing Douglas Krafft
Junior Golf Ben Eichelberger
Mountain Bike Michelle Williams
Paddle Race Kelly Kinderman
Pickleball Greg Head
Pistol Competition Nicholas Walker
Youth Soccer Avery Blake Shirley
Soccer High School 7v7 Brayden Combs
Softball Youth Recreational Caroline Singleton
Sporting Clays Chylen Williams
Table Tennis Matthew Atchison
Junior Tennis Charlotte Lucas
Trail Run Daisy Scott
Ultimate Flying Disc Allison Bohler
Volleyball Beach 2 Person Jason Tiffin
About the State Games of Mississippi
The State Games of Mississippi is now in its 33rd year offering top-level competition for Mississippi’s amateur athletes in more than 40 sports.
The Games kick off with an exciting Opening Ceremony in downtown Meridian, complete with the parade of athletes, lighting of the State Games flame and fireworks.
The State Games of Mississippi offers top-level competition for Mississippi’s amateur athletes. The State Games of Mississippi keeps its entry fees low primarily through the generous donations of sponsors, including Founding Gold Sponsors: Meridian Coca-Cola Bottling Company and Ochsner Rush Hospital; and Gold Sponsors: BlueCross BlueShield of Mississippi, Paul & Sherry Broadhead Foundation, Meridian Community College, the City of Meridian, Pearl River Resort, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, VisitMeridian.com, WTOK-TV, The Meridian Star and WMDN/WGBC-TV (The Meridian Family of Stations). For more information on the Games, call 601-482-0205 or visit the State Games of Mississippi website at StateGamesofMS.org.