Midland College celebrates 2009 Homecoming with first-ever parade

February 12, 2009

There was a festive mood in the air around the Midland College campus, as the school celebrated its 2009 Homecoming with a Mardi Gras theme.

Before the start of the evening's basketball games on February 12, there was a Mardi Gras-themed parade around the campus circle. Numerous MC student clubs — including the Ambassadors, Athletics, the Cheerleaders/Loco Chaps Spirit Club, International Students, Students in Philanthropy and the Student Government Association — built floats for this, the first Homecoming parade at the college. The parade began at the Allison Fine Arts Building parking lot, head west towards Garfield, and then went completely around Chaparral Circle to arrive at the Al G. Langford Chaparral Center.

Then it was inside Chap Center for an exciting evening of basketball. In the final home game of their Midland College careers, members of the #3 Lady Chap basketball team catapulted to a spot in the upcoming NJCAA Region V Tournament (March 7-10) in Lubbock. They also secured the seventh WJCAC Championship in the 15 year history of the women's basketball program with a 106-49 victory over Clarendon College.

For the five sophomores the win marked an end to a tremendous two-year run (59-6 overall record) including a 27-1 in the Chap Center. Lady Chap sophs (shown at right) include Lyrell Barfield (Miami, FL), Dymond Morgan (Lynwood, CA), Candice Kohn (Midland, TX), LeeShantea Johnson (Palatka, FL) and Mele Leasau (San Diego, CA). At the conclusion of the game each sophomore addressed the fans in their customary goodbye to the MC faithful.

Midland way through the evening, Elizabeth Mclellan and William Nagy of the MC Film Club were named Homecoming Queen and King.

Then it was the men's turn on the court. It seemed the MC Chap basketball team had again found its stride as they demonstrated in a 78-40 pounding of Clarendon College. Midland College improved its season record to 24-3 and its conference record to 11-2, a half game ahead of #5 South Plains College in the race for the conference championship, and secured a spot in the upcoming NJCAA Region V Tournament, but their exact seeding has yet to be determined. Midland College was led by Kavon Lytch (shown at left) with 18 points and 14 rebounds), Greg Hill's 13 points and David Terrell's 12 points.