Maddy Maw, a business administration major focusing on accounting, is about to begin her second season as a shooting guard with the Majors of Millsaps College basketball team. Maddy attended Central Hinds beginning as a first grader until her graduation in 2022. While at CHA she was a multi-sport athlete participating in basketball, cheer, and soccer. As a cheerleader she was awarded All-American. In basketball she won multiple all tournament awards, multiple offensive and defensive Player of the Year awards, and was named to both MAIS pre and post season teams. She mentions Coach Henry Gantz as a staff member who "prepared me well for college basketball and also taught me many valuable life lessons that have prepared me for where I am today as well as all the challenges I’ve faced to get here". She also mentions former staffer, Tyanne Mccoy who "prepared me well for college classes. She taught me time management amongst many other things that prepared me for college". She says of her time as a student athlete, "Being a student athlete in high school and college are two completely different things. In high school I played multiple sports with a crazy schedule and I feel as though that helped me with time management all while having a social life. In college, being a student athlete is a little more challenging in the aspect of classes are harder and while I only play one sport now that one sport requires weights, workouts, practices, and traveling for a length of time. I feel the way high school was so fast paced for me, that it made for an easy transition". Recently her hard work was rewarded as the Majors' womens basketball team won the Southern Athletic Association conference championship and traveled to Pennsylvania for the DIII NCAA tournament. Maddy says "We hope to do it again this year!". Join us in congratulating Maddy and the Lady Majors on their recent successes and wishing them continued success in the upcoming season. We hope that all alumni will update their information so that we can continue to celebrate the successes of our Cougar community.

Nicholas attended CHA beginning in 6th grade until he graduated in 2019. He was a multi-sport athlete participating in football, tennis, track and soccer. He received many awards including track MVP and football All-District. He also currently holds school records for the 400m, long jump, and triple jump. When asked about his time at CHA he says that being at a smaller school allowed him to participate in multiple sports which helped him excel in football. He also mentions former cougar "Coaches Bobby Barrett, Lance Teasley, and Zach Miller who taught me work ethics and perseverance. Those three coaches always had faith in me and never gave up on me." After high school Nicholas attended Hinds Community College where he was awarded Team Player of the Week for Special Teams twice and National Player of the Week for Junior Colleges as well. He then spent time at Belhaven University before transferring to Mississippi State University where he currently plays tight end. While at MSU Nicholas is studying Kinesiology. When asked about his future plans he says "I would like to become a personal trainer and open a facility in western Hinds County for young athletes that aspire to further their athletic career to the next level." We know that college athletes work especially hard balancing both academics and sports. Join us in congratulating Nicholas and wishing his Bulldogs a great 2024-2025 season!