Soccer Mustangs celebrate state title in Nashville

For the second time in less than three months, Jackson-Madison County Schools are working toward giving what the leadership feels is a proper celebration for a state championship sports team.

Madison’s boys’ soccer team that finished undefeated while winning the program’s first-ever state championship in May is enjoying its Gold Ball Bash in Nashville this week.

For Donovan Pruitte, it’s one final chance to spend extended time with his teammates before he heads off to college in the next few weeks.

“We’ve spent a lot of time working hard and playing games over the last three years,” Pruitte said. “So this trip is special because we’re together one more time.”

The Mustangs headed out Monday morning and spent Monday and Tuesday nights in Nashville, doing things like touring the MLS arena in the Music City and going to Top Golf.

“Being a part of the championship is special,” said Harry Rowland, who has two more years remaining at Madison. “And knowing there’s a trip like this available to us if we win another gives us even more motivation to try to win.

“But we’re not necessarily thinking very much about next year because we’re enjoying this championship with this team and the seniors that led us there.”

Pruitte is going to play college soccer at University of Alabama-Huntsville. His teammate, Braden Nye, is moving on to play at Auburn-Montgomery. Those schools are in the same conference, so they could match up against each other in important conference matches. But for one more week, they’re still teammates in the navy and maroon uniforms of Madison.

“We’re so grateful to [JMCSS Superintendent Marlon King] and the school system for allowing us to go on this trip,” Pruitte said. “It means a lot, and it’s something we’ve been looking forward to all summer.”

The first Gold Ball Bash happened in May after the girls’ basketball team at South Side finished undefeated and won the Class AAA state championship in March.

Brandon Shields, brandon@jacksonpost.news