GULF COAST MEN'S BASKETBALL

January 1, 2009
GCCC men ready for Panhandle challenge
News Herald (By Josh Weinfuss ) - The Panhandle Conference is no laughing matter. When Division I coaches visit the Billy Harrison Field House to recruit some of his Gulf Coast Commodores, they chuckle at the thought of playing in a league comparable to the one widely thought to be the toughest in junior college basketball, Gulf Coast coach Jay Powell said. Powell tried to schedule a slate of nonconference games so difficult, the Commodores would start conference play with a good idea of what to expect. And so they wouldn't be laughed at. "It's one of those things that you just kind of give good warning about," Powell said. "You warn them, you tell them, ‘I'm telling you, we're doing some things right, now, but when this real deal hits, it's a different speed, a different athleticism, a different level of contact,'" Powell said. "You just try to warn them and you just make practice as physical and hard-nosed as possible. You just kind of hope that they believe you and the sophomores about how tough Panhandle Conference play is."
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GULF COAST WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

January 2, 2009
GCCC women seek 13th straight conference crown
News Herald (By Josh Weinfuss ) - The topic of conversation around the Gulf Coast Lady Commodores hasn't changed since August. They've talked about winning a 12th straight Panhandle Conference championship and defending their NJCAA national championship. "When we got to school, we talked about how tough it's going to be," Gulf Coast coach Roonie Scovel said. "Talked about what we're going to have to do to overcome the size and experience" of the other teams. Compared to years past, Gulf Coast is younger and smaller. It boasts just three sophomores, led by 6-foot-2 Sabrina Johnson, the tallest Lady Commodore. Scovel expects Chimere Jordan to be one of the premier players in the league this season. She'll be one of the focal points, along with freshman Andrea Smith. Smith and the eight other freshmen don't know what they're getting into come Saturday, Scovel said.
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GULF COAST MENS BASEBALL

November 15, 2008
GC's Morrison signs with Louisville
NEWS HERALD (Josh Weinfuss ) - PANAMA CITY - Louisville got its man. Mike Morrison took advantage of the NCAA's early signing period this week, joining the Cardinals' 2009 baseball recruiting class. The Gulf Coast Community College sophomore first baseman now has the decision behind him to solely concentrate on next season. Louisville sought Morrison out of Bishop Luers High School in Fort Wayne, Ind. Morrison felt it was best to play for Gulf Coast rather than take the chance of sitting on the bench at Louisville for at least one season. "Louisville was pretty much where I wanted to go," Morrison said Friday. "They recruited me early and stuck with me." Morrison also was targeted by Ohio University as a linebacker, but he said baseball was a more obvious choice. "This was my best career path," Morrison said. "It's hard to succeed in football when you're short and wide." Morrison, at 6-foot, 215 pounds, knew using his stocky frame as a power hitter would suit him best. He didn't flash a lot of power as a freshman at GC, hitting three home runs, but he did amass 48 RBIs. He had solid power numbers in high school, setting a freshman mark of 13 homers.
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GULF COAST WOMENS VOLLEYBALL

November 13, 2008
Volleyball Tryouts
GCathletics.com (Steve Merchant ) - The Gulf Coast Volleyball Team will have an open tryout, Saturday - December 13th at 1:00 pm. Tryouts will be held in the Billy Harrison Field House on the Campus of Gulf Coast Community College. If you have questions, please call (850) 769-1551 ext 3362.
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GULF COAST ATHLETICS

December 23, 2008
Commodores post two Top 10 stories of 2008
NEWS HERALD (Brad Milner ) - PANAMA CITY - Gulf Coast women's basketball coach Roonie Scovel has built one of the top programs in the state and the nation. But she was quickly beginning to see how difficult it was to advance to the national tournament. Back-to-back Division I national tournament championship appearances, with a title coming in 2003, were followed by three years of futility at the state tournament. Chipola College had moved past Gulf Coast, but the 2008 state showcase in Marianna was again the Lady Commodores' time to shine.
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GULF COAST ATHLETICS

December 9, 2008
Tradition & Leadership Campaign
GCathletics.com (Steve Merchant) - Gulf Coast Athletics would like to recognize the following families for contributing significantly to our Tradition and Leadership Campaign. Furthermore, we would like to thank all that have contributed so far in helping us reach our goal of $250,000. Currently we are at $110,000 and counting. To make a contribution large or small please contact Loel Davenport (850-873-3583) or Margie Mazur (850-872-3812).

Click Picture to make larger Karen & Earl Durden and Family

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GULF COAST ATHLETICS

September 19, 2008
Mission Possible
NEWS HERALD (Brad Milner ) - PANAMA CITY - The Gulf Coast Community College athletic department has been going strong for 50 years. The aim of Tuesday's historic announcement was to ensure 50 more. At a press conference in the Billy Harrison Field House, GC President Jim Kerley officially announced the kickoff of the school's first major fundraising campaign for the athletic department. Athletic Director Gregg Wolfe also revealed the reasons behind changing the athletic department logo, which now features a "G" and "C" rather than the old four-leaf clover design.
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