McMichael Honored As SEC Great
February 29, 2012 | Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Arguably one of the most-heralded players in Mississippi State softball history, Iyhia McMichael has been selected as part of the 2012 class of Southeastern Conference Greats. McMichael will be honored Thursday at 2:30 p.m., at the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. The ceremony will take place during halftime of Mississippi State's first-round game against Vanderbilt.
"Iyhia was a force to be reckoned with because she was a five-tool player in every sense of the phrase," head coach Vann Stuedeman said. "She was one of the greatest softball players to ever don a Maroon and White jersey and will always be remembered for her exceptional talent and pure athleticism."
McMichael earned a pair of First-Team All-America accolades while helping the Bulldogs to three-straight NCAA Regionals from 2002-04 and was the first player to earn consecutive SEC Player of the Year accolades. The Nacogdoches, Texas, native was named one of three finalists for USA Softball Player of the Year in 2004, a year after making the Top 10. To this day, McMichael holds single-season school records for runs scored (83 in 2004), home runs (18 in 2004), slugging percentage (.836 in 2004), stolen-base percentage (.97 in 2003) and walks (51 in 2004). On the career list, she ranks second in RBI, home runs and walks.
"The SEC Greats program showcases the extraordinary talent these women have brought to athletics in the Southeastern Conference," SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said. "These women set the precedent for the athletes you see today. It is an honor for us to acknowledge their contributions both on and off the athletic field."
The 2012 class includes: McMichael, Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee (Basketball); Kelly Kretschman, Alabama (Softball); Sytia Messer, Arkansas (Basketball); Laticia Morris, Auburn (Basketball); Cassie Macia, Florida (Basketball); Camille Lowe, Georgia (Basketball); Valerie McGovern Young, Kentucky (Track); Yvette Girouard, LSU (Softball); Yolanda Moore, Ole Miss (Basketball); Jocelyn Penn, South Carolina (Basketball) and Carolyn Peck, Vanderbilt (Basketball).
Each honoree will be honored during halftime of her team's first game of the tournament and all 12 individuals will be honored as a group between games of the second session on Friday, March 2. The Greats will then participate in an autograph session on the concourse before game eight. Complimentary posters of the Greats will be available at the session.
