Two of French Camp Academy's outstanding athletes have signed to continue their academic and athletic careers at four year colleges. Madison Klein signed with Belhaven University for basketball and Ami Sherrif with Blue Mountain College to run cross country.
“It's a really good academic school and they have good athletics,” Klein said of Belhaven.
She spent only one year at French Camp after transferring from Germantown High School, but made her presence felt, averaging 21.7 points. She finished her high school career with 1,044 points.
“Madison is very smart and driven,”' said French Camp girls basketball coach Priscilla Anderson. “I think she will be successful at Belhaven and has a bright future ahead of her.”
Belhaven, in the historic Belhaven District of Jackson, competes in NCAA Division III. It is close to Klein’s home in Madison.
Sherrif was second at the 1A state cross country meet in the fall and took third in the 1600 and fourth in the 800 at the state track meet. Allison Hanby of Tupelo Christian won all three races.
Sherrif signed for cross country, but plans to also run track.
“I felt I need structure in my life,” she said. “I wanted to go where I could be nurtured.”
College cross country for women is six kilometers, one kilometer more than in high school, but that doesn't worry Sherrif. “It's just two more laps on the track.”
“I’m really excited for both Ami and Blue Mountain,” said French Camp cross country and track coach Joe Watkins. “There were a few schools interested in her. But after Ami, my wife and I visited, we felt that was the right spot for her. They have a great (cross country) program.”
Blue Mountain is a small (approximately 600 students) private liberal arts college supported by the Mississippi Baptist Convention and an NAIA member. The college is located in Tippah County.
Klein and Sherrif have the same ultimate goal – to become nurses.
