CLINTON, Miss. --- Spring sports seniors across the nation had their collegiate careers cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A time-honored tradition across all athletic departments is to celebrate "Senior Day" by recognizing each of the members of their senior class for their efforts while a part of their program.

At Mississippi College, we wanted to let each one of our spring sports student-athletes have their own "Senior Day" to thank them for their time as Choctaws and Lady Choctaws. Their contributions to their teams and the athletic department will always be remembered.
 

---

HAYDEN CLAYPOOL --- SOFTBALL

A native of Cedartown, Ga., Hayden Claypool wrapped up her second season with the Lady Choctaws after transferring from Southern Union State Community College.

"Hayden exemplifies what it means to earn things in life," said head coach Brooke O'Hair. "She will work for everything she wants and do it without excuses. She's a wonderful teammate who had the ability to make everyone feel better about themselves and put a smile on their face. Watching Hayden not only earn starting spot for her senior year but to also watch her become a leader was something special to witness.

"I will be forever grateful for who you are as a person and an athlete," O'Hair went on. "Thank you for choosing MC and letting us be a part of your growth. You will make an excellent coach, and I'm blessed to have you join our coaching staff next season."

Hayden played in 55 games over her two-year career and started 21 games at first base this season, hitting .302 with five doubles and seven RBI. She helped lead the Lady Choctaws to a trip to the NCAA South Regional in 2019 and was named to the Gulf South Conference Academic Honor Roll with a perfect 4.0 grade-point-average.

"Hayden always found a way to get things done," said assistant coach Leigh Streetman. "She didn't make excuses and worked hard for what she earned. She was the team comedian and always kept everyone laughing. She defined "having fun and playing ball", and her teammates followed that.

"Hayden, thank you for being a selfless teammate and dedicating yourself to this program for two years," Streetman went on. "I'm looking forward to working with you on the staff."

The education major is the daughter of Mary and Charles Claypool.
 

---

Every day for the next five weeks, we will recognize a senior for their contributions on and off the field for their respective programs. The baseball, softball, golf, tennis and track & field programs will all be represented in alphabetical order, regardless of sport.

PREVIOUS HONOREES: Garret Ainsworth, Grant Barber, Morgan Bradford, Brandon Broussard, Chauncey Callier, Austin Chastang, Force Choi, Jane Ann Cicco

Make sure to leave a message for these student-athletes on our social media pages (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) as we go along.
 

---

Mississippi College is a private Christian university located in Clinton, Mississippi with an enrollment of over 5,000 students. MC recently finished their transition process back to NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference and began competing for conference and national championships in the 2016-17 academic year.

The athletic department sponsors 17 intercollegiate athletic programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Football, Golf, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Men's and Women's Tennis, Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field, Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field and Volleyball.

For more information on Mississippi College athletics, please contact David Nichols at 601-925-3234 or nichols@mc.edu.