Sports Editor
FULTON – Even in 24-degree weather, roughly 85 participants on
eight different teams showed up to brave the elements and pay honor to local athletic legend.
This past Saturday, more than 150 people gathered to either play, support and/or watch a 7-on-7 flag football tournament at the IAHS football stadium in honor of former Itawamba AHS standout football, basketball and baseball athlete Maikhail Miller, who was tragically killed in an automobile accident nearly 11 months ago.
The participants, including Miller’s younger twin brothers Vijay and Tray, showed up at 8 a.m. to enjoy a complimentary sausage and biscuit breakfast, then Dalton McMillan provided a short devotion before the action began.
The three-game guarantee, double-elimination tournament ran from 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., and featured teams from all over the area, including Fulton, Mantachie, Amory and Mooreville.
The tournament raised more than $1,000 to go into Maikhail
Miller Memorial Scholarship Fund, which will be dispersed annually to an IAHS student who exemplifies excellence both on the athletic field and in the classroom.
The scholarship was created by Miller’s friends and family to honor his legacy.
At the end of the day, Team WrenVillage, entered by IAHS soccer coach Randy Earnest, took down Team No Limits to win the inaugural Maikhail Miller Memorial Scholarship 7-on-7 Flag Football tournament, taking home a trophy donated by Franks’ Trophy World.
This was the second fundraiser for the scholarship. The scholarship fund saw its initial fundraiser, an IAHS alumni baseball game back in May, raise upwards of $3,000.
With the success of the baseball game and flag football tournament, a three-on-three basketball tournament is in the works for early spring to continue feeding
the scholarship fund.
Editor’s note: Sports Editor Scotty Nichols was a friend of Miller’s and participated in Saturday’s memorial tournament.
Twitter: @ScotNic24
