Alcorn athletic director Lloyd Hill had a hard time holding back his enthusiasm. And it’s no wonder, considering the fact Hill can boast of four Southwestern Athletic Conference championships this school year.

&uot;This year has really been tremendous,&uot; Hill said from his office in Lorman last week. &uot;The closest I can ever remember us winning four conference championships was in 1984.&uot;

The four championships Hill speaks of are in girls track, men’s and women’s tennis and men’s basketball.

Alcorn’s sweep of the tennis titles was the first time the same school won the men’s and women’s titles the same year.

Both teams are involved in first round NCAA Tournament play today.

Alcorn State’s women’s basketball team surprised most folks by winning the SWAC Basketball Tournament, although the men lost to Jackson State.

The Lady Braves, under veteran and knowledgeable coach Shirley Walker, were recently named the 1999-2000 black college national champions by The Black College Sports Report news service.

The Lady Braves were ranked No. 1 in the country in the final few weeks of the regular season in the BCSR top 10 poll.

The team finished the season with a 22-9 overall record and a 15-3 mark in league play.

Alcorn’s men’s basketball team won the regular season championship, but lost to Jackson State in the SWAC Tournament.

The Tigers went on to win the tournament.

Alicia Shields-Gasdon helped women’s track at Alcorn to its first ever track championship.

&uot;We’ve had some outstanding performers and Olympic performers in the past, but we’ve never had the track team do so well,&uot; Hill said.

The Lady Brave track team has been led by Millicent Sylvan.

&uot;Millicent has been undefeated in the heptathlon for four years,&uot;&160;Hill said. &uot;She’s guaranteed us 40 to 50 points each meet.&uot;

Alcorn’s baseball team finished with the best percentage of any team in the SWAC&160;Eastern Division, but several rainouts kept the Braves from playing the required number of games to compete in the SWAC Baseball Tournament.

Senior third baseman Dario Rosa was named Player of the Year in the conference and was the fifth-leading hitter in the nation with a .479 batting average.

Hill also mentioned Alcorn men’s basketball player Devin Pack being selected to the Speed Historical Black College Coalition Academic Team, which led to Alcorn receiving a $4,000 scholarship award.

And Alcorn senior running back Rodney Thomas received the Burger King Scholar-Athlete of the Week award, which sent $10,000 to Alcorn.

Hill also believes the football team will turn things around after five straight losing seasons.

&uot;This is Coach (Johnny) Thomas’ third year and I have to feel is is putting in the pieces to get Alcorn back at the top,&uot; Hill said.

Hill said the tremendous success of the athletic program in 1999-200 will lead to bigger and better things.

&uot;Winning is contagious,&uot; Hill said. &uot;I think when the student-athletes and coaches sees the accomplishments we’ve had here, it makes everyone want to be a part of it. They want to be a part of the winning tradition. Other sports look at other teams and see what they are missing and they believe it can start happening to them.&uot;

Joey Martin is sports editor of The Democrat. He can be reached by calling 446-5172 ext. 232 or at joey.martin@natchezdemocrat.com.