Enterprise’s Palomarez a Wendy’s finalist

Published 6:00 am Thursday, November 29, 2001

Enterprise senior Lacey Palomarez, recognized for her excellencein academics, athletics and community service, has been honored asa Mississippi State finalist for the Eighth Annual Wendy’s HighSchool Heisman Award. She will be recognized at a Dec. 5 banquetluncheon at the Hilton Hotel in Jackson.

Principals at the nations estimated 23,000 high schools wereencouraged to nominate one male and one femalestudent-citizen-athlete for the award. William Brown of Enterprisealso was nominated.

Other nominees from this area were Whitney Hedgepeth of LoydStar, Marcus Corley and Maggie Johnson of Wesson, Brooke Currierand Adam Dossett of Parklane Academy, Deidra Hodges and AmbakisyeSmith of South Pike, Robbi Dampier and Nicholas O’Neal of LawrenceCounty, Blake Errington and Bethany Harris of Copiah Academy andJohn Hood and Stacey Lee of Crystal Springs.

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Palomarez, a 5-8 forward, averaged 15.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and4.6 steals per game last season, earning First Team honors on TheDaily Leader’s All-Lincoln County Basketball Team. She also wasnamed to the DL’s All-Lincoln County Softball Team, sporting a .453batting average.

Enterprise principal Bruce Falvey said Palomarez is an all-starin the classroom, too. “Lacey is an excellent academic student.She’s in the top three in her class. She’s been a campus leader forus.”

Palomarez excels in mathematics. “She’s a very good student inmath,” said Falvey. “She’s also involved in other activities oncampus.

“She meets people well and she’s very outgoing. She works hardin the gymnasium. She’ll shoot during the Thanksgiving holidays andduring Christmas break.”

Palomarez serves as a DARE role model and is a Sheriff’s PossePublic Relations Assistant in Lincoln County. She is a youthrepresentative for the Bible Distribution Committee.

Palomarez has been a 4-year starter for Enterprise basketballcoach Billy Vaughn’s Lady Yellow Jackets.

“Lacey is an aggressive, strong, smart player,” said Vaughn.”She knows the game of basketball. She uses her head to takeadvantage of every situation.”

On the softball field, Palomarez sustained a shoulder injurythis season but continued to play for the Lady Jackets.

“Lacey is the best female athlete I have ever coached,” saidEnterprise softball coach Steve Sasser. “She has a lot of abilityand she can play on any level. She has a cannon for an arm and hitsthe ball well. The girls look to her for an example on thefield.”

Palomarez was chosen the Most Valuable Player on Enterprise’ssoftball team last year. She was the best offensive and bestdefensive player.

This year’s state winners in Mississippi are Albert Horn ofHebron Christian School in Houston and Whitney Wooten of Falkner.Five years ago Stephanie Delaughter of Enterprise won the stateaward.

No Mississippian made the list of 12 national finalists. The twowinners will be honored Dec. 8, in New York City on ESPN prior tothe College Heisman Trophy Memorial Trophy Awards.