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The Copiah-Lincoln Community College Athletic Alumni Association will induct six members into the Sports Hall of Fame during Homecoming festivities on Thursday, Oct. 26.
This year’s class includes Kyle Beall, of Louisville, Kentucky, Chassity Cubie, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Daniele Knight, of Destrehan, Louisiana, Thomas Matthews, of Clinton, Dequan Menzie, of Richland, and Amy Russell Riley, of New Hebron. The six will be inducted during the Alumni Association Awards Reception at 3:15 p.m. in the Thames Center on the Wesson Campus.
Kyle Beall
Beall is a 2002 graduate of Co-Lin, where he was a member of the Wolf Pack baseball team. While at Co-Lin he was named 1st Team All-American, 1st Team All-Region and 1st Team All-State in 2002.
After Co-Lin, Beall played baseball at Coastal Carolina University and Carson-Newman University. He was named to the 2005 South Atlantic Conference All Tournament Team. He graduated from Carson-Newman with a degree in exercise science. He currently works as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist at Norton Healthcare in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. He is a member of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, Kentucky Association of Nurse Anesthetists and NULU Small Business Association.
“It is truly humbling and an honor and privilege to be a part of such a prestigious group of former student athletes,” he said.
Beall is married to Peyton Beall (‘02), formerly of Brookhaven
Chassity Cubie
Cubie is a 1998 graduate of Co-Lin where she was a member of the Wolf Pack basketball team. During her freshman year at Co-Lin, she averaged 11.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.9 assists, and she was named to the MACJC First Team All State. Her sophomore year, she averaged 13.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 2.3 assists, and she was named to the MACJC First Team All State, NJCAA ALL Region XXIII, NJCAA All Region XXIII All Tournament and NJCAA Third Team All American. During the 1996-1997 season, her team won the MACJC State Championship, NJCAA Region XXIII Championship, MACJC South Division Championship, and they participated in the NJCAA National Tournament. During the 1997-1998 season, her team won the MACJC South Division Championship and was runner-up in the MACJC State Championship and NJCAA Region XXIII Championship.
After Co-Lin, Cubie played basketball at Southeastern Louisiana University.
Daniele Knight
Knight is a 2010 graduate of Co-Lin, where she was a member of the Wolf Pack softball team. While at Co-Lin, she was named 1st Team All-Region and 1st Team All-State in 2009 and 2010. She was also selected for the All-Star game and her team won the state championship title both years. She set records for RBIs (49), doubles (16) and walks (27). She also struck out only six times during her freshman season at Co-Lin.
After Co-Lin, Knight attended Louisiana College, where she received a Bachelor of Science in nursing. She also earned her Master of Science in nursing at Northwestern State University. She currently works as a nurse practioner in the field of family practice.
“This honor is a reflection of all of the hard work and dedication myself, my family, my teammates and our coaches put forth day in and day out,” she said. “I am proud to represent my team in the Hall of Fame.”
Knight and her husband, James, have one son, Brooks, one daughter, June, and are expecting twins in January.
Thomas Matthews
Matthews is a 1988 graduate of Co-Lin where he was a member of the Wolf Pack basketball team. While at Co-Lin, he was named to the 1st Team All-State and was named Most Valuable Player at the Mississippi Junior College All Star Game.
After Co-Lin, Matthews continued his basketball career at Mississippi College, where he was named Gulf State Conference Newcomer of the Year and 1st Team Gulf South Conference. He then went on to play nine years in Portugal and Greece. He currently owns his own business, Corporate Security, in Clinton. He gives back by running a sports camp at the YMCA in downtown Jackson.
“It is a great honor to be inducted into the Co-Lin Hall Fame, he said. “It has been my dream for a long time. The school has meant the world to me, and what I am today — a successful businessman, family man — all started with the hard work instilled the day I walked on campus.”
He and his wife, Annie, have one son, Khristian.
De’Quan Menzie, Sr.
Menzie is a 2010 graduate of Co-Lin where he was a member of the Wolf Pack football team. He was named a 2nd team All-American by the NJCAA following his sophomore season at Co-Lin. He garnered NJCAA All-Region 23 honors and was named the Most Valuable Defensive Back in the MACJC. He was also named to the 1st team All-State.
After Co-Lin, Menzie attended the University of Alabama, where his team won a national championship. He received a bachelor’s degree in human environmental science. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2012 NFL draft, before continuing his career with the Detroit Lions and Carolina Panthers. He currently serves on the executive protection team at the Mississippi Highway Patrol.
“It’s a great honor and privilege to be inducted into the Co-Lin Sports Hall of Fame,” he said.
He is married to Wolf Pack women’s basketball alumna TeAirra Wilbert Menzie, and they have five children: Alanna, DeAunni, Annelise, DeQuan, Jr., and Avianna.
Amy Russell Riley
Riley is a 1987 graduate of Co-Lin, where she was a member of the Wolf Pack tennis team. While at Co-Lin, she received the state and regional title in No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles and was ranked in the nation’s top 20 in 1986. Her team that year won the state and regional championship and was ranked in the nation’s top 10. She also won the state and regional title in No. 3 singles and was ranked in the nation’s top 20 in 1987. That team was the first Co-Lin tennis team to play in the NJCAA National Tournament in Midland, Texas.
After Co-Lin, Riley attended the University of Southern Mississippi, where she received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She taught at Prentiss Christian Academy for three years before joining the staff at New Hebron Attendance Center. During her 27.5 years at New Hebron, she served on numerous committees and coached basketball, track and cheer. She remains active in the USTA adult tennis league.
“I am in awe of the fact that I am among some of the best athletes that have come through the Co-Lin athletic program throughout the years,” she said. “I am forever grateful for this opportunity.”
Riley is a member of New Hebron Baptist Church, where she currently serves as church hostess, greeting coordinator and member of the children’s ministry committee. She was married to the late Jason Riley for 29 years, and they are parents of three daughters: Abby Crider and her husband, Jeret, Carly Reeves and her husband, Blake, and the late Jacy Lee Riley. They also have four grandchildren, AnaMolly Crider, Adeline Crider, Collins Reeves and Hutch Reeves, and a fifth grandchild is expected in April.
Admission to the Alumni Awards Reception is free. Kickoff for the Homecoming game against East Central is at 6:30 p.m. For more information on Homecoming events, visit www.colin.edu.
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