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Senior Grace Christian Academy (GCA) winter sports athletes were honored at halftime of a Cougars basketball game against Georgia Christian School. The school celebrated 11 seniors across five sports.

“The good times go by so fast,” GCA wrote about the group on Instagram, @gracecougars 

Anna Belle Adams

Anna Belle Adams has attended GCA for 11 years, where she participated in basketball for one year and football and basketball cheer for four years. Adams has been accepted to Auburn University, where she will major in pre-med. She plans to attend med school to become a dermatologist. Her life verse is Ephesians 6:11, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

Adams represented GCA in Hawaii in December 2023. The senior cheerleader performed with Varsity Spirit at the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade in Honolulu, HI.

Lucy Dowdy

Lucy Dowdy has attended GCA for one year, where she participated in basketball and plans to participate in soccer. Her future plans are to attend college to become a guidance counselor. Her favorite verse is 2 Corinthians 4:18, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

This year is Dowdy’s first at GCA. She transferred to Grace for her senior year from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, after living there for two and a half years with her family. Her parents work with Campus Outreach, an evangelist organization that spreads “the relevant message of Jesus Christ to this generation of Brazilian college students in the midst of a jaded and complicated spiritual context,” according to the Campus Outreach website.

Dowdy and her family decided to move her to Bainbridge to reacclimate her to American culture in preparation for college. Her father, Jeffery Dowdy, grew up in Bainbridge and said having Dowdy leave Brazil was difficult.

“It was definitely a hard decision to let her go a year earlier than we would want,” Mr. Dowdy said. “But we want to prepare her best to be independent and to develop as a young lady, so we thought it was a good intermediate step.”

Mr. Dowdy said Dowdy has an “adventurous spirit” and has enjoyed seeing how she’s taken advantage of her time in town and the way the community has taken her in.

“She is ready to take on the challenges,” Mr. Dowdy said. “That’s really fun to be a part of, and it’s also part of the process of her growing up. She’s been a real blessing to us… We’re really grateful for how Bainbridge has received her, both Grace Church and the school, friends at school, like, that’s been awesome.”

Dowdy lives with her grandparents, John and Brenda Dowdy, while she’s in town. Mr. Dowdy said he’s extremely grateful for his parents’ commitment to his daughter.

“They’ve been great,” Mr. Dowdy said. “Lucy is very social, so they’ve opened their home to not just her, but her friends as well.”  

Ben Faircloth

Ben Faircloth has attended GCA for nine years, where he participated in basketball for four years and tennis for one year. His future plans are to attend ABAC and then transfer to a larger college where he will major in finance. His life verse is Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Lollie Gay

Lollie Gay has attended GCA for 12 years, where she participated in dance line for four years, soccer for two years, cheer for one year, and golf for two years. Her future plans are to attend Gulf Coast State College to become an ultrasound technician, get married, and have kids. Her favorite verse is Psalm 29:11, ”The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.”

Abi McDonald

Abi McDonald has attended GCA for four years, where she has participated in Soccer for two years and cheer for three years. Her future plans are to attend ABAC, where she will then transfer to a different college to study law. Her life verse is Proverbs 31:25, “She is clothed with strength and dignity and she laughs without fear of the future.”

McDonald earned a spot on the GIAA All-State cheer team during this year’s football season. She was invited to Macon in December to cheer at the GIAA All-State Football game.

“She’s very enthusiastic and dedicated to the squad,” said GCA Head Cheer Coach Jessica Miller. “She’s just an all-around great cheerleader and person.”

Kate McElyea

Kate McElyea has attended GCA for five years, where she has participated in cheer for four years, dance line for two years, and soccer for one year. Her future plans are to attend either UGA or Samford University to become a marine biologist, start a family, and possibly live on the beach. Her favorite verse is Philippians 1:9-11, “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.”

McElyea represented GCA in Hawaii in December 2023. The senior cheerleader performed with Varsity Spirit at the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade in Honolulu, HI.

Alyssa Posey

Alyssa Posey has attended GCA for 14 years, where she has participated in Cheer for one year, dance line for one year, and soccer for one year. Her future plans are to attend college to become a speech-language pathologist and start a family. Her life verse is Galatians 6:17, “From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.”

Emilia Posey

Emilia Posey has attended GCA for 14 years, where he has participated in soccer for two years, cheer for two years, and dance line for two years. Her future plans are to attend Valdosta State University to earn a degree in early childhood education and start a family. Her favorite verse is Matthew 19:26, ”Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’”

Posey was crowned 2023-2024 GCA Homecoming Queen just days before the Senior Night ceremony.

Evan Sigman

Evan Sigman has attended GCA for four years, where he has participated in football for four years, soccer for four years, tennis for four years, wrestling for three years, cross country for three years, and basketball for two years. His future plans are to attend Georgia Tech to major in Electrical engineering. His life verse is Romans 14:8, “If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”

Sigman placed 6th at the GIAA state wrestling tournament the weekend before the Senior Night ceremony. Sixth place earned Sigman a medal and a spot on the podium. Michael Sigman, GCA wrestling head coach, and Sigman’s father, said he was proud of Sigman for reaching that point.

“It was amazing,” Coach Sigman said. “That’s something he’s been working for some time, you know, since we started the team three years ago… I was extremely happy and proud of him.”

Kenndey Singleton

Kenndey Singleton has attended GCA for three years, where she has participated in basketball for one year, volleyball for one year, cheer for one year, and dance line for one year. Her future plans are to go to nursing school to become a travel nurse. She also plans to open her own cheer gym. Her favorite verse is Psalm 46:5, “God is with her, she will not fail.”

Singleton represented GCA in Hawaii in December 2023. The senior cheerleader performed with Varsity Spirit at the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade in Honolulu, HI.

Ella Grace Straughn

Ella Grace Straughn has attended GCA for 11 years, where she has participated in soccer for four years, cheer for two years, and dance line for one year. Her future plans are to attend the Impact 360 fellows program. Afterward, she plans to attend FSU to obtain a degree in biology with the hopes of becoming a physician’s assistant. Her favorite verse is James 1:2-3. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”