ELIZABETHTOWN — For the better part of four years, the name Suggs has been synonymous with Lady Eagles athletics. A three-sport star during her high-school career, Lacey Suggs, now a senior at East Bladen, has earned numerous accolades from conference, regional and statewide sources.
Add one more.
Last week, Suggs was named the Mountaire/Civitas Media Scholar-Athlete of the month for January from among Bladen, Robeson and Scotland counties.
“It is no secret that this young lady is one of the best student-athletes to ever come through East Bladen,” said Athletics Director Patty Evers, who also coaches Suggs in basketball and softball. “She is dedicated to every team she has ever been on and is the ultimate, most humble teammate.”
And it’s not only on the field of play or in the locker room where Suggs excels. She also places a high priority on the “student” portion of student-athlete.
Suggs carries a weighted GPA of 4.6083 and is ranked No. 5 among her senior class of 134. She has had a course load that includes honors classes in American history, chemistry, English, biology, pre-calculus, civics/economic and world history.
In addition, Suggs has held memberships in the Beta Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Keyettes, the East Bladen DREAM Team, Student Government Association and participated in Science Olympiads — as well as participating with her church youth group on summer mission trips.
After graduating from East Bladen in June, Suggs is hoping to attend the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, but both Methodist and The University of North Carolina at Pembroke are showing interest, as well. She has not yet decided on a major.
Out of the classroom, Suggs has given Lady Eagles fans plenty to cheer about and opponents plenty of angst.
As a volleyball player, Suggs has been a regular first-team all-conference player and, in 2015, she was tabbed as the Four County Conference Player of the Year. She recorded 159 kills, 1-07 blocks and 20 percent of her serves went for aces during East Bladen’s 12-9 season.
On the softball field, Suggs has been a standout as the Lady Eagles center fielder and lead-off hitter — sometimes coming on to pitch when needed. She has earned three-straight all-conference honors, along with offensive and defensive Player of the Year awards.
But it’s been on the basketball court where Suggs has shone the brightest.
Along with conference and regional honors out of Fayetteville and Wilmington, Suggs has been named all-state for the past three seasons. Her conference accolades have included two straight Player of the Year honors, was named to the Eastern Regional All-Tournament team and the North Carolina Basketball Association’s All-District team for three years.
During her high-school career, Suggs has scored more than 1,500 points and led the lady Eagles to the No. 1 ranking among the state’s Class 2-A schools during the past two seasons. Through Friday, Suggs’ career record with East Bladen stands at 99-10 overall.
This season, the Lady Eagles are 24-0 overall, ranked No. 1 in the state, and finished 14-0 in the Four County Conference, winning their third straight conference regular-season title with 5-foot, 10-inch Suggs at the power forward position.
“Lacey is highly respected by her peers,” Evers said. “She can take over a game, but also makes her teammates better through example and encouragement. Lacey is a true leader.”
For being named a Mountaire/Civitas Media Scholar-Athlete, Suggs has earned a $1,000 college scholarship and will be one of five in the running for an additional $1,500 as the 2015-16 Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. That award will be announced in June during the annual banquet in Lumberton.
W. Curt Vincent can be reached by calling 910-862-4163.
