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Warriors Honor Players, Retire Number 7 and Number 20
By Craig Brown
It is rare for a school to retire any player’s number in a given number of years, but the Dillon Christian School Warriors bestowed this honor on two of its most gifted athletes this year.
Reagan Massengale’s number 7 softball jersey and Kin Melvin’s number 20 basketball jersey will never be worn again. These two athletes received more honors in their chosen sport than any athletes in the school’s history.
Melvin joined the varsity program in the seventh grade and became a starter in his freshman year at DCS. Kin finished the 2012 basketball season as the school’s highest scorer with 1,271 points. Kin often competed with players several inches taller than his 5’10” frame, but by games end many opposing players thought he was much taller. Kin had a great love for basketball and received much encouragement from his Father Nelson and his mother Wendy. The Nelson family along with Grandmother Betty rarely missed a game.
In addition to Kin’s record scoring he was selected as an all conference player three times, all state two times, and was twice selected as the team’s MVP.
Reagan Massengale became a starter on the varsity softball team in the eighth grade. During those five years, the Warriors depended heavily upon her accurate pitching arm and her power at bat. The Warriors missed getting into post season play only one of those five seasons and that was the result of Reagan missing half of the regular season due to an injury.
Through the years Reagan was approached by other schools, both public and private, asking her if she would like to transfer schools and be on their program. Although honored by such opportunities, Reagan’s loyalties were to DCS and the many friends she had acquired there. Reagan had a natural talent that was perfected by her father/coach Billy Massengale, but she also displayed a special charm that made her teammates love her and opponents respect her that she received from her mother Karen.
As a five year starter Reagan posted 706 strikeouts on the mound with a full half season missed due to an injury. In addition to her strikeout records, Reagan received the gold glove award twice, was selected to the HSSR team five times, selected as an all conference player four times, selected three times as an all state and all star team member, and was the team’s MVP three times. In the 2012 state playoffs, Reagan posted 41 strikeouts with only two walked batters.
Both of these outstanding athletes will be missed, but with their jerseys placed in a special place of honor at the school they will not be forgotten.
As always I would like to remember those at the Christian School that have assisted me with my articles by providing information about certain events or athletes and their tireless efforts with all of the athletic programs at Dillon Christian School. Lanny and Sandy Carpenter are a credit to the school and always very helpful to me. Julie Fitzgibbon; Dr. Michael Brown; Athletic Director Christian Wolfe; Randy Carlyle; Madge Hamer; and Steve Johnson were all of valuable assistance to the Warrior sports programs this season.
