# Purvis High School

Purvis High School is a school within the Lamar County School District. It is located at 220 School St., Purvis, Mississippi.
The principal is Julie Clinton. The school colors are purple and gold. The school mascot is a tornado, named after the deadly tornado that struck on April 24, 1908.

## Statistics

For the 2020–2021 school year, the school had 605 students enrolled and about 42 teachers employed.

## Athletics

Purvis High School is home to the Purvis Tornadoes. The school has football, basketball, baseball, soccer, golf, tennis, softball, track & field, and swimming teams.

### Baseball

| State Champions | South State Champions/State Runner-up | Division Champions |
    Academic YearClassCoachFinal RecordSeason Results 2000-20018-3ATony Farlow14-11Lost 1st round playoff (West Lauderdale) 0-2 2001-20028-3ATony Farlow29-9Won 1st round playoff (North Pike) 2-0 Won 2nd round playoff (Morton) 2-0 Won 3A South State Championship (Greene Co.) 2-1 Lost 3A State Championship (Senatobia) 0-2 2002-20038-3ATony Farlow24-9Won 1st round playoff (Morton) 2-1 Won 2nd round playoff (Philadelphia) 2-0 Lost 3A South State Championship (Greene Co.) 1-2 2003-20048-3ATony Farlow32-6Won 1st round Double Elimination Tournament (Carthage, Morton, West Marion) 3-1 Won 2nd round playoff (Raleigh) 2-0 Won 3A South State Championship (West Lauderdale) 2-1 Won 3A State Championship (Cleveland) 2-1 Ranked #1 in the Clarion Ledger final season poll. 2004-20058-3ATony Farlow24-11Won 1st round Double Elimination Tournament (Columbia, Franklin Co., Hazelhurst) 3-0 Won 2nd round playoff (Morton) 2-0 Won 3A South State Championship (West Lauderdale) 2-1 Won 3A State Championship (Senatobia) 2-0 2005-20068-3ATony Farlow10-12Missed Playoffs 2006-20078-3ATony Farlow21-13Won 1st round playoff (South East Lauderdale) 2-0 Won 2nd round playoff (Richland) 2-0 Won 3A South State Championship (Sumrall) 2-1 Lost 3A State Championship (Nettleton) 1-2 2007-20088-3ATony Farlow17-10Won 3A 1st round playoff (Jefferson Co.) 2-0 Lost 3A 2nd round playoff (Newton Co.) 0-2 2008-20098-3ATony Farlow23-8Won 3A 1st round playoff (Magee) 2-0 Won 3A 2nd round playoff (Newton Co.) 2-1 Won 3A 3rd round playoff (Perry Central) 2-0 Lost 3A South State Championship (Sumrall) 0-2 2009-20108-4ATony Farlow17-10Lost 4A 1st round playoff (West Lauderdale) 1-2 2010-20118-4ATony Farlow20-8Bye 4A 1st round playoff (Received bye for winning district championship) Won 4A 2nd round playoff (Lawrence Co.) 2-0 Won 4A 3rd round playoff (Magee) 2-1 Lost 4A South State Championship (Columbia) 0-2 2011-20127-4ATony Farlow26-5Bye 4A 1st round playoff (Received bye for winning district championship) Won 4A 2nd round playoff (Newton Co.) 2-0 Won 4A 3rd round playoff (Richland) 2-0 Won 4A South State Championship (West Lauderdale) 2-0 Won 4A State Championship (Lewisburg) 2-1 #1 in state and #5 in nation in team ERA. 2012-20137-4ATony Farlow15-12Bye 4A 1st round playoff (Received bye for winning district championship) Lost 4A 2nd round playoff (Germantown) 0-2 2013-20147-4ATony Farlow27-10Won 4A 1st round playoff (Quitman) 2-0 Won 4A 2nd round playoff (St. Stanislaus) 2-0 Won 4A 3rd round playoff (Richland) 2-0 Won 4A South State Championship (Columbia) 2-0 Lost 4A State Championship (West Lauderdale) 0-2 14 seasons299-134 69%13 playoff appearances 41 playoff rounds played (65-26) 5 District Championships('02, '05, '11, '12, '13) 6 South State Championships ('02, '04, '05, '07, '12, '14) 3 State Championships ('04, '05, '12)
Purvis Tornado Baseball Players at the next level
| Name | Grad Year | College | College / Pro | Comments |
| Kenny Rayborn | 1993 | | Seattle Mariners | 67th Rd Pick Rangers |
| Walter Young | 1999 | | Pittsburgh Pirates | 31st Rd Pick Pirates, MLB debut with Orioles 9/6/2005 |
(*) The records, opponents, and season results have been verified using microfilm of past issues of the Hattiesburg American located in Cook Library on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi.

### Football

The team plays in Cowart Stadium, named for past football coach Don Cowart. Below is a chart depicting the Tornadoes' history, followed by a synopsis of selected seasons. (Team in parentheses is opponent).
| Playoff Appearance | Division Champions | Winning Season | Coach's Totals |
    YearClassCoachSeasonFinalPFPASeason Results 1941-1942Don Cowart8-011-032519Won 1st round playoff (Mt. Olive) Won 2nd round playoff (Lumberton) Won 3rd Round playoff (FCAHS) Unscored upon during regular season Don Cowart 1964-1965Desoto?4-4-24-4-2132110 1974-1975ApacheJack Craft 1975-1976ApacheJack Craft8-28-323278Lost Apache Championship (TBD) 1976-1977ApacheJack Craft 1977-1978ApacheJack Craft 1978-1979ApacheJack Craft7-1-18-1-1Won Apache Championship (West Marion) 1979-1980ApacheJack Craft5-45-4156109 1980-1981ApacheJack Craft6-36-3-1140124Tied Apache Championship (Poplarville) Mississippi High School Athletic Association Reorganization (Changed to Championship Format) 1981-19828-A NorthJack Craft2-7 (1-2)2-7 1982-19838-A NorthJack Craft5-4 (4-2)5-4 1983-19848-A NorthJack Craft4-6 (2-2)4-6 1984-19858-3A NorthJack Craft4-6 (2-2)4-6 1985-19868-3A NorthJack Craft9-1 (4-0)9-2Lost 8-3A Division Championship (Bay High) 1986-19878-3A NorthJack Craft5-5 (3-1)5-5154184 1987-198815-3AJack Craft5-4 (1-3)5-4 1988-198915-3AJack Craft1-8 (1-3)1-8 1989-199015-3AJack Craft5-5 (3-2)5-5 Jack Craft 1990-199115-3ARobert Walker3-7 (2-3)3-7 1991-19928-3ARobert Walker1-9 (1-5)1-9 1992-19938-3ARobert Walker1-9 (1-5)1-9 3 seasonsRobert Walker5-255-2516.67% overall win percentage 1993-19948-3AJim Sizemore4-7 (3-3)4-7148185 1994-19958-3AJim Sizemore4-6 (2-4)4-6148205 1995-19968-3AJim Sizemore9-2 (4-1)9-3236125Lost 3A 1st round playoff (Forest) 1996-19978-3AJim Sizemore10-0 (5-0)10-126749Lost 3A 1st round playoff (Prentiss) 1997-19988-3AJim Sizemore10-0 (5-0)12-1397125Won 3A 1st round playoff (Amite Co.) Won 3A 2nd round playoff (Forest) Lost 3A South State Championship (Magee) 1998-19998-3AJim Sizemore9-1 (5-0)10-230370Won 3A 1st round playoff (Velma Jackson) Lost 3A second round playoff (Magee) 6 seasonsJim Sizemore46-1649-201,49975971.01% overall win percentage 1999-20008-3AKen Chandler2-8 (0-6)2-8135225 2000-20018-3AKen Chandler1-10 (0-6)1-1076245 2001-20028-3AKen Chandler2-8 (1-5)2-8155195 3 seasonsKen Chandler5-265-2636666516.13% overall win percentage 2002-20038-3AWayne Carr3-7 (1-5)3-7130175 2003-20048-3AWayne Carr5-5 (4-2)5-6205196Lost 3A 1st round playoff (West Lauderdale) 2004-20058-3AWayne Carr3-7 (2-4)3-7170323 2005-20068-3AWayne Carr2-6 (1-5)2-695194 4 seasonsWayne Carr13-2513-2660088833.33% overall win percentage 2006-20078-3APerry Wheat2-8 (0-6)2-8123281 2007-20088-3APerry Wheat5-5 (3-3)6-6300337Won 3A 1st round playoff (South Pike) Lost 3A 2nd round playoff (Raleigh) 2008-20098-3APerry Wheat7-3 (4-2)7-4311203Lost 3A 1st round playoff (Hazelhurst) 2009-20108-4APerry Wheat6-4 (4-2)6-5280260Lost 4A 1st round playoff (Laurel) 2010-20118-4APerry Wheat9-1 (5-1)10-2413187Won 4A 1st round playoff (South Pike) Lost 4A 2nd round playoff (Mendenhall) 2011-20127-4APerry Wheat7-3 (4-1)7-4271227Lost 4A 1st round playoff (Quitman) 2012-20137-4APerry Wheat8-2 (4-1)9-4424245Won 4A 1st round playoff (Poplarville) Lost 4A 2nd round playoff (Quitman) 2013-20147-4APerry Wheat9-3 (4-1)9-3411231Won 4A 1st round playoff (Lawrence County) Won 4A 2nd round playoff (Poplarville) Lost 4A 3rd round playoff (Quitman) 2014-20157-4APerry Wheat11-3 (4-1)11-3528391Won 4A 1st round playoff (Newton County) Won 4A 2nd round playoff (Vancleave) Won 4A 3rd round playoff (Poplarville) Lost 4A 4th round playoff (St. Stainislaus) 8 seasonsPerry Wheat55-2947-332,1221,74065.47% overall win percentage 43 seasons8 coaches18 playoff appearances 6 Division Titles 19 winning seasons
2005-2006 Season shortened by Hurricane Katrina.

## Arts

Pride of Purvis Band
The band, currently under direction of Nicole Allen, has achieved many honors.
Theatre
* Advanced to State Competition
Under the former direction of Parker McMullan, the Purvis High School Theatre Department has prevailed in many competitions across the state. Every year, Purvis High School attends the Southwest Drama Festival hosted at the University of Southern Mississippi. They have received over thirteen All-Star cast medals, a distinguished play award advancing them to the Mississippi Theatre Association Festival, and an Outstanding Leadership Award. Purvis also participates at the Mississippi Theatre Association Festival. At MTA, Purvis has placed in the design competitions for the past four years, received several all-star cast medals, and have won awards in the 10 Minute Play Competition. At the end of the 2006-2007 school year, Purvis was selected to attend the 2008 American High School Theatre Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. In early August 2008, Purvis traveled to Scotland and performed. Mrs. Parker McMullan stepped down as director at the end of the 2008-2009 school year. The Purvis High School Theatre Department is currently under the direction of Ms. Dana Coghlan and is in a process of "reorganization".
| Academic Year | Director | Honors and Awards |
| 2003-2004 | Parker McMullan | Southwest Drama Festival All Star Cast – Wesley Guthrie, Mississippi Theatre Association Acting Award in 10 Minute Play Competition – Casey Keith |
| 2004-2005 | Parker McMullan | Tennessee Williams Festival Honorable Mention in Scene Competition – Katie Johnson, Brandy Edick, Nathan Anderson, Southwest Drama Festival All Star Cast - Sassy Scheurich, Mississippi Theatre Association Best Writer in 10 Minute Play Competition – Matt Clark, ITS Festival All Superior Costume Design - Grant Stephens |
| 2005-2006 | Parker McMullan | Southwest Drama Festival All Star Cast – Nathan Anderson, Kristi Masters, Melissa Barber, Ryan Siccone, Brandy Edick, Heather Miller, Tish Holden, Mississippi Theatre Association Best Writer in 10 Minute Play Competition and Overall Best Production – Zac Evans, 2nd Place Costume Design – Grant Stephens, 2nd Place Publicity Design – Kristi Masters, ITS Festival All Superior Costume Design – Grant Stephens |
| 2006-2007 | Parker McMullan | Southwest Drama Festival Distinguished Play Award – Advancement to State Competition, (A.D. Brandy Edick/ T.D. Nicole Neal) All Star Cast – Nathan Anderson, Mississippi Theatre Association All Star Cast – Brandy Edick, Carrie Stanford, Kayleigh Webb, 1st Place Publicity Design – Nathan Anderson, 3rd Place Costume Design – Grant Stephens, American High School Theatre Festival chose The PHS Theatre Department to perform within an international forum. (Edinburgh, Scotland) |
| 2007-2008 | Parker McMullan | Southwest Drama Festival All Star Cast – Nathan Anderson, Mississippi Theatre Association Theatre for Youth All Star Cast – Nathan Anderson, Britni Ferguson, 1st Place Costume Design – Nathan Anderson, 3rd Place Publicity Design – Nathan Anderson, 3rd Place Scenic Design – Hannah Berman, Best Director in a Ten Minute Play - Kirstin Taylor |
| 2008-2009 | Parker McMullan | Southwest Drama Festival All Star Cast – Kirstin Taylor, Kayleigh Webb, Outstanding Leadership Award - Kirstin Taylor, Mississippi Theatre Association Best Director and Best Ensemble in 10 Minute Play Competition - Kirstin Taylor, All-Star Cast in 10 Minute Play Competition - Adam Rouse, 2nd Place Costume Design - Kayleigh Webb, 1st Place Publicity Design - Terry Smith |
| 2009-2010 | Dana Coghlan | Southwest Drama Festival All Star Cast – Shaun DeRusha |
| 2010-2011 | Dana Coghlan | Southwest Drama Festival All Star Cast – Haley Ford |