When she was a freshman, Gloria Hall was thrust into an awkward role with Warren Central’s soccer team.

There were no returning starters and she was one of the few players with experience. Coaches and teammates looked to her to carry a heavy burden on and off the field. She handled it well and continued carrying it all the way through her high school career.

The midfielder scored goals. She assisted with them. She played defense and did everything needed for the Lady Vikes to be successful. Now, she’s capping it off the same way she started — as the best player in Warren County.

Hall, a senior, led Warren Central to the MHSAA Class 6A semifinals this season and earned her second Vicksburg Post girls soccer Player of the Year award.

“This sport’s definitely something that I’m passionate about, so to earn all these achievements makes the program proud,” Hall said.

Hall was also the Player of the Year as a freshman in 2021, when she scored 20 goals. She had 14 this season, as well as 10 assists, while playing midfielder. She was a striker earlier in her high school career and finished with 64 goals in six varsity seasons.

In another bit of career symmetry, Hall exited as one of only three players in WC’s senior Class of 2024, along with defender Riley Martin and forward Adi Love Leist.

A half-dozen starters were sophomores or younger, including leading scorer Jordan Polk (21 goals), a sophomore, and eighth-grader Allie Mason (11 goals).

Hall said working with so many young players had its challenges, but by the end of the season it wasn’t an issue at all. The Lady Vikes went 7-2 after New Year’s and finished with a 16-6 record.

“In the beginning it was very hard, but toward the end of the season we all came very close to each other and the age doesn’t really matter when you’re on a team,” Hall said. “Our team wasn’t big on seniority, which I think is important when you’re on a team.”

Hall’s last season might have been her best, since it was the best for the Lady Vikes in a long time.

Warren Central won the MHSAA Region 2-6A championship, and its first playoff game since 2005. Then it won another to reach the state semifinals for the first time in school history.

The run ended with a loss to Saltillo, which went on to win its second Class 6A championship in a row. That hardly dampened what they accomplished.

“An incredible feeling,” Hall said. “We worked so hard for that. I can’t even put into words how proud I am of these girls.”

While one stage of Hall’s soccer career is over, another is just beginning. She has signed to play at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

“I’m looking forward to it so much,” Hall said. “This is something I’m passionate about, so to play at the next level is a dream I’ve always had and I’m accomplishing it.”

Vicksburg Post girls Players of the Year
2024 – Gloria Hall, Warren Central
2023 – Amari Johnson, Vicksburg
2022 – Trinity McGloster, Vicksburg
2021 – Gloria Hall, Warren Central
2020 – Madelyn Polk, Warren Central
2019 – Brantlee Richards, St. Aloysius
2018 – Mary Ranager, St. Aloysius
2017 – Mikayla Banks, Vicksburg
2016 – Sara McDaniel, St. Aloysius
2015 – Mikayla Banks, Vicksburg
2014 – Mikayla Banks, Vicksburg
2013 – Tabitha Hayden, Vicksburg
2012 – Lindsey Barfield, Warren Central
2011 – Riley Griffith, St. Aloysius
2010 – Tabitha Hayden, Vicksburg
2009 – Rebecca Wilson and Diari Gilliam, Vicksburg
2008 – Kristine Fischenich, Warren Central
2007 – Mary Clare Scurria, Warren Central
2006 – Andrea Harrison, St. Aloysius
2005 – Emily Coker, Warren Central
2004 – Brandi Parker, Vicksburg
2003 – Brandi Parker, Vicksburg
2002 – Brandi Parker, Vicksburg
2001 – Courtney Chapman, Vicksburg
2000 – Courtney Hubert, Warren Central
1999 – Kristin Chapman, Vicksburg