Former MGCCC tennis player Skyler Flowers dies in wreck

PERKINSTON — Former Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College men's tennis player Skyler Flowers was killed Saturday in a car accident in Holmes County, Miss.

"He was a standup guy," Gulf Coast coach Gary Bourgeois said. "He played his sophomore year with a torn rotator cuff. He would not let that injury stand in the way of him playing and competing. He loved his team and his teammates. He was the consummate team player. Even though he was going to have surgery, he went to nationals to support them."

Flowers was killed driving back to Starkville from teaching at a tennis center in New Albany. Bourgeois said he'd made a full recovery from his surgery and was playing his best tennis, and he was planning to play at Belhaven next year.

Flowers, who went to Ocean Springs High School, played No. 1 singles and doubles at Perkinston during the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons, helping the Bulldogs to a 26-2 MACJC record. The 2014-15 team went undefeated in the conference during the regular season.

He was named Academic All-MACJC as a sophomore, an award for students with a GPA between 3.25-379.

At Ocean Springs, he won three straight Class 6A boys singles titles, and helped the Greyhounds win their fourth consecutive team title as a senior.

A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held Thursday, May 25, from 3-6 p.m. at Treasure Oak Country Club in Ocean Springs. Visitation will be Saturday, May 27, from 10-11 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Winona. A graveside service will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Winona. Arrangements are being handled by Oliver Funeral Home in Winona.