Page 16 - South Mississippi Living - August, 2024

COAST NOTE
story by Ansley Brent photos courtesy of WXXV
Ansley Brent.
I am a native of Hattiesburg, but I am also proud of my Mississippi Gulf Coast roots. My late grandfather, Dr. Charles Cartee, was Mr. Gulfport High 1962, and my grandmother, Beth Cartee, still resides in Gulfport. When I was just two weeks old, my older brother, Jonathan, read me stats off of his baseball cards, and I have truly loved sports every day since!
The very first time I played a team sport I was three years old and a member of the Purple Panthers t-ball team coached by my dad, Mitch. Starting in a purple uniform, I grew into black and gold jerseys playing both softball and volleyball at Oak Grove High School. Some of my very best memories are cheering for my beloved Southern Miss Golden Eagles (wish that cheerleading uniform still fit me)!
I graduated with honors from the University of Southern Mississippi in May of 2022, where I was a Luckyday Scholar, Junior Homecoming Maid, and was named Who’s Who for my class.
Two weeks after graduation, I was hired by WXXV as a Multimedia Journalist and Sports Reporter, then promoted to Morning News Anchor 16 months later.
I truly enjoy doing four and half hours of live television every day, Monday through Friday, even if it means starting the workday at 3:30 a.m. My main passion is sports, and I’m grateful for the opportunity of covering local sports in addition to anchoring mornings. I'm so blessed to shed light on a wide range of local student athletes, college athletics, the Biloxi Shuckers, and the New Orleans Saints!
What I love the most about my job is highlighting deserving student athletes all across the Coast through my WXXV Student Athlete of the Week segment, which is sponsored by Performance Tire and Wheel. The segment airs on Thursday Night while our local high schools are in session. You can nominate an inspiring student athlete today by visiting wxxv25.com.
During my journalism career, I am proud to have been voted as a finalist for the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters "Rookie of the Year" after one year in the industry, and most recently to be selected as one of the "100 Successful Women to Know on the Mississippi Gulf Coast." I am most proud of the platform entrusted to me to give people a voice and to invest in the next generation, just like my mother, Kelli, has demonstrated by example.
I consider it a privilege to be involved in our beautiful community, and I am looking forward to participating in
the Boys and Girls Club of South Mississippi's "Are You Smarter Than a Club Kid?" event. Please join me on August 22 at 6 p.m. at MGCCC's Immersive Media Performing Arts Center (iMPAC) in Gulfport for a fun and entertaining evening of trivia! Admission is free to attend, but my goal is to raise $1,000 for this incredible organization. You can go to bgcgulfcoast.org to sponsor or make a contribution. No amount is too small, and all is appreciated!
I hope to see you there as I support one of our many incredible organizations, and I hope you tune into WXXV News 25 Today whenever you are able.
16 | August 2024
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