HANCEVILLE, Ala. – Wallace State’s women’s cross country team is the National Junior College Cross Country Coaches Association Academic Team of the Year after the squad produced a 4.0 GPA during the Fall 2019 semester.
Wallace State’s women’s team during the 2019 fall season consisted of Logan Ayers, Juliana Ballew, Maggie Graham, Alexandra Holt, Malia Howell, Hannah Huntley, Amber Littles, Tatiana Padgett, Erika Persons, McKenzee Reid, Breanna Smith, Ashleigh White, Bailey Wick and Makala Worrell. Marlena Morales was the manager.
All women were named an Academic All-American by the organization.
“This achievement is what it’s all about. One of our specific goals is to have our runners earn a great education, and we’re at a remarkable college with positive outcomes. A 4.0 GPA is quite the remarkable outcome and as it good as it gets,” said Wallace State women’s cross country coach Stan Narewski. “These women are remarkable people to be around. They’re all high-character women. They put a lot of hard work and effort into everything they try to accomplish. It’s great when you have student-athletes dialed in on academics and making good decisions.”
A 3.83 GPA was the runner-up mark to Wallace State’s in the women’s ranks.
Wallace State’s women’s cross country excelled outdoors as well during the fall season. The Lady Lions won their second straight Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) championship meet, placing seven women among the top eight finishers.
The Wallace State men’s team finished eighth in the country with a 3.75 GPA.
Wallace State’s men’s cross country team also won its second ACCC conference championship and had Hamza Abussamour named the 2019 ACCC Runner of the Year.
Wallace State’s men’s team was made up of Abussamour, Tanner King, Jonathan Jenkins, Jaden Vance, Joshua Jenkins, Taylor Nails, Carson Levario-Slaton, Dave Hubert, Preston Jones, Drake Patton, Blake Terry, Jackson Tucker and Trentan Williams. Kolter Lindsay was the manager.
Each runner on both teams recently received a certificate if they earned a 3.4 GPA or better, signifying Academic All-American distinction.
Narewski also praised the work of the employees in Wallace State’s Tutoring Lab, where members of both teams study and seek assistance on a weekly basis.
For more information about Wallace State athletics, visit www.athletics.wallacestate.edu or the athletics Facebook page at www.wallacestate.edu/athleticsfb.
