Wallace State has school-record 41 student-athletes recognized by NJCAA for academic achievements

Wallace State has school-record 41 student-athletes recognized by NJCAA for academic achievements

HANCEVILLE, ALA. – Wallace State athletics had a school-record 41 student-athletes recognized recently for their academic achievements during the 2016-17 year in list released by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).

Wallace State had 11 students achieve a 4.0 GPA, earning them NJCAA All-Academic First-Team honors.

Wallace State baseball had a team-high five players earn First-Team honors with a 4.0 GPA: Kolby Robinson, Heath Olive, Wallace Henry, Blake Schilleci and Palmer Ford.

Wallace State softball had Abby Connally and Jodie Farnetti achieve a 4.0 GPA and also earning the 4.0 mark were Damon Calvert (men's tennis), Morgan Higgins (women's basketball), August Newberry (volleyball) and Nicki Rakestraw (women's tennis).

Wallace State had 17 players make the NJCAA All-Academic Second Team for compiling a GPA between 3.80-3.99 during the 2016-17 academic year. The second team honorees were Emily Wilson (volleyball and women's tennis) and Macy Smith (volleyball and women's tennis); volleyball's Kaylee Maddox, Jamie Pittman, Kati Thomas, and MaKenzie Bearden; softball's Ashton Gaddy, Bailee Daugherty, Karra Elam and Tanner Robertson; women's basketball's Alex Lowery, Ahziala Wright and Jasmine Hollis; Alex Carter and Check Freeman from men's tennis; Molly Whitlock from women's tennis; and baseball's Maison Goodwin.

Wallace State had 13 players named to the NJCAA All-Academic Third Team for compiling a GPA between 3.60-3.79. Baseball's Austin Triplett, Brett Spires, Dalton Sinquefield, Kevin Donovan, Seth McWaters, Peyton Hayes and Tanner Rusk were all third-team recipients. Also achieving third-team status were Donnie Camp and Toddric Stallworth from the men's tennis team; softball's Savannah Bolton; volleyball's Abby Borden; women's basketball's Karlie Hudson; and Jaylen McCoy of the men's basketball team.

Last summer, Wallace State had 35 student-athletes earn NJCAA academic recognition.