MUSCLE SHOALS & PHIL CAMPBELL, ALA. -- Northwest-Shoals Community College (NW-SCC) Patriots Athletic Director Taylor Franks announced today (11/16) that the college will add men and women's cross country running teams for the 2023 fall semester.

"It has been amazing to see the excitement at our College and in the community from bringing back athletics last year," said NW-SCC President Dr. Jeff Goodwin. "We said more athletic teams would be coming, and we are pleased to announce the addition of men and women's cross country teams. We received our official notification from the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) and the ACCC (Alabama Community College Conference) late last week."

The Patriots last fielded a women's cross country team in 2000 and men's team in 2008. The College will begin the search process for one coach to head both teams.

According the Patriots Athletic Director Taylor Franks, the addition of the cross country teams should allow many talented runners in the area the opportunity to compete without leaving home. "We have so many successful high school runners and programs in this part of the state," stated Franks. "We look forward to having them compete for championships on the collegiate level with the Patriots."

Patriots cross country teams will join other Alabama Community College schools in competing under the umbrella of the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC), which is headed by Commissioner Dean Myrick.

"It's great to have Northwest Shoals continue to grow in athletics," said Commissioner Myrick. "The Conference has seen cross country grow tremendously over the past few years. It is a lifelong sport that continues to prosper from 0 to 3 to 8 in 2022 to now 13 teams in the fall of 2023. We look forward to continued Conference growth in all areas, and Northwest-Shoals has been a big part of that current growth."