BOAZ, ALA. – The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) announced that 35 Snead State Community College student-athletes are recipients of NJCAA Academic Awards.
For the second year in a row, the Snead State tennis team earned the top academic spot in women's tennis in the nation and finished third in the nation among the National Junior College Athletic Association's 3,400 teams, which spans multiple sports. The team finished with a 3.80 grade point average.
Three other Snead State teams earned spots amongst the NJCAA's top academic squads in their respective sports – volleyball (3.52), women's golf (3.10) and baseball (3.01).
A 4.0 GPA earns NJCAA First Team All-Academic while a 3.80-3.99 will earn NJCAA Second Team All-Academic. NJCAA Third Team All-Academic is award to student-athletes with a GPA of 3.60-3.79.
Of the 35 Parsons earning NJCAA All-Academic, 14 were named to the First Team for their 4.0 GPA.
NJCAA First Team All-Academic Recipients: Baseball- Jacob Coker (Southside), Jordan Nelson (Elkmont), Nathan Doss (Cullman); Women's Basketball- Paige Ward (Huntsville); Men's Basketball- Payton Youngblood (Birmingham); Women's Golf- Cati Harris (Arab); Softball- Torie Garner (Florence); Tennis- Alesha Triplett (Oneonta), Brandi Daniels (Arab), Morgan Thompson (Rockmart, GA); Volleyball- Ginny Hester (Boaz), Haley Howard (Huntsville), Hannah Smith (Cullman) Sabryn Chandler (Leesburg).
NJCAA Second Team All-Academic Recipients: Baseball- Brandon Matthews (Gadsden), Christian Leonard (Boaz), Ridge Watson (Arab); Men's Basketball- Ryan Dupree (Madison); Women's Golf- Jordan Gregoria (Alexandria); Softball- Alora Whitehead (Scottsboro), Courtney Blevins (Ider); Tennis- Alexis Daniels (Arab); Volleyball- Ashley Norris (Fort Payne), Jada Harris (Danville), Katie Jett (Powder Springs, GA), Morgan Stinson (Somerville).
NJCAA Third Team All-Academic Recipients: Baseball- Riley Shaw (Alexandria); Men's Basketball- Austin Ricks (Florence); Softball- Ashlyn Benefield (Pisgah), Cassidy Underwood (Gadsden), Paxton Nance (Pisgah), Sarah Shook (Hueytown); Tennis- Brooklyn Brothers (Douglas); Volleyball- Hannah Carter (Walnut Grove), Lily Hawkins (Crossville).
Pictured 2016-2017 Tennis Team: For the second year in a row, the Snead State tennis team earned the top academic spot in women's tennis in the nation and finished third in the nation among the National Junior College Athletic Association's 3,400 teams, which spans multiple sports. The team finished with a 3.80 grade point average. Pictured left to right is Olivia Sharpton of Cullman, Brandi Daniels of Arab, Morgan Thompson of Rockmart, GA, Katy Beth Bole of Hartselle, Brooklyn Brothers of Douglas, Alesha Triplett of Oneonta, Alexis Daniels of Arab and Hannah Rains of Albertville.