13 July 2006

Wallace State Athletes Earn National Recognition for Academics

HANCEVILLE, AL-- Wallace State earned a lion’s share of academic awards from the National Junior College Athletic Association recently. Four Wallace State athletic teams are among the NJCAA’s Spring Academic Teams of the Year and 10 Wallace State student-athletes were singled out for individual Academic All-American honors, including five Distinguished Academic All-Americans.

   The Wallace State golf, women’s basketball, softball and baseball teams all reached the 3.0 overall grade point average required for the distinction of Academic Team of the Year, placing them among the nation’s best teams academically.

   The Wallace State golf team led all Wallace State teams with a 3.48 GPA. The Lady Lions’ Basketball finished with an overall 3.47 GPA. The Wallace State softball team recorded 3.39 GPA for the spring semester. The Wallace State baseball team averaged a collective 3.0 GPA.

   Golfer Michael Rice of Corner; softball players Heather Tucker of Hendersonville, Tenn., and Haley Wilkins of Addison; and Basketball players Savanna Calvert and Mary Lauren Mills, both of Good Hope, were named Distinguished Academic All-American, a level of prestige that requires a grade point average of 3.8 or better over 45 or more semester hours. Rice was recognized as a 4.0 Achiever.

   Academic All-American by Sport honors, bestowed on those sophomore student-athletes who have maintained at least a 3.6 GPA over 45 or more semester hours, went to golfers Matt Schlosser of Good Hope, Justin Dailey of Hoover and Evan Wideman of Florence; women’s basketball player Brittany Allison of Gadsden; and softball player Katie Veres of Vinemont.

   “We are exceedingly proud of the performance of our student-athletes not only on the playing field, but especially in the classroom. We commend each and every one of them on the hard work and dedication it took to achieve this honor,” said Wallace State President Vicki Hawsey.

   “Our athletes are encouraged to excel in the classroom and to graduate,” said Wallace State athletic director Randy Putman. “If we’re not challenging them to succeed academically, then I feel we are failing them.”

   All Wallace State student-athletes have access to student support services, like study groups and tutoring sessions. The Wallace State ACTION Center provides orientation advising for students. The Learning Success Center conducts workshops on topics such as study skills and time management as well as providing tutoring services.

2005-06 Golf Team members: Justin Blevins of Dora, Ethan Brown of Huntsville, Josh Butler of Hayden, Justin Dailey of Hoover, Walt Drake of Vinemont, Jonathan Gunnels of Piedmont, Nick Hughes of Alexandria, Michael Rice of Corner, Matt Schlosser of Good Hope, and Evan Wideman of Florence.

2005-06 Women’s Basketball Team members: Brittany Allison of Gadsden, Whitney Baldwin of Gurley, Lauren Bice of Guntersville, Katie Brandon of Vinemont, Savannah Calvert of Good Hope, Tamika Dukes of Birmingham, Heather Gore of Somerville, Keri Havis of Guntersville, Haley Lewey of Red Bay, Mary Lauren Mills of Good Hope, Jessica Shearer of Birmingham, Stephanie Solomon of Belmont, Miss., Cassie Stuart of Rome, Ga., Jackie Townsend of Arab, and Lisa Tucker of Atlanta.

2005-06 Softball Team members: Whitney Banks of Jasper, Brittany Bearden of Birmingham, Kristen Beddingfield of Huntsville, Ashley Elmore of Wetumpka, Tara Fair of Tuscaloosa, Rachel Fleming of Gaston, Delaina Franklin of Pleasant Grove, Whitney Horton of Flintville, Tenn., Darbie Howell of Mobile, Lindsey McDaniel of Tuscaloosa, Rachel Peoples of Springville, Stacie Sanders of Huntsville, Amber Stricklin of Waynesboro, Tenn., Heather Tucker of Hendersonville, Tenn., Courtney Underwood of Huntsville, Haley Wilkins of Addison, and Katie Veres of Vinemont.

2005-06 Baseball Team members: Matt Andrews of Heidelberg, Miss., Logan Eads of Nauvoo, Jake Elmore of Pleasant Grove, Ben Erichsen of New South Wales, Australia, Derek Goughenour of Millersville, Md., Dustin Hamilton of Hartselle, Chris Hoffer of Thornville, Ohio, Derek Holland of Newark, Ohio, Joe Irwin of Boarman, Ohio, Brett Johnson of McCalla, Brandon Lee of Cullman, Ryan Kelly of Thorsby, Jamie Manning of Empire, Damien Mazzetti of Harmony, Penn., Chase Oliver of Falkville, Gerard Sokolis of Baltimore, Md., Daine Solomon of Havre, Montana, Cole Thornton of Athens, Dane Vansant of Columbiana, Nick Watts of Indian Harbor, Fla., Zealous Wheeler of Sylacauga, Jorge Williams of Dora, Rodney Wodson of Queensland, Australia, Graham Wright of Hanceville, and Wes Yakopcic of Marmora, N.J.

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  Kristen Holmes
  Director, Communications and Marketing
  Wallace State Community College
  P.O. Box 2000
  Hanceville, AL 35077
  256/352-8118
  E-mail: Kristen.Holmes@WallaceState.edu