HANCEVILLE – Wallace State athletics had six teams recognized this week as National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-Academic honorable mention programs for the 2015-16 academic year after a record 35 student-athletes at the college were named NJCAA Athletes of Distinction.
Wallace State’s volleyball team (pictured) compiled a school-best 3.48 GPA during 2015-16. The Lions, who won their seventh consecutive conference title in 2015 under coach Randy Daniel, had five players recognized individually for their academic efforts.
Wallace State’s softball team finished with the next best mark with a 3.38 GPA. The Lady Lions had Julia Dailey, Shelby Brown, Sarah Ellen Battles and Megan Quimby earn NJCAA Pinnacle Award for Academic Excellence recognition for finishing with respective 4.0 GPAs. On the field, Wallace State softball won its 10th conference championship.
Wallace State’s baseball team compiled an ACCC-best 3.15 GPA after having 11 players earn individual recognition on Tuesday, including Jake Nelson and Braxton Light who each finished the academic year with a 4.0 GPA.
The women’s basketball team put together a 3.14 GPA. The Lady Lions had Morgan Higgins finish with a 4.0 GPA and three others earn academic recognition.
Both Wallace State golf teams also earned honorable mention acknowledgment. The women’s golf team compiled a 3.10 GPA in their inaugural season and men’s golf earned a 3.07 GPA.
A team has to achieve a 3.0 GPA to be designated as a NJCAA All-Academic Team.
The NJCAA presented 27 squads with Academic Team of the Year honors for the best GPA in the nation in their respective sports. Wallace State’s teams were among 687 programs to earn honorable mention recognition.
For the full list of individual winners, visit njcaa.org.
For more information about Wallace State athletics, visit www.wallacestate.edu.
