HANCEVILLE, ALA. — Wallace State’s cross country teams open the 2019 season tonight at Oxford, competing in the Jacksonville State Strut’s Season Opener.
Both Wallace State teams are the defending Alabama Community College Conference champions, and the squads return impactful sophomores this season.
“We’re excited and ready to go. I’m pleased with the progress both teams have made, and, once October hits, I think we have a great chance to be much deeper last than we were last year” said coach Stan Narewski. “We have good numbers, and we’re thrilled to have all of them. Everybody is different on this team and getting along great. It’s a good group.”
Tanner King returns this season for the Wallace State men after earning the 2018 ACCC Runner of the Year award. King, a Northside High grad, was the individual champion of last season’s conference meet, winning two meets overall for the Lions.
Hamza Abusammour, a Haleyville grad, is also back for the Lions after finishing fourth at last season’s conference meet.
Drake Patton rounds out the sophomore returners for Wallace State’s men.
The Lions’ freshman class consists of Dave Hubert (Albertville), Jonathan Jenkins (Beauregard), Josh Jenkins (Hewitt-Trussville), Preston Jones (J.B. Pennington), Carson Levario-Slaten (Hartselle), Taylor Nails (Southside), Blake Terry (Lawrence County), Jackson Tucker (Cullman), Jaden Vance (Moody) and Trenton Williams (Cold Springs).
Wallace State’s women’s team welcomes back three sophomores: Tatiana Padgett, Alexandra Holt and Makala Worrell.
Padgett, a Pinson Valley grad, finished third at the conference meet last season. Worrell finished sixth overall at the conference meet and Holt seventh overall. Worrell is from Northside High and Holt from Cullman.
The Lady Lions’ freshman class this season consists of Logan Ayers (St. Bernard), Julianna Ballew (Pleasant Valley), Maggie Graham (Lawrence County), Malia Howell (Hanceville), Hannah Huntley (Warren Central, Miss.), Amber Littles (Scottsboro), Erika Persons (Gardendale) McKenzee Reid (Haleyville), Ashleigh White (Cold Springs) and Bailey Wick (Gardendale).
Both cross country teams have meets scheduled this season at Montevallo, Huntingdon and UAH. The ACCC meet will be hosted by Lawson State at Montevallo on Oct. 25.
Jeff State joins Wallace State, Lawson State and Marion Military Institute in the conference this season.
Tony Crider returns for his third season as assistant coach.
Last season’s championship marked the sixth conference title all-time for the men’s program and third for the women.
The Lions are competing in their third fall season since the program was reintroduced to the athletics slate.
Wallace State volleyball
Wallace State’s 16th-ranked volleyball team begins play tonight at the Mississippi University for Women’s Owls Invitational.
The Lions (5-0) registered four match wins last weekend at the Spartanburg Methodist College Invitational, beating Spartanburg Methodist, Walters State, College of Lake County and Cape Fear CC.
In South Carolina, freshman Anna Renshaw combined for 152 assists, 38 digs and 17 kills for the Lions in the four matches. Harlee Kate Reid added 26 kills and 40 digs throughout.
Freshman Lauren Seibert finished the event with 81 digs for Wallace State, Amryi-Grace Paris had 34 digs and 12 kills, Tori Walker added 36 digs and eight kills, Diamond Jones had 28 kills, sophomore Jordan Hollis racked up 27 kills and Karlee Hale finished with 21 kills combined.
Beginning today, Wallace State is scheduled to play Talladega College, Judson College, the Mississippi University for Women and Pearl River CC at the Owls Invitational.
For more information about Wallace State athletics, visit www.athletics.wallacestate.edu or the athletics Facebook page at www.wallacestate.edu/athleticsfb.
