Gadsden, AL – Gadsden State Community College has announced that 40 of its student-athletes have been named to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-Academic Teams for the 2023-24 academic year. These teams honor student-athletes nationwide who have demonstrated exceptional dedication in the classroom, achieving a GPA of 3.60 or higher. Across the country, a total of 12,245 student-athletes were recognized for their academic accomplishments.
The NJCAA also awards the Academic Team of the Year for each sport, recognizing teams whose members maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Four Gadsden State Cardinal teams earned this distinction: men’s tennis (3.42), women’s cross country (3.28), baseball (3.24), and women’s volleyball (3.21). The teams are led by head coaches Buster Stewart (men’s tennis), Jackson Millander (women’s cross country), Blake Lewis (baseball), and Courtney Brothers (volleyball).
Among the standout athletes, those named to the NJCAA All-Academic First Team, having achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA, include:
- Baseball: Aiden Bee (Clanton), Andrew Hardy (Pell City), Brant Stringer (Attalla), Chris McNeil (Chelsea), Cody Russell (Lawrenceville, Ga.), Mason Freeman (Madison), Tyler Mays (Winfield)
- Women’s Basketball: Kaitlyn Hill (Blountsville), McKayla Bean (Gadsden), Jaxson Sizemore (Glencoe)
- Men’s Cross Country: DeShaun Foster (Alexandria), Travis Cooley (Lincoln)
- Women’s Cross Country: Jordan Clark (Arab)
- Women’s Volleyball: Lauren Davis (New Market), Sera Potter (Ashville)
Student-athletes earning a 3.80-3.99 GPA were named to the Second Team, including:
- Baseball: Hunter Humphries (Attalla), Charlie Jones (Oneonta), Nick Ford (Roswell, Ga.), Robert Templin (Troy)
- Men’s Basketball: Kolby Battles (Pleasant Valley)
- Men’s Tennis: Kamron Palacio (Cedartown, Ga.), John David Cunningham (Rome, Ga.)
- Women’s Volleyball: Ella Garmany (Centre)
Cardinal athletes named to the Third Team for earning a GPA between 3.60 and 3.79 include:
- Baseball: Brendon Byrd (Gulf Shores), Brandon Fears (Snellville, Ga.), Blake Hall (Hazel Green), Trent House (Phenix City), Jonathon Isbell (Moody), Chase Saul (Pelham), Josh Smith (Conyers, Ga.), Colton Willmon (Helena)
- Women’s Cross Country: Keria Johnson (Hokes Bluff), McKinley Kay (Glencoe), Gabrielle More (Trussville)
- Women’s Basketball: Neely Damron (Birmingham)
- Women’s Volleyball: Ziniah Hardy (Southside)
- Men’s Tennis: Samuel Arnold (Cedartown, Ga.), Elijah Lones (Hazel Green), Charles McIntire (Grant), Heath Stinson (Pell City)
Blake Lewis, the College’s athletic director and head baseball coach, expressed pride in the achievements of Gadsden State’s student-athletes. “Gadsden State is investing in people and not just in athletes,” Lewis said. “Our coaches and staff work tirelessly to assist our student-athletes in gaining the skills to be well-rounded students first and competitive athletes second. Success can be measured in so many different ways, and we are so proud to see these young people achieve their goals, excel academically, and go on to be productive members of our community.”
These accolades reflect Gadsden State’s commitment to fostering academic and athletic excellence, providing student-athletes with the tools to succeed both on and off the field.
