Cardinal athletes, teams receive national and state academic recognition

The National Junior College Athletic Association announced in July the 2020-21 All-Academic Teams, which included three teams and 10 student-athletes from Gadsden State Community College. 

NJCAA student-athletes across the country were recognized for academic excellence as 820 teams earned at least a 3.0 GPA or better and 8,272 student-athletes achieved a GPA above 3.6. 

"Despite obstacles and adjustments, NJCAA student-athletes rose above challenges to display widespread academic success this year," said Dr. Christopher Parker, NJCAA president and CEO. "It is incredible to see these individuals competing again and accomplishing rich athletic and academic success concurrently. We commend their efforts." 

Gadsden State Cardinal teams qualifying for the All-Academic honors include men’s tennis with a 3.49 GPA, women’s basketball with a 3.4 GPA and women’s volleyball with a 3.3 GPA. To qualify as an academic team, student-athletes must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. 

In addition to team honors, the NJCAA recognizes the achievements of individual student-athletes who are eligible to earn academic honors by achieving an overall GPA of 3.6 or higher. 

Cardinal student-athletes with a 4.0 GPA receiving First Team honors include Joanie Lang of Somerville and Madalyn Owen of Decatur, both from women’s volleyball; Landon Macoy of Oxford from men’s tennis and Maggie Woodall of Fyffe from women’s basketball. Student-athletes with a 3.8 to 3.99 GPA named to the Second Team include Marie Woodall of Fyffe from women’s basketball and Leigh-Anna Tralongo of Madison from women’s volleyball. Student-athletes with a 3.6 to 3.79 named to the Third Team include Jac Myrick of Anniston from men’s tennis; Zoee Sitz of Southside and Audrey Walters of Albertville, both from women’s basketball and Sloan White of Hazel Green from women’s volleyball. 

In addition to the NJCAA honors, a number of Gadsden State Cardinals were named to the Alabama Community College Conference Spring 2021 Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll. The Honor Roll recognizes the academic achievement of student-athletes earning a 3.0 GPA or higher. 

Student-athletes named to the Honor Roll include Sloan Phillips of Ragland from men’s basketball; Bliss Brown of Southside, Tamara Garner of Huntsville, Joanie Lang of Somerville, Tori Moffatt of Huntsville, Madalynn Owen of Decatur, Leighanna Tralongo of Madison, Gracie West of Hokes Bluff and Sloan White of Hazel Green, all from women’s volleyball; Daigeona Guinn of Huntsville, Abbeygail Moon of Nauvoo, Donachia Ramson of Tuscmbia, Zoee Sitz of Southside, Audrey Walters of Albertville, Maggie and Marie Woodall, both of Fyffe, and Chloe Womack of Pisgah, all from women’s basketball; and Landon Macoy of Oxford, Jac Myrick of Anniston and Taylor Walls of Horton, all from men’s tennis. 

“It continues to be a rewarding experience for our coaching staff, managers and the College to see all of our student-athletes achieve success,” said Mike Cancilla, athletic director at Gadsden State. “We are proud to see this type of recognition for our athletes who have put in the hard work on the court and in the classroom, especially during a year that included an unusual season, limited fans at events and other difficulties all of our students endured.”



Cardinal athletes named to academic honor roll

Several Gadsden State Community College student-athletes were named to the Alabama Community College Conference Fall 2021 Commissioner's Honor Roll by achieving a 3.0 GPA or higher. 

"These student-athletes should be proud of themselves, as they have balanced academics with practice and games along with a pandemic,” said Dean Myrick, commissioner of the Alabama Community College Conference. "I am very proud of them, along with the faculty and staff at our amazing colleges for the work they do in preparing our student-athletes for life outside of athletics.” 

Cardinal student-athletes named to the Honor Roll include Tanner Arnold, Riddic Dugger, Noah Hefner, Joanah Hudson, Elijah Lones and Taylor Walls, all from the men’s tennis team; Jade Bell, Bliss Brown, Alexandria Ellis, Savannah Free, Tamara Garner, Savannah Manley, Maegan Milligan, Morgan Moseley, Madalynn Owen and Sidney Peterson, all from the women’s volleyball team; Azaad Ben, Parker Godwin and Sloan Phillips, all from the men’s basketball team; and Peyton Blevins, Halle Brown, Hannah Cohn, Chloe Davidson, Brittany Freeman, Daigeona “Dee” Guinn, Emma Martin, Montana Moats, Zoee Sitz, Grace Walters, Maggie Woodall and Marie Woodall, all from the women’s basketball team.