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| GSCC News Gadsden State Cross Country Athletes Named Academic All Americans Gadsden State Community College Cross Country Coach Jim Pitchford is continuing his long standing practice of having teams which are not only competitive in the field but are also outstanding in the classroom. Three members of the team have been named to the National Junior College Athletic Association Coaches Academic All American team. Patricia Esangbedo of Huntsville along with Courtney Davis and Kaci Blackstone, both from Glencoe, were selected this year as the team maintained its high scholastic ranking. Both Esangbedo and Davis were also on the academic team last year and had a GPA of 4.0 in the fall of 2007. Blackstone is a freshman. For the second year in a row the entire Gadsden State team was academically ranked in the top 12. This year they placed 12th in the nation with a 3.389 GPA. Pitchford said that cross country team members are often excellent students because of the nature of the sport. "To excel in cross country, just like in the classroom, requires self discipline and perseverance. We have been fortunate throughout the years to have players with these traits," he explained. This year's team finished third in the Alabama Community College standings and Pitchford anticipates more good years in the future. Even though Esangbedo and Davis are graduating, Pitchford has three members returning for their sophomore year. He has already awarded scholarships to three freshmen and plans to award two more scholarships to deserving freshmen. |