Gadsden State Cardinal Athletes, Teams Honored by NJCAA

---

Fifty-nine Gadsden State Community College student-athletes have been named to the National Junior College Athletic Association All-Academic Teams for 2025-26. The All-Academic Teams recognize student-athletes across the country for their dedication in the classroom.   

In addition to recognizing individuals, the NJCAA also awards the Academic Team of the Year for each sport. To qualify as an academic team, student-athletes must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. 

Cardinal teams qualifying include men’s tennis (3.29), women’s cross country (3.65), men’s cross country (3.59), baseball (3.22), softball (3.64) and women’s volleyball (3.30).  

NJCAA All-Academic First Team athletes with a 4.0 GPA include:

Baseball: Aiden Bee of Clanton; Grayson Hays of Athens; Matthew Lackey of Birmingham; and Kole Nicholson of Northport

Basketball (Women’s): Alyssa Freeman of Remlap; Jordan LeGrier of Atlanta, Ga.; and Katelyn St. Clair of Cedar Bluff  

Cross Country (Women’s): Abbie Dickeson of White Plains and Trinity Pope of Anniston

Softball: Addison Draiss of Helena; Lauren Farmer of Attalla; Lily Henry of Pleasant Valley; Lacey Nichols of Moody; Pressley Slayton of Alexandria; Evelyn Splawn of Vestavia Hills; Katelyn St. Clair of Cedar Bluff; and Kirby Wisner of Sylvania

Tennis: Luke Russo of Springville; Jackon Stanford of Gardendale; and Dennis Tucker of Rainbow City

Volleyball: Allie Bryant of Pleasant Valley; Savannah Hall of Valley Head; and Rylin St. Clair of Leesburg 

Athletes earning a 3.80-3.99 GPA are named to the Second Team. Cardinal athletes named include:

Baseball: Camden Barnett of Northport; Jackson Jones of Muscle Shoals; Ryder Porter of Douglasville, Ga.; and Mckade Watson of Wetumpka

Cross Country (Men’s): Ethan Patterson of Gadsden

Cross Country (Women’s): Kylie Davis of Anniston; Angel Hernandez Martinez of Guntersville; Madeline Holt of Jacksonville; and Alexis Renn of Prattville

Softball: Gracie Beach of Huntsville and Rachel McCown of Gurley

Tennis: Bryson Martin of Boaz

Volleyball: Ellie Carden of Ohatchee; Kaden Pritchett of Anniston; and Brianna Williams of Fort Payne 

Cardinal student-athletes with a 3.60 to 3.79 named to the Third Team include:

Baseball: Atticus Barton of Hoover; Nicolas Bellatoni and Rickey Bellatoni, both of Boynton Beach, Fla.; Eli Bozeman of Oxford; Cooper Jarvis of Gardendale; Nicolas McCord and Peyton Parkinson, both of Birmingham; Nolan Moore of Leeds; Jacques Walker of Braselton, Ga.; and Clayton Whitfield of Vandiver

Basketball (Men’s): Christopher Crawford of Gardendale

Basketball (Women’s): Princessa Hernandez of Oneonta

Cross Country (Men’s): Caleb Gay of Alexandria and William Spruill of Roanoke

Softball: Peyton Earp of Northport; Abby Payne of Hokes Bluff; Chloe Phillips of Moody; Julia Snead of Sardis; and Molly Weaver of Sylvania

Tennis: Tristen Rogers of Fort Payne

“Gadsden State is committed to developing the whole student, both on and off the field,” said Dr. Blake Lewis, athletic director and head baseball coach at the college. “Our goal is to help student-athletes grow as individuals, succeed in the classroom and develop the discipline and character needed to compete at a high level. While athletic achievement is important, we measure success by the many ways our student-athletes grow, reach their goals and prepare for meaningful careers and lives as engaged members of their communities.”

For more information about Gadsden State Athletics, visit GoCardinals.GadsdenState.edu. 

---

• Categories:
• Athletics
• General

• Tags:

---