GADSDEN– Gadsden State Community College announced that 59 student-athletes earned national academic honors for the 2025-26 school year.

The National Junior College Athletic Association All-Academic Teams recognize student-athletes for their classroom achievement.

Additionally, six Cardinal teams qualified for NJCAA academic recognition by posting cumulative grade-point averages of at least 3.0.

First-Team Honorees

First-Team recognition goes to student-athletes who earn a 4.0 GPA.

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

Women’s basketball: Alyssa Freeman of Remlap; Jordan LeGrier of Atlanta, Georgia; and Katelyn St. Clair of Cedar Bluff.

Women’s cross country: 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.

Second-Team Honorees

Meanwhile, Second-Team recognition goes to student-athletes with GPAs ranging from 3.80 to 3.99.

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

Men’s cross country: Ethan Patterson of Gadsden.

Women’s cross country: 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.

Third-Team Honorees

Third-Team honorees earned GPAs ranging from 3.60 to 3.79.

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

Men’s basketball: Christopher Crawford of Gardendale.

Women’s basketball: Princessa Hernandez of Oneonta.

Men’s cross country: 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.

Six Cardinal Teams Recognized

Additionally, six Gadsden State teams qualified for NJCAA academic recognition.

Women’s cross country led the Cardinals with a 3.65 cumulative GPA. Softball followed with a 3.64, while men’s cross country recorded a 3.59.

Also qualifying were women’s volleyball with a 3.30 GPA, men’s tennis with a 3.29, and baseball with a 3.22.

Dr. Blake Lewis, the college’s athletic director and head baseball coach, said Gadsden State remains committed to developing the complete student-athlete.

“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,” Lewis said.

Moreover, Lewis said the college measures success through students’ personal growth, academic achievement, career preparation, and involvement in their communities.

More information about the Cardinals is available through Gadsden State Athletics.

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