Tennis teams win ACCC Championships

ALBERTVILLE, AL — Wallace State’s Men’s and Women’s Tennis teams each earned Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) titles on Saturday at Sand Mountain Recreation Area in Albertville. The men won their fifth consecutive ACCC championship, with the women winning their second. Coach Tim Garner was named ACCC Coach of the Year for the fifth time in the men’s division and second time in the women’s division.

The men’s team won 18 matches, earning the first-place finish over Coastal Alabama-South (8) and Bevill Sate (1).

Sebastian Gamez, a sophomore from Canare, Columbia was named the ACCC Men’s Player of the Year.

The men have been unbeaten this year in regular-season conference play at 6-0, with an overall record of 15-4. They will compete in the NJCAA Nationals May 15-19 in McKinney, Texas. They are currently ranked 8th in the nation by Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA).

The women also won 18 matches, besting Central Alabama (6) and Coastal Alabama-South (3).

Kim Coots, a freshman from Huntsville, was named the ACCC Women’s Player of the year.

The women were 8-0 in regular season conference play, with an overall record of 12-8. They will compete in the NJCAA Nationals May 6-10 in Tyler, Texas. The women are currently ranked 14th in the nation by ITA.

Garner credited the freshman on both the men’s and women’s teams for coming through this year to help lead their teams.

“My freshman really stepped up this year,” he said, adding several have offers from four-year universities to play next season.

Garner is looking forward to seeing what his players can do at nationals next month.

“If we play to our potential, anybody can do some major damage at nationals,” he said. “I wouldn’t count any of our players out at the national tournament, that’s for sure.”

Registration for summer and fall semesters in underway. Summer 2023 classes begin May 24. Fall 2023 classes begin Aug. 18. For more information, visit www.wallacestate.edu, call 256.352.8000 or come by Lion Central in the lobby of the James C. Bailey Center Monday-Wednesday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or Friday 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.