WSCC Athletics Roundup: Cross Country Teams Shine at JSU Foothills Invitational; Volleyball Wins Away Matches

Hanceville, AL — The Wallace State Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams delivered strong performances at the 18th Annual JSU Foothills Invitational on Aug. 30 at Choccolocco Park in Oxford. Competing against a deep field, the men’s team secured a fourth place finish out of 19 teams, while the women’s team claimed eighth place out of 20 teams in their respective 5K races. 

Men’s Team Top Five Finishers 

Freshman Tyler Anthony of Fort Payne led the charge for the men’s team, finishing 12th overall with a time of 15:42.16. Freshman Elliot Denard of Springville followed with a 21st-place finish, clocking in at 15:47.04. Sophomore Luke Kennedy of Huntsville crossed the finish line in 15:53.27 to take 25th place. Freshman Daniel Leija of Albertville finished 33rd with a time of 16:04.60. Sophomore David Robles of Springville finished 35th with a time of 16:07.24. 

Women’s Team Top Five Finishers 

On the women’s side, freshman Grace Gosline of Arab led the Lions, finishing 37th overall with a time of 20:02.63. Freshman Reagan Parris of Bremen followed closely, placing 40th with a time of 20:06.40. Sophomore Eden Brumer of Fort Thomas, Ky., finished 44th with a time of 20:20.90. Sophomore Kendall Harbison of Cullman placed 47th with a time of 20:29.44. Sophomore Claire Deaton of Madison finished 60th with a time of 20:53.64. 

With strong placements at the JSU Foothills Invitational, both the men’s and women’s cross country teams have set a solid foundation for the rest of the season. The teams look to build on this momentum as they prepare for the University of Montevallo Falcon Classic on Sept. 6, held at the University of Montevallo Cross Country Course. The women's 5K begins at 7:30 p.m. and the men's 8K at 8:15 p.m. 

Wallace State Volleyball vs. Cleveland State Community College on Aug. 29 (3 – 1)  

The Wallace State Volleyball team claimed a victory against Cleveland State Community College on Aug. 29.  

Freshman Kailey Dickerson of Alexandria led the offensive charge with 14 kills on 42 attempts, adding five service aces and three digs. Her powerful serves and consistent attacking were key factors in the Lions' dominant performance. Dickerson is currently ranked first in the NJCAA Division 2 rankings for most kills, with 151 kills across 10 matches, averaging 3.77 kills per set.  

Sophomore Chloe Jackson of Athens contributed 10 kills with a .500 hitting percentage, providing stability and efficiency on the court. Jackson's experience was evident as she helped guide the team through challenging moments. 

Freshman Molly Shiflett from Corner also had a strong showing, recording 10 kills and nine digs, along with two service aces. Shiflett's all-around play made an impact in both offense and defense. 

Freshman Ali Price of Rainsville orchestrated the Lions’ offense with 25 assists, while also contributing five digs. Price's distribution allowed multiple players to contribute effectively, keeping the Cleveland State defense off balance. 

Freshman Rachel Mecklenburg of Madison showcased her versatility with seven kills, 13 assists and six digs, playing a crucial role in both setting up attacks and defending.  

Defensively, freshman Amelia Fowler of Sardis City added eight digs and one service ace, while freshman Ava Calvarese of Fairview chipped in with six digs and one kill. Freshman Abby McDonald of Cullman also made her presence felt with seven digs, bolstering the Lions' backcourt defense. 

Wallace State vs. Itawamba Community College at Chattanooga State Invitational on Aug. 30 (3-1) 

The Wallace State Volleyball team won against Itawamba Community College on Aug. 30, during the Chattanooga State Invitational, building on their early season record with a strong performance. 

Freshman Kailey Dickerson of Alexandria led the Lions with 15 kills on 43 attempts, adding eight digs to her stat line. Her aggressive play at the net was instrumental in Wallace State’s win. 

Sophomore Chloe Jackson of Athens also contributed significantly, recording 11 kills and four block assists. Jackson’s ability to perform under pressure helped the Lions maintain their momentum.  

Freshman Rachel Mecklenburg from Madison showed her versatility on the court, tallying nine kills, eight digs and two assists.  

Freshman Molly Shiflett of Corner chipped in with six kills and one block assist, playing a vital role in the team’s overall success. 

Freshman Ali Price of Rainsville orchestrated offensively with 40 assists and nine digs. Price's distribution was key in setting up the Lions’ attack throughout the match. 

Defensively, sophomore Valerie Rodriguez of Kissimmee, Fla., led with 11 digs while adding five kills on five attempts, showing her efficiency with a hitting percentage of 1.000. Freshman Amanda Monge of Davenport, Fla. contributed 10 digs and three kills. 

Wallace State demonstrated resilience with a strong roster, bouncing back from a third-set loss to clinch the match in the fourth set. The team will look to carry this momentum into the away match against Gadsden State Community College on Sept. 4. 

The Lady Lions open their home season at Traditions Bank Arena in Tom Drake Coliseum on Sept. 6 against Northeast Mississippi Community College at 1 p.m. and Itawamba Community College at 5 p.m. during the Alabama/Mississippi Crossover Tournament hosted by Wallace State.   

The Wallace State Volleyball team is currently 6-4.  

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About Wallace State 

Wallace State Community College (Ala.), a member of the Alabama Community College System, is a comprehensive community college in north central Alabama offering more than 200 options in academic, health and technical programs of study leading to an associate degree, certificate or transfer, as well as workforce-credit training and adult education. An Achieving the Dream Leader College, nationally recognized by the Aspen Institute as a finalist for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, ranked by Southern Business and Development among the Top 3 institutions in the South for workforce development, named a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing and the National Security Administration, rated the Top Online Community College in Alabama, a Military Friendly Institution and an All-Steinway School, Wallace State is an outstanding place for students to pursue their education and career goals. Classes are offered online and on campus, day, evening and on weekends, with numerous start dates each year. Visit Wallace State’s beautiful main campus located on 300-acres in Hanceville, Ala., our satellite location in downtown Oneonta, Ala., find us online at www.wallacestate.edu, or call 256.352.8000.