Wallace State athletics: Men’s tennis, men’s golf and women’s tennis each finish season among Top 10 at nationals
HANCEVILLE, ALA. — Wallace State’s men’s tennis, men’s golf and women’s golf teams each recently finished the 2019 season in the Top 10 at their respective National Junior College Athletic Association Division I Championships.
Wallace State’s men’s tennis team was tied for first after the first day of action in Tucson, Ariz., and ultimately placed 10th overall, racking up 18 points over the four-day event.
The Lions, who won the 2019 Alabama Community College Conference championship, placed the highest among their league foes at the national championship, improving 15 spots from last year’s finish at No. 25.
Sophomore Andrew Bizilia had the best individual finish for Wallace State, advancing to the quarterfinals. He earned a 6-2, 6-3, match win in the second round over Prairie State’s Ulises Barradas.
Ethan Aycock (7-5, 6-1), Nick Hester, Zachary Mastin (6-2, 6-0) and William Brackin (6-1, 6-1) each notched first-round singles wins for Wallace State.
In doubles, Aycock and Hester advanced to the quarterfinals, winning 6-0, 6-0, over a Kaskaskia College duo, and 6-1, 6-2, over a Pima College pair.
Wallace State’s Bizilia and Ben Hicks (6-3, 6-3) won a first-round doubles match along with Sebastian Arce and Brackin (7-5, 6-1).
Bizilia and Hester were the lone sophomores on this season’s roster.
Arce was named the 2019 ACCC Player of the Year and assistant coach Tim Garner was the 2019 ACCC Coach of the Year.
Wallace State men’s golf
Wallace State’s men’s golf team finished tied for ninth at the NJCAA Division I National Championship at the Duran Golf Club in Melbourne, Fla.
As a group, the Lions carded a 10-over par 1162 during the four-day event.
At nationals, sophomore Connor Bruce capped a memorable sophomore season with the Lions, carding a 5-under 283 (71-71-71-70), for an eighth-place finish. Bruce, a Mortimer Jordan grad, was named a NJCAA Division I 2nd-team All-American after being named to three All-Tournament teams this season, including earning a spot on the ACCC All-Tournament team. He was the low medalist at the Coastal Alabama Invitational in February.
Bruce will continue his golf career at Huntingdon College in Montgomery.
Matt Smith tied for 30th for Wallace State with a 2-over 290 (71-76-68-75), and Carter Goodwin finished with a 6-over 294 (71-79-72-72) at nationals.
Cody Maddox shot a 10-over 298 and Anthony Lumpkin a 17-over 305 for the Lions.
Bruce and Smith were NJCAA All-District 4 team nominees.
In addition to Bruce, sophomores on the team are Maddox, Lumpkin and Garrison Smith.
Wallace State’s men, led by Sylas Elliott this season, made the program’s 24th NJCAA Division I National Championship appearance.
Wallace State women’s golf
Wallace State’s women’s golf team finished 10th at its National Championship in Daytona Beach, Fla.
The Lady Lions notched the program’s best finish at nationals in four trips after winning a third consecutive ACCC Tournament championship. They entered nationals winning four tournaments in a row.
Michaela Bryan recorded Wallace State’s top finish, carding a 254 (79-83-92). Bryan capped a wonderful Wallace State career. The sophomore from Madisonville, La., won four individual low medalist titles with the program, including the 2018 ACCC Tournament low medalist crown.
Bryan has signed to play next season at Loyola University, while Maci Yeager is headed to Faulkner University.
Freshman Claire Newby finished with a 280 at nationals, while Yeager added a 286.
Abby Grimes and Paige Lemm rounded out the field for Wallace State.
J.J. Adams was named the 2019 ACCC Women’s Golf Coach of the Year.
For more information about Wallace State athletics, visit www.athletics.wallacestate.edu or the athletics Facebook page at www.wallacestate.edu/athleticsfb.
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