Despite numerous California community college athletic programs opting out of competition this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Central Valley Conference student-athletes are still hard at work in the classroom.
On Tuesday, a total of 116 players from 41 teams were named to the 2020-21 California Community College Women's Basketball Coaches Association (CCCWBCA) Academic All-State Team, including 12 from Central Valley Conference programs.
Leading the way for the CVC was a conference-best five honorees from West Hills College Lemoore. Sophomore Ashley Anchondo tops the list with her 3.87 grade point average. Also honored were sophomores Alejandra Fernandez (3.63 GPA) and Nicole Mercado (3.78) as well as freshmen Morgan Turner (3.84) and Jessica Leal (3.77). The Golden Eagles are led by head coach Andrea Picchi.
Fresno City College and Merced College both had three student-athletes named to the list.
Freshman Aleecia Rosel was nearly perfect with a 3.92 GPA for FCC. Joining her were sophomores Shay Gibbons (3.82) and Jordyn Brown. The Rams are led by head coach Alex Fletcher.
Merced's three honorees were sophomore Hope Salsig (3.89), freshman Irecca Sha'nece Garrett (3.76) and sophomore Shaymany N Suarez Garcia (3.54). The Blue Devils are led by head coach Allen Huddleston.
Rounding out the CVC selections was Reedley College freshman Aurelie Bevao with an impressive 3.91 GPA. The Tigers are led by head coach Dan Kilbert.
To qualify for Academic All-State recognition these student-athletes had to compete for a year at their colleges, earn at least 24 units of credit and maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA.