Wallace State Men’s Tennis Finishes 8th Nationally at NJCAA DI Championship

Florence, S.C. — The Wallace State Community College Men’s Tennis Team delivered a strong showing at the 2025 NJCAA Division I Men’s Tennis Championship, finishing 8th in the nation after a week of intense competition at the Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center.

Led by standout performances across both singles and doubles brackets, the Lions showcased their depth, resilience, and competitive spirit on the national stage.

“We are incredibly proud of our Men’s Tennis team for their outstanding performance at the national championship,” said Kristen Holmes, Wallace State Vice President for Students. “Their dedication, sportsmanship, and perseverance exemplify the values we uphold at Wallace State. Finishing 8th in the nation is a remarkable achievement, and we celebrate each student-athlete and Coach Garner for representing our college with excellence.”

“I couldn’t be prouder of this group of young men,” said Coach Garner. “They’ve worked hard all season, supported each other, and competed with heart and integrity. Finishing 8th in the nation is a testament to their commitment and the strength of our program. It’s been an honor to coach them.”

Tournament Highlights:

James Edley (2-2) reached the quarterfinals in both singles and doubles, showing consistency and grit throughout the tournament. He was later named an All-American by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) for NJCAA Men’s Singles. He was also named the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) Player of the Year.

Alexander Edley (3-2) advanced to the semifinals in singles and quarterfinals in doubles. As the No. 2 seed in singles, Edley notched straight-set victories before falling in a hard-fought three-set semifinal. In doubles, he and partner Zac Riley reached the quarterfinals at #2

Angel Gautier (5-2) rebounded from a Round of 16 singles loss to win five straight matches, capturing the Consolation Final with a dominant 8-0 victory. He also reached the quarterfinals at #1 doubles with James Edley.

Axel Le Ho (2-1) made a strong run to the semifinals in the Men’s Singles 4 division, including a gritty three-set win in the quarterfinals.

Zac Riley (2-3) reached the Round of 16 in singles and the quarterfinals in doubles with Alexander Edley. He also picked up a win in the consolation bracket.

Jean Badenhorst (1-1) reached the quarterfinals in singles, earning a win in the Round of 16 before falling in a competitive three-set match to the No. 3 seed.

Ferran Bonastre (2-1) and Jace Moody (2-1) teamed up in the men’s double third seed bracket, advancing to the semifinals. The third-seeded duo battled through a tough quarterfinal before falling to the No. 2 seeds in the semis.

Coach Tim Garner leads both the men’s and women’s teams at Wallace State, He was named the ITA Junior College Men’s Coach of the Year and was also named the ACCC Men’s Tennis Coach of the Year.

The men’s and women’s teams excelled off the court as well, with 22 members earning a place on the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) Commissioner’s Honor Roll and 10 recognized as NJCAA All-Academic recipients. Both teams were recognized as an NJCAA All-Academic Team of the Year and by the ACCC Commissioner’s Honor Roll for teams.

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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 Rising Star 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.