Gena Cleveland

Traditions of athletic success don’t start themselves. They’re started by players. At Pleasant Valley, Gena Higginbotham, now Gena Cleveland, was one of the Raiders who pioneered the tradition of success. Pleasant Valley first began expanding in the 1982-83 school year to eventually include a senior class for the 1985-86 school year. 

That first year, the call went out for volleyball, basketball and softball players. Cleveland became a starter in both volleyball and softball as a freshman. Eventually, she was a four-year starter in each sport. There wasn’t a lot of success that first year but Cleveland stayed the course. As a sophomore, she and her teammates had a winning record (20-12) in volleyball and were area runner-up. 

In softball they were 21-3 and won the Calhoun County championship. Cleveland, the Raiders shortstop, hit .591 for the season, made the all-tournament team and was a member of the Anniston Star’s 10-player all-county softball team. 

A junior in the 1984-85 school year, Cleveland saw her Raiders’ volleyball record improve to 26-6, including a runner-up finish in the Calhoun County tournament, an area championship and the AHSAA Class 2A state championship. Cleveland was chosen for the all-tournament teams at the county tournament, the area tournament and the state tournament and was named state tournament Most Valuable Player.

In softball, the Raiders improved their record to 25-5 and won their second consecutive county tournament. Cleveland again was an all-county tournament player and a member of the Anniston Star’s all-county team. She hit .484 that season and was known for her strong, accurate arm at shortstop.

In the 1985-86 school year, Pleasant Valley was again runner-up in the county volleyball tournament. Cleveland was named county tournament MVP. The Raiders won the area tournament and Cleveland was selected for the area tournament’s all-tournament team. At the Class 2A state tournament, Pleasant Valley (30-8) finished second. Cleveland was 2A state tournament MVP for the second consecutive year.

In February 1986, Cleveland accepted a volleyball scholarship to Jacksonville State, becoming Pleasant Valley’s first female athlete to receive an athletic scholarship. The AHSAA approved a state softball tournament in the spring of Cleveland’s senior year. Cleveland was an all-tournament performer at the county softball tournament. Pleasant Valley won the Class 1A-2A-3A Section tournament to qualify for the inaugural state tournament.

Cleveland was 11-for-19 with two homers at the plate and was Section MVP. The Raiders made history by winning the inaugural 1A-2A-3A state tournament. For the third consecutive season, Cleveland was voted onto the Anniston Star’s All-County team. Her season batting average was .565.

At JSU, Cleveland was a three-year starter in volleyball. She was named to the Gulf South Conference tournament’s all-tournament team in 1987 and 1988.

article written by Joe Estep