Abussamour signs with Wallace State

HALEYVILLE - A cross country standout at Haleyville High School is continuing his athletic career at Wallace State.
Hamza Abussamour signed an athletic scholarship with Wallace State recently during a ceremony at HHS.  Abussamour was joined by his family, Wallace State cross country coaches Stan Larusky and Tony Crider, along with his high school coach Lisa Cook and HHS Athletic Director Todd McNutt for the event.  An aspect of the signing that was very special for Abussamour was his classmates coming into the conference room at HHS to support him during the signing.
Cook noted that Wallace State is rebuilding its cross country program.
“They are really forming a powerhouse team,”  Cook said.  “It’s a good school.”
Cook noted that Abussamour was the top runner on Haleyville’s team.
“He was a real leader on the team.  I hate to lose him,”  Cook said.
Haleyville’s loss is Wallace State’s gain, Larusky noted.
“We were impressed with Hamza, his running and how he spoke so highly of his coaches, teammates, school and city.  That told me volumes about him,”  Larusky told the assembled crowd.
Crider also had nothing but compliments for Abussamour.  
“We are proud to have Hamza as part of our team.  He will love Wallace State,”  Crider said, adding that Abussamour would be joining a family of 30 runners.
Wallace State’s goal is to bring cross country back to the glory days it experienced in the past at the school, where the running Lions won conference championships and a national championship, both coaches stated.  For his part, Abussamour is excited about being part of that process.
“I’m happy to have overcome the things I have to be here,”  Abussamour said, thanking his coaches, his teammates and his dad for being there for him.
“I’m proud of him and his coaches,”  Abussamour’s father, Naim, said.  “He has worked very hard and had a lot of support.  

Naim noted that the cross country team works very hard and hopes to see more support for the runners of the future at HHS.