By Michael MacEachern and Gil Pound 

The Georgia College & State University Athletics Hall of Fame added three new members to its distinguished ranks on Oct. 16. 

Softball's Abi (LeRoy) Cannada ('16), men's basketball's Aaron Clark ('08) and men's golf's Billy Shida ('11) were enshrined as the Class of 2026, making them the Hall of Fame’s 45th, 46th and 47th inductees. 

"Congratulations to three truly outstanding new members of the GCSU Hall of Fame," said Wendell Staton, Georgia College director of athletics. "Their accomplishments during their time on campus were defined by remarkable consistency, excellence and leadership. More than a decade later, their impact can still be seen throughout the GCSU record books, where they continue to rank among the best across numerous categories.” 

The Athletics Hall of Fame was established in 2006 to recognize those outstanding individuals who have distinguished themselves with excellence in the University's athletics program as a student-athlete, coach/administrator, through outstanding service, or some combination thereof. 

"Just as they did as student-athletes, these inductees continue to demonstrate their love for Georgia College & State University and represent GCSU with tremendous pride and excellence as outstanding alumni," said Staton. "We are proud of all they accomplished, grateful for the lasting impact they have made on our athletic program, and excited to welcome them as the newest members of the GCSU Hall of Fame." 

Cannada was Consistent for the ‘Cats 

Abi (LeRoy) Cannada was a utility player in both the infield and outfield for the Bobcats from 2013-16. She was named to the All-Peach Belt Conference team each season, becoming one of 22 softball players to be named to the All-PBC team throughout her entire college career. She played and started in 212 games with a .341 batting average, 173 runs scored, 57 doubles, 15 triples, 12 home runs and 170 RBI. She drew 96 walks and stole 49 bases to go along with a .526 slugging percentage and .437 on-base percentage. She was named to an all-region team three times. 

Cannada is ranked No. 1 in the GCSU record book in RBI, total bases (349), at-bats (663) and doubles, while being ranked No. 2 in hits (226), runs and triples, and third in walks, sixth in stolen bases, and ninth in slugging percentage. She is also listed fourth in the PBC record books in doubles. 

Cannada led the Bobcats to a school-record 159 victories over her four seasons and to four consecutive appearances to the NCAA Division II softball regionals - only the second time that GCSU had made regionals in four straight seasons. 

“When Wendell called to tell me I was being inducted into the Hall of Fame, it truly caught me off guard,” Cannada said. “It feels like a huge accomplishment. I love Georgia College and recommend it to anyone who’s considering attending there. The friendships and memories I made playing on the softball team were amazing.” 

Cannada graduated with her degree in community health and works as a nurse at an outpatient surgery center in Brunswick, Georgia.

Clark, the Ultimate Bobcat Big Man
 

Aaron Clark was a center for Bobcat men’s basketball from 2004-08 and was named to the All-Peach Belt Team as a junior and a senior.  Clark, who was named to the all-region team in 2007-08, was the Peach Belt's Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2008. 

Clark played in 117 games, shooting 50.1% from the floor and 39.3% from three-point range. He scored 1,467 points in his career to go along with 847 rebounds, 227 assists, 126 blocked shots and 119 steals. Clark recorded one of the 13 triple-doubles in PBC history when he totaled 19 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists against Columbus State University on Feb. 7, 2007. 

Clark is third in the GCSU record book in rebounds and blocked shots, fourth in games played and double-figure games (75), fifth in field goals (575), sixth in scoring, seventh in free throws (293) and 10th in steals. He is eighth all-time in the Peach Belt in rebounds. 

“Being an athlete at Georgia College was a huge honor,” Clark said. “I made friends and memories that will last a lifetime. I still talk to teammates 25 years later. It’s something that you can never repay or replicate with anything else.” 


Clark earned his degree in marketing and is vice president of sales for HCM Unlocked, a human resources management software company. 

Shida Shot Low for GCSU 

Billy Shida, a four-year standout from 2007-11, was twice named to the All-Peach Belt and all-region teams and was the Peach Belt Player of the Year in 2011. In that same season, Shida was named to the Division II PING All-America team. In 2010 he was also the inaugural recipient of the David Toms Award, an honor created by the Golf Coaches Association of America and the David Toms Foundation given to a men's collegiate golfer who had overcome adversity to achieve collegiate excellence.

Shida averaged 73.64 strokes in 120 career rounds as a Bobcat, third lowest in program history. He had a career-low round of 66 and recorded 11 top-10 finishes with one tournament win at the Matlock Collegiate Classic. 

“Being named to the Hall of Fame is a full-circle moment for me,” Shida said. “Wendell stepped in as athletic director halfway through my career. I’m super appreciative of him for maintaining the feel that Georgia College was, passed down from previous AD Stan Aldridge. And [former men’s golf coach] Jimmy Wilson was a staple of Georgia College and the ultimate encourager. I couldn’t have asked for a better coach during my time there. Coming back to a place that meant so much to me and bringing my two boys with me is a super cool moment.” 

Shida graduated with a degree in accounting and is now president and CFO of Extu, a channel marketing company in the Atlanta area.  

Header Images: All HOF event photos by Chris Brown, all action photos from GCSU Athletics. Cannada, Clark and Shida celebrated their induction into the Athletics Hall of Fame with family, friends, former teammates and coaches, plus Georgia College supporters and administrators, on Oct. 16, 2026.