Newsroom

It was another stellar year for Raritan Valley Community College’s Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams, with both teams achieving very successful seasons.

The Men’s team won its third consecutive Region XIX Championship, this time in dramatic, “nail-biting” fashion with a 76-75 win over Lackawanna College. The team’s success did not end there. The following weekend the Lions went to Niagara Falls and defeated Monroe Community College to win its first District Championship and earn the team’s first trip to the National Tournament in Danville, IL. The run came to end in Danville, however, with a hard-fought loss in the first game of the tournament.

The first-round loss in Nationals didn’t diminish the team’s success and accomplishments for the season. First-year player Sutan Fitzpatrick was named to the second team All-Region XIX. First-year forward Najee Graham was honored with Region XIX Player of the Year and also was named to the NJCAA Division II Men's Basketball All American Team. Head Coach Kevin Ryan also was named Region XIX Coach of the Year.

Finishing the year with a 18-11 record overall—and going 11-5 in the Region—the RVCC Women’s Basketball Team was guided along the way by Coach Phil Herro. The Lady Lions earned a first-round home playoff game against Mercer County. Unfortunately, the breaks didn’t go the Lions’ way and the team’s season came to an end with that playoff loss. Second-year guard Julia Fontanillo and first-year forward Ona Riopedre were named to the second team All-Region XIX. Fontanillo also earned first team All Garden State Athletic Conference Honors, and Riopedre and first-year guard Sophia Larsen were awarded second team All Garden State Athletic Conference Honors.

Raritan Valley Community College is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association Region XIX and the Garden State Athletic Conference. RVCC has been represented at the state and national levels in many sports, enabling students to compete for athletic scholarships at four-year colleges and universities.

Raritan Valley Community College is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association Region XIX and the Garden State Athletic Conference. RVCC has been represented at the state and national levels in many sports, enabling students to compete for athletic scholarships at four-year colleges and universities. RVCC currently offers 8 athletic programs that participate in NJCAA DII or NJCAA DIII levels.

Scholarship NJCAA DII programs include Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Baseball, and Softball. Non-scholarship NJCAA DIII programs include Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Golf, and Women's Volleyball.

For additional information about RVCC Athletics, visit www.rvccathletics.com. RVCC is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 10, 2025

Media contact: Donna Stolzer, 908-526-1200, ext. 8383

PR #86