Photo courtesy of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota.

When people think about State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF), they often think first about academic programs, workforce training and university transfer opportunities. But every season, our student-athletes demonstrate that the same commitment to excellence extends beyond the classroom. On the field, on the court and in the sand, they embody the determination, discipline and teamwork that define SCF.

That commitment was on full display during the 2025-26 athletic year. SCF's softball team advanced to the NJCAA Division II World Series and finished eighth in the nation, marking one of the finest seasons in program history. Along the way, Bree Urban and A'Lana Martinez became the first SCF softball student-athletes in nearly two decades to earn NJCAA All-America honors.

Beach volleyball continued its remarkable rise as one of the nation's premier programs. Freshmen Liliana Palacios and Ava Mohler captured the inaugural NJCAA Pairs National Championship, making SCF the first college to claim the title in the event's history.

Baseball also enjoyed another outstanding season, finishing third in the state after defeating nationally ranked opponents and climbing as high as No. 24 in the national rankings.

Those accomplishments deserve to be celebrated, but what may be even more impressive is what happens away from the scoreboard.

At SCF, winning is measured not only by championships, but by student success, academic achievement and the opportunities our graduates create for themselves and our community.

Every SCF athletics team earned NJCAA Academic Team of the Year recognition by maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Twenty-five student-athletes were named to the Florida College System Activities Association All-Academic Team, while another 20 earned NJCAA All-Academic honors. Collectively, SCF Athletics posted an overall departmental GPA of 3.23.

That balance between athletic excellence and academic achievement doesn't happen by accident. It reflects coaches who expect excellence, faculty who support student-athletes and students who understand that success in competition begins with success in the classroom.

Today's SCF student-athletes are tomorrow's nurses, teachers, entrepreneurs, business owners, first responders and community leaders. Athletics simply gives them another avenue to grow, lead and discover what's possible. It is one more way SCF fulfills its mission of transforming lives through education and opportunity.

Just as important, many of these student-athletes come from the very communities we serve. This fall, SCF will launch Women's Cross Country, creating another opportunity for local student-athletes to compete at a high level while staying close to home, earning a quality education and preparing for what's next.

SCF invites the entire community to experience SCF athletics, with many games free to the public. Whether you're cheering on the Manatees, introducing a child to college athletics or simply looking for a fun community outing, every fan helps create an atmosphere that supports our student-athletes. I encourage you to join us this season.

Visit SCFManatees.com for schedules, team information and the latest news, and discover why SCF Athletics is one more reason SCF is truly Everyone's College.

Tommy Gregory, J.D., is the President of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota.

Photo courtesy of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota.