Athletics News
Triton defends Great Lakes District title, Region 4 places four All-Americans
March 06, 2024
FLINT, MICH. & COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA - Triton College successfully defended its 2023 district title when it rode four individual championships to claim the 2024 NJCAA Great Lakes District Wrestling Championship by eight points. The Trojans, ranked #9 in the latest NJCAA Wrestling Poll, racked up 183.0 points to clip second place Southwestern Michigan College at 175.0. Harper College was third with 147.5 points, followed by Morton College in fourth (90.5), and Joliet Junior College in ninth (57.0). In addition to Triton's four titles, the Wolves earned one individual championship and all of Region 4 qualified 33 wrestlers for the national tournament. Tim Duggan of Triton College was again awarded the Great Lakes District Coach of the Year and NWCA Coach of the Year.
Joliet is back on top, wins first Region 4 title in six years
March 01, 2024
JOLIET, ILL. - Amidst a changing landscape within the region, Joliet Junior College claimed the 2024 NJCAA Region 4 Division III Men's Basketball Tournament title with an 86-58 victory over Harper College on Saturday, February 24. The victory marks the Wolves first region championship since 2018, and gives head coach Danny Turner his first Region 4 Coach of the Year honor.
Triton Women's Basketball looks back at 50 years of opportunity
February 08, 2024
(Story courtesy of Triton College Athletics & tritonathletics.com) Melding past and present, an exuberant Triton College women's basketball team set itself up in two rows in one corner of their home court to honor all those who had come before them. The Trojans Feb. 3 welcomed back several former women's basketball players and coaches who were in the house to mark the 50th anniversary of the program. One by one, as they were called to a ceremony at center court, the alumni high-fived – or low-fived, the players as they semi-danced their way through the reception lines.
Region 4 Hall of Fame welcomes nine-member Class of 2024 for induction
January 16, 2024
The NJCAA Region 4 Hall of Fame is pleased to announce a nine-member induction Class of 2024. The group includes six student-athletes and three coaches that excelled during their time competing in Region 4. The inductees represent six different Region 4 schools, including two inductees each for the College of DuPage, Oakton College, and Rock Valley College.
DuPage's McGill named Offensive POY, leads 12 Chaps on NJCAA All-American Team
December 20, 2023
College of DuPage (IL) running back Jaden McGill has been named the 2023 NJCAA Division III Football Offensive Player of the Year! The National Junior College Athletic Association released the 2024 NJCAA Division III Football All-American Teams and the College of DuPage was represented by nine recipients. That list includes nine first team honorees and three second team selections after the Chaparrals claimed their third consecutive NJCAA Division III National Championship to complete an undefeated season.
THREE-PEAT COMPLETE: DuPage takes third straight NJCAA Division III title
December 05, 2023
GLEN ELLYN, ILL. - There remains only one champion in the history of NJCAA Division III football after the College of DuPage won its third consecutive NJCAA Division III Football Championship by a 33-29 margin over Rochester Community & Technical College on Saturday. Sophomore Jaden McGill was named the National Championship Game's Most Valuable Player after scoring thee touchdowns, while the tandem of Fabian Baez and Robert Brazziel connected for the game-winning touchdown in the game's final 70 seconds.
Harper's Vilsoet inducted into NJCAA Hall of Fame
December 05, 2023
(Story courtesy of NJCAA) Charlotte, NC – The NJCAA has announced three honorees to be inducted into the NJCAA Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Two coaches and one student-athlete have been enshrined in the honorable 2023 class. Read below for more on Alicia Williams, Bob Vilsoet, and Jazmyn Wheeler.
18 Fall 2023 Region 4 Student-Athletes earn NJCAA All-American accolades
November 30, 2023
The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) has released its list of All-Americans for the 2023-24 fall sports season, and 18 student-athletes representing Region 4 were recognized. The group includes six from men's cross country, five in women's volleyball, three from women's cross country and women's soccer, and one from men's soccer. There are eight first team recipients, seven second team honorees, and three honorable mention distinctions. The student-athletes represent eight Region 4 institutions.
Region 4 Announces Fall 2023 All-Region Teams
November 28, 2023
The NJCAA Region 4 has announced the numerous recipients of All-Region Team accolades for student-athletes competing in the Fall 2023 season, including those recipients of Region 4 Player & Athlete of the Year honors.
Region 4 dominates as Harper edges DuPage for NJCAA championship
November 29, 2023
HUNTSVILLE, ALA. - Runners from Region 4 were all over John Hunt Park for the 2023 NJCAA Men's Cross Country Championships, and the region absolutely dominated in the Division III race. Harper College claimed the school's ninth national title with region foes College of DuPage and Joliet Junior College also in the top-four. In all, 34 runners from Region 4 competed in the Division III and Division II races.
Harper successfully defends NJCAA crown, Alberts sprints to individual national title
November 29, 2023
HUNTSVILLE, ALA. - Harper College was a dominant force at the 2023 NJCAA Women's Cross Country Championships at John Hunt Park, winning the Division III title for the second consecutive year and the fifth time in school history. Sophomore Lilly Alberts coasted to an individual national championship as the Hawks paced a healthy contingent of 23 Region 4 runners in both Division III and Division II.
Region 4 quartet reps at NJCAA tournaments, DuPage places 5th
November 29, 2023
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - Four teams represented Region 4 over the course of two separate NJCAA national tournaments inside Alliant Energy Powerhouse Arena. At the NJCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championships, defending champion College of DuPage and Harper College enjoyed successful runs through their respective consolation brackets, while Rock Valley College and Sauk Valley Community College were each done after two matches at the NJCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Championships.
Rock Valley puts up a good fight at national tournament
November 29, 2023
TUCSON, ARIZ. - The Rock Valley College women's soccer team made their first appearance at the NJCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championships in 2023, which also marked just the second national tournament appearance in program history. The Golden Eagles were unable to advance past pool play, and finished their season with a 16-4-3 record.
Defending champs Prairie State nearly survive pool play at NJCAA Championships
November 29, 2023
TUCSON, ARIZ. & GASTONIA, NC - Three teams represented Region 4 at NJCAA national tournaments to conclude the 2023 fall season. Defending Division II national champion Prairie State College went 1-1 in pool play, but joined Rock Valley College in the list of teams unable to advance into the bracketed quarterfinal round in the desert. Meanwhile, Harper College lost a consolation match in penalty kicks and went 0-2 at the Division III tournament along the east coast.
Lekic, Lima lead Truman to first Region 4 title
November 27, 2023
CHICAGO, ILL. & OTTUMWA, IOWA - Harry S. Truman College made their return to the soccer pitch a highly successful one in 2023, culminating in a NJCAA Region 4 Division I Men's Soccer Championship on October 28. The Falcons rolled to a 9-0 win over defending champion Malcolm X College. Freshman Bekir Lekic was named Region 4 Tournament Most Valuable Player after scoring a hat trick, while Maciej Orlowski earned Region 4 Coach of the Year honors.
Rock Valley rallies for dramatic Region 4 championship win over South Suburban
November 27, 2023
MADISON, WISC. - It took all 90 minutes to decide a winner in the final match of the 2023 Region 4 Division II Women's Soccer Tournament, and in the end, Rock Valley College rallied from a one-goal deficit to defeat South Suburban College in dramatic fashion on November 4 at Madison College's Irwin A. & Robert D. Goodman Pitch-East. The top-seeded Golden Eagles claimed a 2-1 win over the #2-seeded Bulldogs for their first Region 4 championship since 2014, and their first Division II crown since moving up one year prior. Freshman Jocelyn Harms was named Region 4 Tournament Most Valuable Player, and Kevan Watkins took home Region 4 Coach of the Year recognition.