Athletics News
South Suburban snaps two-year drought with Region 4 championship
June 03, 2026
SOUTH HOLLAND, ILL. - South Suburban College ended a two-year hiatus atop the region as they claimed the 2026 Region 4 Division I Baseball Tournament championship for the first time since ending a three-peat in 2023. The top-seeded Bulldogs put up historic offensive numbers, culminating in a 22-6 victory over #3-seed Olive-Harvey College in the title game for the program's 16th Region 4 banner overall. Steve Ruzich was named Region 4 Coach of the Year for the 15th time.
Bryant & Stratton three-peats, Rock Valley returns to top of Region 4
June 03, 2026
MOLINE, ILL. - Two familiar faces secured Region 4 Division II Softball Tournament championships in 2026, as top-seeded Rock Valley College won their third crown in the last four years and #4-seeded Bryant & Stratton College made it three straight years with a title. The Golden Eagles were the NJCAA Midwest District A chmpion after defeating #3-seed Black Hawk College 3-2 in an extra innings walk-off on the Braves home field on May 8, while the Bobcats followed on May 9 with a 13-5 decision in six innings over BHC to take the NJCAA Midwest District B trophy. Rock Valley's Darin Monroe was voted the Region 4 Coach of the Year, marking his 11th time receiving the award.
Joliet takes Region 4 title en route to third place at NJCAA National Tournament
May 26, 2026
JOLIET, ILL. - Joliet Junior College successfully defended its Region 4 Division III Softball Tournament championship in 2026 with a sweep of a best-of-three series with the College of DuPage on May 1. The Wolves won by scores of 8-3 and 13-3 in five innings for their second straight crown.
Joliet rallies past DuPage for repeat Region 4 championship
May 13, 2026
BRISTOL, ILL. - The 2026 Region 4 Division III Women's Golf Tournament came down to a single stroke, and when the 36-hole event finished, Joliet Junior College had successfully defended its crown. The Wolves, who are the defending national champions, rallied from an 11-shot deficit to defeat the College of DuPage by one shot, 759 to 760, at Blackberry Golf Club on May 3-4. Rock Valley College freshman Amelia Dunseth took medalist honors as the 2026 Region 4 Golfer of the Year as she distanced herself from the pack with a 159 total. Skip Steffey of JJC was awarded the Region 4 Coach of the Year.
DuPage dominance furthers dynasty in Region 4
May 13, 2026
BRISTOL, ILL. - The College of DuPage men's golf team completely dominated the rest of the field at the 2026 Region 4 Division III Men's Golf Tournament at Blackberry Oaks Golf Club on May 3-4. The Chaparrals won their seventh consecutive region crown with a 621 team score over the two-day event, resulting in a 25th region title overall and 14th under head coach Jason Hyatt, who earned yet another Region 4 Coach of the Year award. Sophomore Nathan Kwiatkowski was the 2026 Region 4 Golfer of the Year with a 36-hole total of five-over-par 149.
Black Hawk secures three-peat to continue Region 4 dynasty
May 13, 2026
BYRON, ILL. - You can count on one hand the number of times Black Hawk College has not been the Region 4 champion over the last two decades. The Braves added another in 2026 as they completed a three-peat by claiming the Region 4 Division II Men's Golf Tournament championship for the 17th time since 2006 after competing at PrairieView Golf Club from April 26-28. Black Hawk posted a three-day total of 905 to finish 18 shots in front of runner-up Highland Community College. Freshman Marquez Angeles of Bryant & Stratton College secured the Region 4 Golfer of the Year with a three-over-par 219. Shayne Shepherd of BHC was awarded Region 4 Coach of the Year.
Sandburg earns return trip to NJCAA National Tournament
May 08, 2026
SHAWNEE, OKLA. — It's back to nationals for the Sandburg women's golf team. The Chargers qualified for the NJCAA Division II Women's Golf Championship on Tuesday after taking second place in the Central District Championship at Shawnee Country Club. The Chargers will tee it up at nationals May 12-15 at Ol' Colony Golf Course in Tuscaloosa, Ala. It's the second straight year and fourth time overall Sandburg will head to the national tournament. The Chargers previously went in 2019, 2023 and 2025.
ONE FINAL TIME: Prairie State secures 11th Region 4 title in program's final season
May 08, 2026
PARK FOREST, ILL. - The Prairie State College men's tennis team is going out on top, winning the 2026 Region 4 Division II Men's Tennis Tournament in the program's final year of existense. The Pioneers rolled to an 11.5 point win over runners-up College of Lake County to secure their third consecutive title and 11th Region 4 crown all-time. Sophomore Yoog Gundani was named the Region 4 Player of the Year, while Betsy Poggensee of Lake County earned Region 4 Coach of the Year.
18 Winter 2025-26 Region 4 Student-Athletes earn NJCAA All-American accolades
April 13, 2026
The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) has released its list of All-Americans for the 2025-26 winter sports season, and 18 student-athletes representing Region 4 were recognized. The group includes nine from men's basketball, four from women's basketball, three in wrestling, and two from men's bowling. There are five first team recipients, five second team honorees, two third team selections, and six honorable mention distinctions. The student-athletes represent 12 Region 4 institutions.
Former Triton College men's basketball player Tyler Olsen seizes coaching opportunity at Illinois
April 02, 2026
There will be a Triton College connection when the University of Illinois' men's basketball team hits the floor in Indianapolis at the NCAA Final Four. Former Trojan walk-on player Tyler Olsen who viewed the game cerebrally during his time at Triton, now analyzes basketball under the sport's brightest lights as a graduate assistant coach for Illinois under head man Brad Underwood. Becoming a NCAA champion truly is the sum of many parts, so if the Fighting Illini craft two more wins, Olsen's imprint will be part of the glory.
Joliet places sixth to lead trio of Region 4 teams at national tournaments
April 01, 2026
HERKIMER, N.Y. & DANVILLE, ILL. - Region 4 saw three men's basketball teams qualify and compete at their respective national tournaments in 2025-26. Joliet Junior College went 2-2 and finished in sixth place at the NJCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championships, while Milwaukee Area Technical College and South Suburban College were a combined 1-4 at the NJCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championships.
Madison, Moraine Valley compete on national stage
March 31, 2026
HICKORY, NO. CAR. - When national tournament time rolled around in 2026, Region 4 was represented by two schools in the NJCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championships as Madison College and Moraine Valley Community College took on the best in the country. The WolfPack was making its first-ever appearance at the Division II tournament and eighth appearance overall; however, it was their first since winning a Division III championship in 2010. The Cyclones last qualified in 2019 and were making their fifth all-time appearance.
Harper narrowly misses NJCAA Wrestling Non-Scholarship championship
March 25, 2026
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA - Harper College came within percentage points of winning a national championship in 2026. The Hawks, who placed 14th overall at the 2026 NJCAA Wrestling Championships with 58.0 points, secured runner-up honors behind SUNY Niagara with 58.5 points in the non-scholarship division. Triton College finished 18th overall with 37.5 points, while Bryant & Stratton College was 45th with 4.5 points.
Rock Valley wins fifth NJCAA Men's Bowling national championship
March 25, 2026
LANSING, MICH. - Rock Valley College rolled to its fifth national title at the 2026 NJCAA Men's Bowling Championship, and were led by a pair of NJCAA All-American recipients. The Golden Eagles amassed 13,910 pins to hold off national runner-up Iowa Western Community College by 350 pins. Five RVC bowlers placed in the top 13 of the All Event Standings, with Ryan Voyles and Clark Bonnewell leading the way with NJCAA All-American accolades for finishing in the top eight. The College of Lake County placed tenth overall (12,596) and Kishwaukee College (12,243) was 15th.
Region 4 Announces Winter 2024-25 All-Region Teams
March 25, 2026
The NJCAA Region 4 has announced the numerous recipients of All-Region Team accolades for student-athletes competing in the Winter 2025-26 season, including those recipients of Region 4 Player of the Year honors.
Milwaukee Tech, South Suburban reign supreme with Region 4 crowns
March 17, 2026
ROCKFORD, ILL. - Milwaukee Area Technical College and South Suburban College have combined to win 15 of the 21 possible Region 4 Midwest District titles, which now includes the 2025-26 season after the school's claimed the NJCAA Region 4 Midwest District A & B Tournament championships. The Stormers won their fifth straight and seventh in the last eight years with an 84-68 victory over Bryant & Stratton College in the Midwest A finale. The Bulldogs posted a 74-70 win over host Rock Valley College in the Midwest B championship to secure their 14th crown in the last 20 years. Randy Casey of MATC and John Pigatti of SSC were named Region 4 Coaches of the Year.