Athletics: A "Super" Tradition at MCCC

 

 

Over the weekend, we learned who is going to Super Bowl LIX in the NFL.  Making it to the Championship at any level is always difficult and a great achievement for any team.  Given how hard it is to reach a championship or be successful in sports, the accomplishments and history of MCCC Athletics is that much more impressive.

 

This fall MCCC men’s soccer made it to the NJCAA National Tournament for the 37^th time and the program has won the national titles eight times.  Mercer men’s soccer has had 85 NJCAA All-Americans, which includes Joao Delgado who was named an All-American this fall.  Former MCCC Men's Soccer Coach Charlie Inverso has the highest winning percentage of any men's soccer coach in NJCAA history, compiling a 434-46-14 record over 24 seasons at Mercer,

 

Mercer women’s tennis won the NJCAA National Division III Tournament four times.  Since becoming a Division I women’s tennis program five years ago, the Vikings have made the NJCAA Division I National Tournament in three of five seasons, with the other two seasons being cancelled due to Covid, placing in the top 25 the past two years.

 

Mercer men’s basketball is the only East Coast junior college to win the NJCAA Division II National Championship.  Former men’s basketball player Bobby Sands was an All-American in 1968 and was the NJCAA National Player of the Year.  Sands played two years at Pepperdine University and was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1970.  In 1974, Connie White was named the NJCAA National Player of the Year and was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in the 1976 NBA Draft.

 

Mercer baseball made the NJCAA Division II World Series three times in the last ten years and finished in the top four at the 2022 World Series.  Between 2011 and 2017, had seven players selected in the MLB (Major League Baseball) Draft.

 

Softball has been to the NJCAA Division II World Series twice in the last fourteen years and finished with the most wins in program history in 2024.  Head Softball Coach Ryan Zegarski got his 600^th win this past spring.

 

Mercer men’s tennis finished as NJCAA National Runner-Ups in 2016 and in 3^rd place at the Division III National Championship in 2022.

 

MCCC men’s lacrosse was added as a sport in 2019 and made the NJCAA National Tournament in their first season as program.  The Vikings also made the National Tournament again in 2023.

 

In 2024, Mercer women’s soccer won the Region Championship and earned its first national ranking as a Division II program.  This fall MCCC women’s soccer also got the 500^th win in program history. 

 

Mercer women’s basketball earned a national ranking this fall in the NJCAA Division II top 25.  The MCCC women’s basketball program began in 1976-77 and has 588 wins in program history.  The 1980 team that was the first women’s basketball team to reach the National Championship.  Former player Terry Dorner went on to become an All-American at Rutgers University and played professionally overseas.

 

MCCC men’s soccer has been Mercer’s most dominant sport, but the Athletic teams at MCCC have all been consistently strong and helped put the college on a national stage. 

 

The athletic teams at Mercer are super and not just one team.  At MCCC, we are grateful for our student athletes who have made the college known at the national level for their performances and success.

 

For more on MCCC Athletics, visit: https://www.mccc.edu/athletics_home.shtml