Thank You MCCC Alumni Athlete Veterans and Coaches for your Service

11/10/23

On Veteran's Day we want to take the time to thank and recognize MCCC alumni athletes who have served or are currently in the service.  Below are some recent alumni athletes and two former coaches who have served in or are in various branches of the service.  Thank you for your hard work and service to our country.

Former women’s basketball player Brittanie Bingham (Willingboro, NJ/Pemberton) served in the Army. Bingham played for MCCC in the 2014-15 season and earned All-Conference honors.  Bingham averaged nine points per game, four rebounds per game and 3.7 assists per game in the 2014-15 season at MCCC.  Bingham was a gunner in the Army and was honorably discharged from her service.

Former men’s soccer goalie Kellen Groover (Roebling, NJ/Life Center Academy) is in the Coast Guard.  Groover played on the 2014 and 2015 MCCC men’s soccer teams.  Groover earned All-America honors in the 2015 season.  The Vikings were Region 19 Champions in both 2014 and 2015.  Groover has been stationed in Alaska, Michigan, North Carolina and Virginia.

Former softball player Casey Murphy (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough HS) is in the Air Force.  Murphy was on the Vikings’ sofball team in 2015 and 2016.  Murphy earned All-Conference and All-Region honors both seasons and won the prestigious Marucci Elite Hitter Award in 2016, given to an All-American nominee with the highest batting average in each district.  Murphy was a Phoenix Raven.  A Phoenix Raven “flies with cargo aircraft and provide security in austere environments where there was little to no known security on the flight line.” As a result of this role, Murphy has been to 54 countries. Murphy is currently a tech school instructor.

Former men’s lacrosse player Cameron Potts (Ewing, NJ/Ewing HS) served in the Army.  Potts was a member of the first men’s lacrosse team in MCCC history in 2019.  Potts earned All-Conference honors as an Attacker.  The 2019 Vikings team won the Region 19 Championship and advanced to the NJCAA National Championship.  Potts spent time stationed in Germany with the Army.

Former cross country runner Anajae Register (Trenton, NJ/Allentown HS) was in the Air Force.  Register was a member of the 2011 an women’s cross country teams and earned All-Region honors with a 10^th place finish at the Region 19 Championship.  Register was a member of the first full-scoring team in women’s cross country in 20 years.  Register served in the Air Force for eight years and was stationed in Germany, Korea and Japan.

Former women’s soccer player Jessica Villalba (Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown Regional) is in the New Jersey Air National Guard. Villalba was a member of the 2009 and 2010 women’s soccer team and earned All-Conference honors in her sophomore season.  The 2009 team Villalba was a member of were Region 19 Champions and advanced to the District Championship.

Former women’s tennis player Joann Zabodyn Covell (Juliustown, NJ/Northern Burlington) is also in the New Jersey Air National Guard.  Zabodyn was a member of the 2009-2010 women’s tennis team.  Zabodyn played 5^th Singles and 3^rd Doubles for the Vikings. Mercer finished third in the Region 19 Championship in 2009.

Former Head Women's Basketball Coach Mike Tenaglia served in the Army.  Tenaglia coached Vikings women's basketball for 30 years from 1990-2020 and earned over 400 career wins. Tenaglia works part time for the MCCC Athletic Department, assisting with games and livestreaming MCCC sports.  

Former Assistant Women's Basketball Coach Charlie Brown served in the Navy.  Brown assisted Coach Tenaglia in his final seasons with the women's program.  Brown retired from Princeton University and is enjoying living in Florida.

Thank you to all these former MCCC student athletes and coaches for their service.