UCNJ Student-Athletes Earn Prestigious All-Teams/Conference Honors

Cranford, NJ - Union College of Union County, NJ (UCNJ) proudly celebrates the exceptional achievements of its student-athletes, who have gone above and beyond during the 2024–25 academic year. Representing a range of sports, these remarkable student-athletes have earned top honors at the regional, conference, and national levels — a testament to their hard work, talent, and leadership.

Women’s Soccer: Defensive and Offensive Standouts
Freshman goalkeeper Marisa Hill and sophomore midfielder/forward Kayla Cabrera led the Women’s Soccer team with standout performances, earning All-Region XIX and All-GSAC First Team selections. Both were also recognized as GSAC Players of the Week, underscoring their impactful presence on the field throughout the season.

All-Region XIX Teams

First Team – (FR) Marisa Hill #1, Goalkeeper

Second Team – (SO) Kayla Cabrera #8, Midfield/Forward

All-GSAC Teams

First Team – (FR) Marisa Hill #1, Goalkeeper (GSAC Player of the Week)

First Team – (FR) Kayla Cabrera #8, Midfield/Forward (GSAC Player of the Week)

Men’s Soccer: Rising Star Recognition
Freshman forward Pablo Corte made waves in his debut season, securing spots on both All-Region XIX Second Team and All-GSAC Second Team, showcasing his scoring ability and promise for seasons to come.

All-Region XIX & All-GSAC Team

Second Team – (FR) Pablo Corte #17, Forward

Women’s Basketball: Dominance on the Court
UCNJ Women’s Basketball had an incredible year, with Destiny Bynum-Johnson earning Region XIX Player of the Year and a First Team All-Region spot. She and Hellary De Los Santos led the team with multiple Player of the Week honors. Head Coach and Director of Athletics Marbely Montas was named Region XIX Coach of the Year

All-Region XIX Teams

First Team – (FR) Hellary De Los Santos #31, Forward

First Team – (SO) Destiny Bynum-Johnson #5, Guard & Region XIX Player of the Year

Second Team – (SO) Ore Ogunwolere #0, Guard

Region XIX Coach of the Year - Marbely Montas, UCNJ Director of Athletics & WBB Head Coach

All-GSAC Teams

Second Team – (SO) Ore Ogunwolere #0, Guard

First Team - Hellary De Los Santos #31, Forward (Player of the Week x3)

First Team - Destiny Bynum-Johnson #5, Guard, Sophomore (Player of the Week x2)

Men’s Basketball: A Powerhouse Season
The UCNJ Men’s Basketball team showcased an impressive season. Freshman guard Nicolas Acosta made an immediate impact, earning First Team All-Region XIX and First Team All-GSAC honors, along with GSAC Player of the Week honors throughout the season. Sophomores Joey Garguilo and Devin Geiger also delivered strong seasons, both earning All-Region XIX Third Team and All-GSAC Second Team honors, with Garguilo also securing a Player of the Week nod.

All-Region XIX Teams

First Team – (FR) Nicolas Acosta #8, Guard

Third Team – (SO) Joey Garguilo #10, Guard

Third Team – (SO) Devin Geiger #6, Forward

Region XIX Coach of the Year - Devon Stanberry, MBB Head Coach  

All-GSAC Teams

First – (FR) Nicolas Acosta #8, Guard (Player of the Week x4)

Second Team – (SO) Devin Geiger #6, Forward

Second – (SO) Joey Garguilo #10 Guard (Player of the Week)

GSAC Coach of the Year - Devon Stanberry, MBB Head Coach  

Wrestling: Academic and Athletic Excellence
The wrestling program made history as Jack Higuera Justo became UCNJ’s first-ever 2x Scholar All-American. Alongside him, Christian Ramos and Salvatore Randazzo were also honored as Scholar All-Americans, demonstrating the program’s commitment to excellence on the mat and in the classroom.

Scholar All-Americans

(SO) Christian Ramos

(SO) Jack Higuera Justo - First 2x Scholar All-American in program history

(FR) Salvatore Randazzo

Men’s Volleyball: Excellence Recognized Across the Board
A dominant season from UCNJ Men’s Volleyball saw Javon Smith earn both Region XIX and GSAC Player of the Year honors. Coach Kevan Pidgeon-Hammock was named Coach of the Year by both Region XIX and GSAC.

All-Region XIX Teams

First Team – (FR) Javon Smith & Region XIX Player of the Year, #12, Middle Blocker

First Team – (FR) Jaden Guzman #13, Outside Hitter

Second Team – (FR) Joshua Orihuela #15, Libero

Second Team – (SO) Daniel Silva #10, Setter

Region XIX Coach of the Year – Kevan Pidgeon-Hammock, MVB Head Coach

All-GSAC Teams

First Team – (FR) Javon Smith & GSAC Player of the Year, #12, Middle Blocker

First Team – (FR) Jaden Guzman #13, Outside Hitter

First Team - (FR) Joshua Orihuela #15, Lbero

Second Team - (SO) Daniel Silva #10, Setter

GSAC Coach of the Year – Kevan Pidgeon-Hammock

Baseball: Leadership Shine 
Sophomore shortstop Fraelyn Rosario #16 was recognized for his solid season by being named All-Region XIX Second Team. Rosario shined all season with a powerful .419 batting average, speed to help steal 20 bases. In addition to his 35 RBIs he had this season.  

These student-athletes embody the core values of UCNJ Athletics: dedication, resilience, and excellence. Competing at the highest levels of their sport, they continue to inspire the community and set a high standard for future Owls.

Congratulations to all our honorees – your hard work has not gone unnoticed! #GoOwls

Kayla Cabrera

Pablo Corte

Ore Ogunwolere

Joey Garguilo

Jack Higuera Justo

Jaden Guzman

Fraelyn Rosario