Owls Soar to Historic Championship Wins
Cranford, NJ - This year, UCNJ Owls soared higher than ever in a historic season full of championship wins. The victories began in the fall 2024 semester when UCNJ Esports secured a couple of championship titles through both the Call of Duty: Gunfight and Fortnite: No Build teams. The Fortnite team swept their competitors, Jackson College, 3-0, clinching their first regional championship in program history. UCNJ student-athletes include Tamir Reddick, Roger Fortunato, and Felix Parades.
The Call of Duty: Gunfight team had a perfect regular season and continued their dominance in the Regional Tournament. The Owls swept Pensacola State College 3-0 to capture the Regional Championship title and secure a spot in the NJCAAe National Championship for Fall 2024. In the national championship game, the Owls battled against Central Community College and emerged victorious, adding another National title to the books. The Owls finished the fall '24 season undefeated, marking the first time in program history they completed a season with a perfect record. UCNJ student-athletes include Paulo Matias and Bryan Carrillo.
The wins continued into the spring semester. Both the Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams had outstanding seasons this year. On the men’s side, the Owls finished their regular season with a 24-6 record and were seeded number one in the NJCAA DIII Men’s Region XIX Tournament. The Owls went on to win the Region XIX Championship title and the North Atlantic District A Championship Tournament against Northampton Community College, also clinching a ticket to the NJCAA DIII Men’s Basketball National Championship in Herkimer, New York. UCNJ Men’s Basketball Coach Devon Stanberry was named Region XIX Coach of the Year.
UCNJ Women’s Basketball shined all season with a regular season record of 27-4, helping the Owls earn the number one seed in the NJCAA DII Women’s Basketball Region XIX Tournament. The Owls beat Harcum College to win the Region XIX title and defeated Monroe Community College to become District Champions as well. UCNJ Women’s Basketball Coach and UCNJ Director of Athletics, Marbely Montas, was named Region XIX Coach of the Year. The Owls also secured their spot at the NJCAA DII Women’s Basketball National Championship in Joplin, Missouri.
UCNJ Wrestling also made an impact this year. Freshman Josh Baeza brought home the gold, crowning him the 141 lbs District Champion. Five other Owls qualified for the NJCAA Men’s Wrestling National Championship and traveled to Council Bluffs, Iowa.
With spring in full swing, the UCNJ Men’s Volleyball team was on fire. The Owls broke several program records, including winning the Region XIX title with a 3-1 set victory against Northampton and sweeping the conference this season. The Owls became the Garden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) Champions and NJCAA Region XIX Champions, earning a trip to the NJCAA Men’s Volleyball Invitational in Canandaigua, New York. UCNJ Men’s Volleyball Coach Kevan Pidgeon-Hammock was named Region XIX Coach of the Year.
Esports continued their winning streak this semester, earning two more Regional Championship titles and another trip to the NJCAAe National Championship. UCNJ student-athlete Santiago Puerto won regionals for Mario Kart 1v1, and the Call of Duty: Gunfight team, consisting of UCNJ student-athletes Paulo Matias, Bryan Carrillo, Samuel Arias, Xavier Hernandez, and Roger Fortunato, also won regionals. Mario Kart 1v1, Call of Duty: Gunfight, and Fortnite: No Build all qualified for the NJCAAe National Championship in Spring '25. Mario Kart 1v1 finished fourth in the nation, Fortnite: No Build finished third in the nation, and Call of Duty: Gunfight was victorious once again, winning the National Championship title.
The Owls had a year full of championship victories, showcasing the dedication and hard work of UCNJ student-athletes. This remarkable success reflects the strong commitment to excellence across all programs and highlights the incredible talent that defines the UCNJ community.
