Hudson Valley Athletics Earns Second Straight Third-Place Finish in NATYCAA Ron Case Cup
CONTACT: Julia Quinlan, j.quinlan@hvcc.edu, (518) 629-7863 or (518) 530-7376
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Hudson Valley Community College Athletics has once again been recognized among the nation's top two-year athletic programs, earning a third-place finish in the 2025-26 National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) Ron Case Cup Presented by Daktronics. The Vikings finished third in the NJCAA Non-Scholarship Division for the second consecutive year.
Hudson Valley totaled 118.5 points in the final standings, finishing behind Rowan College South Jersey-Gloucester (140 points) and Joliet Junior College (134.5 points).
"Hudson Valley Athletics continues to make its mark on the national landscape within the NJCAA, as evidenced by back-to-back third-place finishes in the prestigious Ron Case Cup," said Justin Hoyt, HVCC Director of Athletics. "We are incredibly thankful for our dedicated student-athletes and coaches, who commit countless hours to their programs and consistently represent Hudson Valley at the highest level."
The Ron Case Cup recognizes overall athletic department excellence based exclusively on performances at NJCAA national championship events, with points awarded for national finishes throughout the academic year.
Hudson Valley's point total was fueled by national appearances and standout performances across nine sports during the 2025-26 season.
Women's volleyball made its first-ever appearance at the NJCAA Division III National Championship after capturing the program's first Region 3 title. Sophomore Gabriella Kholstinin became the first NJCAA All-American in program history and concluded her career as Hudson Valley's all-time assists leader with 1,249.
The women's cross country team claimed its first Region 3 Championship since 2022 before placing sixth nationally at the NJCAA Championships, while the men's team finished 11th nationally.
The women's bowling team captured its first Region 3 Championship since 2010 before finishing third nationally at the NJCAA National Championship. Jennifer Doty and Laney Brown each earned NJCAA All-America honors and finished among the top four in the All-Events standings, helping lead the Vikings to their highest national finish in 15 years. The men's team also earned a seventh-place finish at the national championships.
The men's golf team earned an eighth-place finish nationally, led by sophomore Stephen Jordan, who claimed All-America honors with a 16th-place individual finish.
After winning the Region 3 Championship, the women's tennis team capped one of the best seasons in program history with one of its strongest performances at the NJCAA National Championship. Sophomore Bryn Fitzmaurice advanced to the consolation finals in singles competition.
Both the men's and women's outdoor track & field teams captured Region 3 Championships before competing at the NJCAA Division III National Championships. The men's team finished as national runners-up—the highest finish in program history—while the women's team placed eighth nationally. The Vikings also earned 52 USTFCCCA All-America honors during the national meet. Makai Gordon was named the USTFCCCA National Men's Field Athlete of the Year, while Head Coach Jeoffrey York earned USTFCCCA National Men's Coach of the Year honors after leading the Vikings to their historic runner-up finish. On the women's side, Ava Dwyer highlighted the championship with a national runner-up finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, while the quartet of Alana Dickson, Emily Wilson, Inara Bradford, and Qimora Johnson captured the national championship in the 4x100-meter relay.
"As we celebrate our success as an athletic department, I remain most proud of the academic achievements and community service records our student-athletes continue to accomplish each year," Hoyt continued. "We will continue to build on the standard of excellence our student-athletes, coaches, and staff have established as we move into the 2026-27 academic year."
The Vikings' second consecutive third-place finish in the Ron Case Cup reflects another exceptional year of national success and reinforces Hudson Valley's standing as one of the premier NJCAA Division III non-scholarship athletic programs.
2025-26 NATYCAA Ron Case Cup
NJCAA Non-Scholarship Division
- Rowan College South Jersey-Gloucester – 140 points
- Joliet Junior College – 134.5 points
- Hudson Valley Community College – 118.5 points