When Virginia Peninsula Community College Athletics Director Chris Moore thinks about the 2024-25 school year, one word comes to mind.
“I think the year was progressive,” he said.
“My expectations are always at an all-time high,” he said. “I am probably harder on myself than I need to be, just understanding that we’re still only in Year 3 of this building process. They say most things take at least five years to have a stable foundation. So, Year 3 was progressive. We had a lot of positives.”
He added the College is “right online” with where he expected it to be three years ago.
Probably at the top of the list of positives was quadrupling the number of student-athletes from four years ago to 131 this past academic year.
“That was promising,” Moore said, adding he expects those numbers to grow. “The legwork is set for next year where I think we’re going to have an amazing year. … I think we have the right people in the right places for us to be super successful moving forward.”
The athletics department’s first awards banquet, recognizing all its teams, coaches, players and support staff on one evening, was another highlight. They plan to make the banquet an annual event.
“We want to make sure that we celebrate our student-athletes,” he said.
At the banquet, several athletes spoke about their experiences at the College.
“They were able to come together and show the impact of the VPCC athletic department,” Moore said.
Solidifying an agreement with the City of Newport News and the Bethea Family Foundation to use the SafeHaven Empowerment Center as a home for basketball and volleyball was a big accomplishment, too.
“One highlight of the season was getting a new home gym located at the one and only SafeHaven Empowerment Center,” cheerleader Ashanti Lee said at the athletics banquet. “It felt amazing to have a dedicated space for us and the basketball team, but that gym quickly became a place of pride. … Every game was packed with intensity, energy and unforgettable moments.”
VPCC President Dr. Towuanna Porter Brannon is fond of relaying a comment she overhead entering the Gators’ first basketball game at SafeHaven.
“As I was walking in, the parking lot was filled and there were tons of people there, and a woman coming in behind me said, ‘Is this all for little old VPCC?’ It was a source of pride,” Dr. Brannon said.
The new home is a welcome change that gives athletes and coaches clarity on where games and practices will take place. In past seasons, the College used multiple venues. The new home gym is a positive step in planning and organization.
And, of course, it’s nice the coaches and athletes know where the games and practices will be held. In previous seasons, numerous venues were used and often those decisions were made at the last minute.
Many highlights were made on the fields and courts by the athletes themselves.
“We made history in all of our NJCAA sports,” Moore said. “Soccer, being the first year in the NJCAA Division II. Women’s volleyball getting some credible wins this year and also getting the first second-team all-league honoree in Berkeley Stenger.”
In addition, Molly Grazier was named to the Region 10 All-Academic team.
The men’s basketball team, coached by Moore, was the runner-up in the Region 10 tournament and advanced to the Mid-Atlantic District tournament. The Gators came within two wins of advancing to the NJCAA national tournament. Individually, Sincere Moore was named an NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American. The team also boasted four All-Academic team members, a first-team all-region member, and an all-rookie team member.
The baseball team set a school record with 10 Region 10 victories and advancing to the double-elimination portion of the postseason tournament.
In track and field, Alyssa Monger put up nationally ranked numbers as a thrower.
Other highlights:
- Of VPCC athletes, 46% came from outside the College’s service region, including Nevada, Florida and Georgia.
- The soccer team had 10 NJCAA Region 10 All Academic honorees.
- In addition to supporting the men’s basketball team, members of the cheerleading squad were active in the community, participating in the Southeast Day Parade, Williamsburg Holiday parade, VCU Stomp & Shake, MEAC tournament fan fest, and numerous VPCC events on campus.
And just as important, the product has been good.
“Another one of the spotlights of our athletic program is that our teams are competing at an early stage,” Moore said, noting many of the teams are in only their second or third year. “I think it’s going to be extremely scary for some of our opponents in the years to come.”
For more information on VPCC athletics, visit www.vpccgators.com.