Salem CC confirms starting women’s volleyball, expecting to begin play in fall of 2026; originally reported Aug. 29, official announcement made Monday
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT – While officials at Salem Community College continue to explore the feasibility of bringing a football program to their campus they have committed to launching another new sports program.
Athletics director Bob Hughes confirmed Tuesday the Mighty Oaks will start a women’s volleyball program with play slated to begin in the fall of 2026.
“We’ve been exploring adding another women’s sport for a little while and volleyball really came to the forefront as the sport that makes the most sense for Salem at this time,” Hughes said. “We knew for a while we could grow and we wanted to be at a certain point and figuring out what the right fit was.” The new sport joins a Salem lineup that includes men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, softball and, new this year, cross country.
(The athletics department made an official announcement on its website Monday. It said it has officially opened its search for the program’s first head coach, a “dynamic leader who can recruit, mentor and inspire student-athletes while establishing a strong foundation for long term success.” For more information about the head coach position or to apply visit http://www.salemcc.edu).
Last Thursday, the college’s board of trustees authorized the hiring of former Rowan head football coach Jay Accorsi as a consultant to look into the possibility of having football for the first time. At that same meeting the board approved an updated job description of an Athletic Coordinator that opened the door for the posting of a head volleyball coach’s position.
It has not been determined if the Mighty Oaks will offer scholarships in the sport as it does in softball and women’s basketball.
“We’re going to take a look at all the sports and take a holistic look at where we are divisionally within the next year,” Hughes said. “We’re not at that point yet, but that’s part of this. We have to make that decision before (the coach) starts though.”
Volleyball is the third most played women’s sport in the NJCAA Region XIX behind basketball and softball. The region has 15 members playing volleyball on the non-scholarship Division III level and four playing on the Division II level.
Locally, only two of the six high schools in Salem County currently play volleyball – Salem Tech and Schalick (JV only) – but because of the popularity of the sport regionally Hughes is confident the fledgling program will attract players.
“It’s a very fast rising sport in New Jersey and in the country as a whole,” Hughes said. “I have to imagine that these conversations are taking place at the high school level. I know at least two athletic directors locally that I’ve spoken to discussed the fact they have considered adding it as well because of the popularity.
Stars seem to be aligned for Salem CC to start football, but decision after consultant’s report rests with board
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT – The secret to taking a concept and turning into reality, whether it’s on the football field or in the board room, is striking when the iron is hot.
Why else do you think football teams almost immediately go up top after coming up with a momentum-swinging turnover?
ACCORSI
As Salem Community College explores the feasibility of bringing a football to its lineup of sports offerings, the landscape seems inexorably right. Maybe even the perfect storm.
Even college president Mike Gorman acknowledged when bringing the concept to the board for consideration at its most recent meeting “if we’re going to do it, this is our window of opportunity.”
The same elements – and questions – exist that were around when the school looked into it before. This time, there might be a more receptive ear on the inside.
Two weeks ago the board took a big step towards making it happen, giving the go-ahead to bring on Jay Accorsi as a consultant on a two-month contract to do a deep dive on the feasibility of football on Hollywood Avenue.
It is not Accorsi’s place to tell the board what decision to make, just provide them with as much detail as possible to make an informed decision on whether football fits. The internal vibe seems positive, but it was the last time Salem looked at the issue, too.
“Having the need for it is one thing, being able to do it is a whole different situation,” Accorsi said. “The need for it is certainly there, it’s just piecing everything together. There are a lot of things that will take care of itself, there’s a lot of other little things that need to be worked out to make sure it fits.”
Accorsi has long been intrigued by the absence of junior college football in New Jersey, given the quality of the high school game in the state. He just needed an opportunity to tell someone. That window opened last April when he retired after 30 years at Rowan, the last 22 as its head football coach.
He became even more convinced it could work after looking at what Sussex County CC was doing in the sport while his own Profs program was shut down by the COVID pandemic.
If it could work there, he wondered, why weren’t more New Jersey JUCOs following suit. If it could work at Sussex, he thought, surely it could work elsewhere under the right conditions.
The conditions seem right for Salem. The Mighty Oaks would basically be the only game in the region and have a deep pool of potential players to recruit from.
Sussex is still the only NJCAA member school in New Jersey playing the sport. When Lackawanna transitions to NCAA Division II, Pennsylvania will have none. Delaware has none. There are trade schools in Pennsylvania and Delaware that sponsor the sport and could become a potential opponent, but those are specialized institutions outside the NJCAA umbrella. That means there is only one JUCO program in the East between Central New York and Louisburg, N.C.
As it was, Sussex, which offers scholarships and dorms, drew players from Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington in addition to more homegrown talent.
“There’s a huge void there,” Accorsi said. “I had always thought in my mind and heart that there should be junior college football in New Jersey. I moved here in the early 90s. I was shocked that there wasn’t because of how great New Jersey high school football was and … there were a lot more junior college football programs back then than there are now.
“Then you would see all these Jersey kids have to leave the state to go to all these other places to play. It always kind of was in the back of my mind. I saw there were pay-for-play (prep) schools and I saw they were charging like $22,000 a year and they (players) got no academic benefit by going to those schools.
“When I looked at the rosters, they had 40, 50, 60 players and most of them were New Jersey kids. And when I looked at most of the rosters of the junior colleges, most of them were New Jersey kids. I said it’s crazy.”
Accorsi continued to investigate the JUCO game, privately keeping a file on his research that was the basis of the pitch he would take to Salem. He enhanced it with what he already knew of what it was taking to play the game at Rowan.
He considered making the pitch to other junior colleges in South Jersey, but he was familiar with Gorman and his athletics background and one day emailed to see if Salem might be interested in what he had to say. They had about a half-hour face-to-face meeting where Accorsi presented some “extensive” and “very detailed” research and it got the ball rolling.
Accorsi didn’t make his research available for media and didn’t address Salem’s situation specifically, but much of the information related to finances, expenses, coaching salaries and player participation are available in the comparative school’s Equity in Athletics report that is available to the public. Gorman estimated Salem’s start-up outlay would be about $500,000.
Salem looked into bringing football to campus when it was reviving the athletics program in the twenty-teens, and although the sense then was it could work, the school decided not to launch at that time.
“I thought this might be a fit because of what Sussex did being a small college I think it really fit a need for a lot of things they wanted to do,” Accorsi said. “I think if you go to a bigger college it may not have the same effect, and I wasn’t interested in that. I was interested in making it something that was going to be hopefully really important.
“I told (Gorman) I’m just interested in serving New Jersey. I think it’s a shame all these New Jersey high school students leave the state to go to all these other places to play and pay a lot of money and in some instances don’t get any academic benefit. They’re just going to play, to get film, and spend a lot of money. That’s just, to me, bad.”
If the Mighty Oaks are going to pull the trigger in time to start in 2026, Gorman told the board a decision should be made by mid-October. The clock is ticking.
“There is a lot you need to do, a lot of groundwork, and a lot of things to take an idea from concept to reality,” Accorsi said. “You want to make sure it fits and is the best thing for the student athletes, the best thing for the student, the best thing for the institution, which I think make it very unique.
“I happen to be at the right place at the right time with the right institution and the right president and athletic director and people. So, things have kind of fit a little bit early, but there’s a lot of things you’ve got to cover and go through that we will in the next few months to make sure that whatever decision it is it’s the right one whether it is to proceed or not to proceed. I think that’s important.”
Ceil Smith started the Salem County Sports Hall of Fame and now she is one of its inductees
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT – Ceil Smith knew there were a lot of sports luminaries in the county who deserved recognition for their achievements when she started the Salem County Sports Hall of Fame and over the past 25 years she has helped induct a lot of them. Never once in all that time did she imagine she would be one of them.
So you can probably guess her reaction when the letter arrived announcing her as one of the inductees in the Hall’s Class of 2025.
“I was really surprised; it was such a nice gesture,” she said. “Everybody in my family – grandchildren, everyone — were very active in sports and very good. So when I broke the news that I’m the one going into the Sports Hall of Fame it was very funny.”
And all would agree well deserved. Smith was enshrined Thursday night along with Faleesha Dowe, Linda DuBois, Joe Frassenei, Aisha Morgan and Dennis Thomas during ceremonies in Salem Community College’s Davidow Hall. The Hall also recognized Donald Ayars as its Community Service honoree, Salem CC’s two-time softball Region XIX Player of the Year Ella Hayes and several high school state champions.
Smith might not have played the game like the others going in with her, but it was her unwavering commitment to the project that shaped the Hall into what it is today.
It was at the urging of the late Vic Majors, a longtime Salem County business and sportsman from Woodstown, while she was the publisher of Today’s Sunbeam that moved her to action. Every time Majors saw her, she recalled, he’d say she was the only one who could make it happen. Humbly, Smith credits the Hall’s volunteer board for its success.
They are the ones who process and research the candidates for induction and make the final call.
“All I did was keep it going and keep the meetings moving,” Smith said. “When athletes get together they can talk about the good old times forever.
“I never played sports, I never watched sports, but I knew who to pick that would make this work. I reached out to the schools, because I knew a couple (athletic directors) who were fabulous. I put these local community people together with the educators and from then on we chose a great, great group of people. I was so fortunate that all the people that I chose really made it work.”
Smith continued to lead the charge when she became executive director of the Salem CC Foundation in 2015. She stepped away from the Hall last August when she became Deputy Executive Director of the Delaware River & Bay Authority, a position appointed by the Governor.
Nearly 150 Salem County athletes, coaches, administrators and community leaders have been enshrined in the Hall under her leadership.
She called her experience working with the Hall “wonderful” and said every induction ceremony “blew me away.”
Through the early support of then-Salem CC president Dr. Peter Contini, the Hall established its home in the college’s Davidow Hall. The pictures of the inductees line the walls inside the DuPont Fieldhouse.
At one time Hall officials “looked into” finding a more stand-alone home, but Smith said it’s right where it belongs.
“It’s so wonderful at the college because they’re a hub to the community; they are really community,” she said. “It’s just wonderful that now President (Mike) Gorman has followed through and is keeping it going. It’s a wonderful thing – and it is at the right place.”
Ceil Smith (L) is inducted into the Salem County Sports Hall of Fame she founded.
2025 SALEM COUNTY SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES & HONOREES
FALEESHA DOWE
In track and field, where every fraction of a second counts, Faleesha Lachelle Dowe emerges as a beacon of determination and talent. At Penns Grove High School, she quickly established herself as a standout athlete, dominating local and regional track meets. Her dedication to training, coupled with natural ability, propelled her to new heights of success.
DOWE
It wasn’t long before college recruiters came knocking, eager to enlist Dowe onto their track and field teams. After careful consideration, she chose Delaware State University, where she continued to excel both academically and athletically. Under the guidance of top-tier coaches, she honed her skills and earned recognition as one of the most promising talents in collegiate athletics.
Throughout her career, Faleesha faced numerous challenges, from injuries to fierce competition. However, each setback only fueled her determination to succeed. The pinnacle of her high school career came during 2011 Group I Sectionals, where she took first place in the 55-meter dash as well as the 400. She then led the 4×400 relay team to the Group I state title. She delivered a series of stellar performances throughout her high school years, earning medals and accolades that solidified her status as a track and field legend.
In the track and field history at Penns Grove, Faleesha stands as a shining example of what can be achieved through perseverance, dedication, and a love for the sport. As she continues to write new chapters, one thing remains certain: her legacy will endure at Penns Grove High School, a testament to the power of the human spirit to transcend boundaries and reach new heights.
LINDA DuBOIS
Linda DuBois graduated from Bridgeton High School, where she participated in basketball and tennis, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in health and physical education (K-12) from Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey).
As the head swim coach at Arthur P. Schalick High School from 1989 until 2008, Linda guided the team to national rankings for eight straight years and an undefeated season in 2000, when she achieved 100 career wins.
Subsequently, she devoted 13 years as a volunteer assistant swim coach for Schalick, while spending two years as head diving coach for both Schalick and Cumberland Regional High School.
In 2022, Linda returned as Schalick’s head swim coach. In 2024, the team advanced to round two of NJSIAA state playoffs. Linda’s lifetime coaching wins are pushing 200, a challenging achievement since there are normally only 10 meets per season.
She has worked as NJSIAA state swim team championship site director for 35 years and NJSIAA state individual swim championship site director for 15 years. Linda has been a NJSIAA certified high school swim official for 10 years and served as secretary of the South Jersey Officials Chapter.
She has earned “Coach of the Year” honors from the National Interscholastic Federation of Coaching Association and South Jersey Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association, and received the NJSIAA Sports Award in Swimming, and South Jersey Coaches Recognition at the Tri-County Classic Division Swim Championship.
Linda played a role in starting girls’ soccer at Schalick, serving as the team’s first head coach for four seasons. She then devoted four years as head coach of girls’ cross country at Schalick, with the team achieving a South Jersey title.
JOE FRASSENEI
In 1986, Joe Frassenei began his high school coaching career in New Jersey. Formerly a varsity wrestler at Drexel and West Chester universities, he coached for five years at Haddonfield and Clayton before coming to Salem County in 1991. This decision was best for his family, and teaching and coaching careers. Joe has coached for the last 44 years, accumulating 509 wins. Of those, 460 have come in Salem County at Woodstown, Penns Grove and Schalick.
FRASSENEI
As a head wrestling coach, Frassenei’s teams have enjoyed 22 winning seasons, 310 dual meet victories and four league titles with 76 regional qualifiers, three state qualifiers and one state place-winner.
Joe’s 21 years as a head track coach were highlighted by 20 winning seasons, 100 dual meet victories, one Salem County Championship, four Tri-County Divisional titles, 48 individual county champs, seven individual South Jersey champions, four individual state place-winners and two Meet of Champions medalists.
His coaching career in cross country was highlighted by 15 winning seasons, 99 dual-meet victories, four Tri-County Divisional titles, four Salem County championships, six individual Salem County champs, three South Jersey Group champs, 43 state qualifiers and two state place-winners.
Coach Fraz still has a passion for coaching. He serves as an assistant football and track coach at Schalick and will enter his fifth year as the Cougars’ head wrestling coach. Last season, his wrestling team finished with a 27-2 record and advanced to the South Jersey Group I final. At last year’s District 30 Championships, he was named District Coach of the Year.
AISHA MORGAN
Aisha Morgan was a multi-sport athlete (field hockey, tennis, indoor track, basketball and outdoor track) at Schalick. She continues to hold the school record in the 100, is tied for the Salem County championship meet record in the 100 and has the fastest 100 time of any Salem County athlete.
She attended the University of Houston where she was coached by Mike Takaha and Leroy Burrell. She was the conference champion in the 100 and advanced to the NCAA track meet in the 100 and 4×100. She had the distinction of qualifying for the USA Track and Field Championship meet where she competed alongside several Olympians.
After graduating from college, Morgan started her teaching career, working with individuals with special needs. She earned her master’s degree in applied behavior analysis from Rowan University and works closely with teachers and students in the special education field.
In 2014, Aisha started her high school coaching career in Houston. Her athletes and teams were district champions, regional qualifiers and state qualifiers.
CEIL SMITH
In 2000, Ceil Smith started the Salem County Sports Hall of Fame while serving as the publisher of Today’s Sunbeam. She continued the annual recognition ceremony when she became the executive director of the SCC Foundation in 2015.
SMITH
During her 25 years as the Hall of Fame chair, Ceil worked closely with a volunteer board comprised of high school athletic directors and community members steeped in Salem County sports history.
As a testament to her unwavering leadership, nearly 150 athletes, coaches, athletic directors and other sports dignitaries have been inducted. In the early days of the Sports Hall of Fame, Ceil worked with then-Salem Community College President Dr. Peter B. Contini to establish the Sports Hall of Fame in the college’s Davidow Hall, where it still resides today. In addition, the Sports Hall of Fame has recognized many other individuals for their community service in fostering growth in Salem County sports.
In August 2024, Ceil stepped away from the Sports Hall of Fame when she became the Deputy Executive Director of the Delaware River & Bay Authority. In this capacity, she focuses on Authority-related economic development initiatives, airport operations and marketing. Previously, Ceil served as a DRBA Commissioner, representing Salem County for more than 18 years.
Before being appointed to direct the SCC Foundation, Ceil served on the SCC Foundation board. During this time, she and Dr. Contini founded the SCC Gala, which has now raised more than $1 million for scholarships in 25 years.
Very active in civic and community activities, Ceil serves as a member of the Salem City Council and on the SCC Foundation Board of Directors. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Memorial Hospital of Salem County, Salem County Chamber of Commerce, Salem County Vocational-Technical School Educational Foundation, Meals on Wheels and Salem Main Street, and as a member of the Salem City Rotary Club and Salem County United Way.
DENNIS THOMAS
Dennis Thomas is a seasoned football coach and educator whose journey spans from elite athletic performance to shaping future generations both on and off the field.
As a standout athlete at Salem High School, Dennis was named a Blue-Chip All-Region player as a junior and a Big Chip All-American as a senior. He also earned All-State honors in track and field for the 100-meter dash and long jump. His athleticism and work ethic earned him a full scholarship to Rutgers University. He was named Special Teams Player of the Year as a sophomore and Team MVP as a junior.
After college, Thomas earned a spot with the Kansas City Chiefs, but his playing career was cut short by injury. He pivoted to education, earning two master’s degrees – one in mathematics from Purdue University and another in special education from Rowan University.
In 2011, he took over a struggling Salem High School football program and led the team from a winless season to the state semifinals in just one year, followed by a state championship appearance the next. His success continued at Millville, where he guided the Bolts to three state titles in seven years.
Dennis transitioned to the college level, returning briefly to his alma mater before joining Syracuse University, where he currently serves as tight ends coach.
During his 12 years in high school coaching and now three years at the collegiate level, Dennis has helped send more than 100 athletes to college and several to the NFL. His impact as a coach, mentor and educator continues to shape the lives of young athletes nationwide.
COMMUNITY SERVICE HONOREE DONALD R. AYARS SR.
Donald Ayars graduated from Woodstown High School, Class of 1975. While there, he played quarterback and ran track (3200), with his team taking many championships in both Salem County and Tri-County meets.
Don holds an associate degree in criminal justice from Brandywine College (now part of Widener University) and a bachelor’s from Glassboro State College (now Rowan University). During his 26 years as a patrolman in Woodstown, he received multiple commendations, introduced safety programs to schools and became very involved with the youth sports programs.
Coaching led him to holding several positions in both Little League and soccer as well as the Woodstown-Pilesgrove Recreation Association. When his children aged-out of youth sports, he stayed involved for another 25 years as an umpire for softball and baseball in the surrounding communities.
After retiring from the Woodstown Police Department, Don taught in the Salem County Vocational-Technical School’s law enforcement program and joined the Salem County Prosecutor’s Office as evidence coordinator. During his 16-year tenure with the Prosecutor’s Office, he also volunteered as a firearms and safety instructor for 12 summers with the Leaders Camp, a program offered to Salem County youth, held at Camp Edge.
Don has served as a hunting guide with Game Creek Hunting Farms for 35 years. His favorite pastimes are fishing and hunting, and enjoying his four grandchildren.
SCC ATHLETE RECOGNITION ELLA HAYES, SOFTBALL
In 2024, freshman shortstop Ella Hayes became Salem Community College’s first softball All-American. She also was named National Junior College Athletic Association Region 19 Division II Softball Player of the Year, leading the Mighty Oaks to the post-season that included an opening-round upset of top-seeded Mercer County CC in the region tournament.
In 2025, following another standout season, the sophomore from Kansas City, Mo., repeated as the region’s Player of the Year. She led the region in batting for the second year in a row (.577) – fifth nationally – as well as hits (79) and stolen bases (23 of 24). She was second in the region in extra-base hits (33) and fourth in runs batted in (54).
Over her two seasons with the Mighty Oaks, Ella played in 83 games, collecting 154 hits, scoring 117 runs and knocking in 115. Her two-year batting average was an astounding .586 with an on-base percentage of .644 and a slugging percentage of .973. She also stole 34 bases.
She also was named Garden State Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2024 and 2025.
In May, Ella graduated with honors with an associate degree in health science. She earned Dean’s List all four semesters. She will continue her softball career at Stony Brook University.
Two-time Region Player of the Year Ella Hayes receives her plaque from Salem CC softball coach Angel Rodriguez after being recognized by the Salem County Sports Hall of Fame.
Among the many questions Salem CC faces in its exploration of bringing a football program to campus is where to play its games; two local sites come to mind
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
Salem Community College officials already have a lot of positive data as they explore the possibility of starting a football program, but as president Mike Gorman has said, “there are a number of questions that have to be addressed.”
Among them is where would the Mighty Oaks play their home games if the team becomes a reality. There is no permanent stadium on campus – all of the school’s current outdoor teams play at off-campus venues – so in the beginning at least the football team would be a band of barnstormers.
There are options, among them playing at one or several high school stadiums in the county until more permanent digs can be secured.
The two closest possibilities are Penns Grove and Pennsville high schools. The Mighty Oaks’ two spring sports play their home games at recreation complexes nearby so they already have relationships in those communities.
Pennsville talked about it when Salem looked into starting a program several years ago. Lou D’Angelo Stadium does have permanent lights and the Eagles play their home games on Friday nights, so it wouldn’t be difficult to schedule Saturday games there.
“I think with the relationship we have with the college we would be very open to welcoming them onto our campus,” Pennsville athletics director Jamy Thomas said. “We have a lot of space back there for practices and storage of equipment. I am sure there would be some benefits to our program that we would welcome through the process.”
Penns Grove’s Jim Devonshire Field does not have permanent lights so the Mighty Oaks would have to work around the Red Devils’ Saturday afternoon home games.
Penns Grove AD Anwar Golden said the prospect of having a college team playing in his stadium is “appealing on a lot of levels,” but added the ultimate decision rests with the school board and superintendent.
Both high school stadiums have natural grass playing surfaces.
Salem CC gets board approval to hire consultant to explore feasibility of bringing football to campus, already has some ‘powerful’ data
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT – Is there football in Salem Community College’s future?
The prospect has been discussed from time to time, but Thursday evening the junior college’s Board of Trustees took a formal first step towards finding that answer when it authorized hiring a consultant for the next two months “in pursuit of a football program.”
The board’s action is not a mandate to field a football team, only to learn the feasibility of bringing the sport to campus. College president Mike Gorman told the board if the school is going to approve the program it needs to commit by mid-October for the team to start playing in 2026.
“There are probably 143 steps to getting this thing off the ground, this is probably Step 12,” Gorman said. “I’m excited to see what the research brings us.”
The board approved a two-month contract for former Rowan head football coach Jay Accorsi as consultant on the project. Accorsi first approached Salem officials in May about the prospects of starting football and they’ve had “extensive” informal conversations with a lot of preliminarily positive data since. The consulting contract will run from Aug. 25 to Oct. 25 at a rate of $400 per day not to exceed $15,000.
Athletics director Bob Hughes also is looking forward to the report.
“I’m excited to explore what football could mean not just for the college but for Salem County as a whole,” he said. “I think this brings educational opportunities to young men who otherwise might not have them and can create a better sense of community on the college’s campus.”
The Mighty Oaks currently offer men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, softball and, new this year, cross country – programs that all were either started or revived within the past seven years.
They have never sponsored football before, but explored the possibility of bringing it on line shortly before the COVID pandemic. If the board gives the go-ahead this time, the program would be a true start-up, with all the political, institutional, financial and athletic considerations that go with it. The school would have to buy uniforms and equipment, hire coaches, recruit players, build a schedule and, of course, secure a place to play.
Gorman estimated it would take an initial outlay of $500,000 to get the program off the ground.
“There are a number of questions that have to be addressed,” Gorman said.
“We have a lot of data that tells us not just why to do it, but how to do it and now it’s a matter of putting a plan into place,” Hughes said. “Being someone who very much enjoys creating systems and figuring out ways to do things we’re going to find out what the first step is and we’re going to do that, then we’ll do step two. We’re not going to try to put the cart before the horse.”
There is an opportunity for the Mighty Oaks in the market. Currently, there are 121 two-year colleges across the country playing football – 54 aligned with the National Junior College Athletic Association – but only one in New Jersey, none in Delaware and soon-to-be none in Pennsylvania. The other 67 are affiliated with the California Community College Athletic Association.
Sussex County CC is the only two-year school in New Jersey that has football. Lackawanna CC is the only one in Pennsylvania, but it will be transitioning to NCAA Division II in 2026-27.
Recent changes to the NCAA’s eligibility clock related to the junior college experience also work in Salem’s favor.
“If we’re going to do it, in all honesty, this is our window of opportunity to do it,” Gorman told the board.
The Mighty Oaks would play as a Division III (non-scholarship) independent for the first two years at least, Gorman said. In addition to four reasonably close New York JUCOs, there are numerous four-year junior varsity programs and trade schools in the region that could be prospective opponents. Home games could be played at area high schools until the Mighty Oaks found a permanent home.
“We wouldn’t be going forward if things weren’t pointing in the north direction now,” Gorman said. “You keep going forward until something tells you OK, now stop. Right now our internal work and the statistics and research we have been able to do have said this is worth going to the next level to talk about. Not necessarily to commit to yet, but hopefully with the feedback we get from (Accorsi) we’ll be able to make a good decision.”
Studies have indicated the addition of football promotes increased student enrollment and changes the perception of the college as a whole. Gorman told the board the addition of football could increase enrollment by more than 100. It also would narrow the school’s gender gap, which is now about 70-30 female.
Gorman was confident there are enough athletes in the immediate area that will be the program’s recruiting base to successfully field a team.
“It will draw, I have no doubt about that,” he said. “They would be pouring out to do this.”
At least one high school football coach in Salem County is excited about the prospect of college football coming to the county.
“I think it’d be a great idea,” Pennsville’s Mike Healy said. “I’ve had players in the past who’ve wanted to and were able to play college football, but because of the cost they never got the opportunity. Others weren’t sure if college was the best route for them and chose community college over playing football at a four-year university.”
In other action, the board approved an updated job description for an athletic coordinator (allowing for, among other things, the hiring of a head coach for another potential new program), and ratified the one-year stipends for new women’s basketball assistants Jeremy Jeane and Kayla Chambliss.
Here are the 2025 Salem County Sports Hall of Fame inductees. Ceremonies take place Aug. 28 in Salem Community College’s Davidow Hall and are free and open to the public.
Linda DuBois, coach, A.P. Schalick High School
Joseph Frassenei, coach, Woodstown High School and A.P. Schalick High School
Faleesha Dowe, track, Penns Grove High School (2011-2014), Delaware State University
Aisha Morgan, track, A.P. Schalick High School (1997-1999), University of Houston
Ceil Smith, founder, Salem County Sports Hall of Fame
Dennis Thomas, football, Salem High School (1993-1996), Rutgers University. Currently, Syracuse football director of high school relations/quality control
Community Service Award Donald Ayars Sr.
Honoring State Champions 1987 Salem track team: James Washington, captain, Coach Lee Bacon
2024-25 High School State Champions Arthur P. Schalick Spring Track 1600 Meters Group I: Jordan Hadfield
Pennsville Spring Track Pole Vault Group I: Megan Morris
Salem Spring Track Long Jump Group I: Anthony Parker
Woodstown Track 4×800 Relay Winter & Spring State Champions (Cole Lucas, Karson Chew, Jacob Marino, Joshua Crawford)
Spring Track 4×800 State Champion: Joshua Crawford
Salem CC Athlete Recognition
Ella Hayes – 2024 All-American, Softball; two-time Region XIX Player of the Year.
Salem CC men’s basketball schedule complete, women’s schedule close, Marsh adds 2 new assistants
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT – The mandate to play home-and-home series within the conference and region has kept Salem CC basketball coach Mike Green from being as creative as he’d have liked with his team’s 2025-26 schedule, but it finally came together even if he’s not altogether happy with it.
GREEN
With only three games to play with, it didn’t take long. The Mighty Oaks filled the open slots with a spot in a pre-Thanksgiving event where the Mighty Oaks might play a team they beat in last year’s Division III national tournament and instate Division II contender Essex.
Green was hoping to get more games with teams they might see in a return trip to the nationals. As it is, their trip to the Penn Highlands tournament in November gives them a chance to play the Sandhills (N.C.) CC team they beat in the fifth-place game at the nationals.
“We didn’t hunt these,” he said. “I wanted to play everybody that we have a possibility to see in March. I wanted to play those type of teams. I’d much rather start my season off with those type of teams, get tested early.
“It’s different, it’s a completely different schedule. You only get three games. You don’t have as much creativity; you can’t do much with the schedule. Last year we played pretty much who we wanted to play, returned some games and all that, but we just don’t have that wiggle room.”
“It is what it is,” athletics director Bob Hughes said. “That’s way the league has decided to do things and the region decide to do things, so you’ve got to go with it. You can talk about it in meetings and maybe change it down the line, but for now this is the way they’ve scheduled it.”
It also could be a little more balanced. The bulk of the Mighty Oaks’ home games are in the second half of the season making a more comfortable push to the postseason at least.
Last year they played 14 regular-season games at home and 14 on the road, but they played their first seven and 10 of their 14 games before Christmas at home. They didn’t play at home after Feb. 6.
This year they play 11 of their 16 games before Christmas on the road, with nine of their 14 games after the calendar turns and the whole month of February (five games) at home.
The season starts Nov. 6 at Atlantic Cape. The banner commemorating the Mighty Oaks’ district championship and trip to the national tournament will be raised during the home opener Nov. 13.
2025-26 SALEM CC MENS BASKETBALL SCHEDULE OCTOBER 12: x-Prince George’s CC; 18: x-Jamboree (Salem, PGCC, Bucks, Union), site TBA; 23: x-at Alvernia; 28: x-at Penn State-Brandywine). NOVEMBER 6: at Atlantic Cape, 8: at Delaware County; 13: Bergen; 15: at Pennsylvania Highlands Tournament (SCC, Penn Highlands, Sandhills, Bryant & Stratton); 16: at Penn Highlands Tournament; 18: Ocean; 20: at Passaic; 22: Essex, site TBA; 25: at Camden. DECEMBER 4: Thaddeus Stevens; 6: at Bergen; 9: RC-Gloucester; 11: at RC-Cumberland; 13: Brookdale; 18: at Ocean; 20: at Sussex. JANUARY 6: at Union; 10: at RC-Gloucester; 13: RC-Cumberland; 15: at Northampton; 17: Passaic; 22: Atlantic Cape; 27: Philadelphia; 29: at Brookdale; 31: at Luzerne. FEBRUARY 3: Montgomery; 5: Harrisburg Area; 10: Union; 12: Camden; 14: Sussex. (x-scrimmage)
Women: Schedule close, add 2 coaches
The Salem CC women have a little more flexibility in their scheduling and while this year’s slate isn’t quite finished, it does have some of what coach Brian Marsh called “out of the ordinary” elements.
MARSH
It includes three games with teams from Maryland, including a home-and-home deal with Hagerstown, and a visit from Palm Beach State, a JUCO Division I program from Florida on a three-game Northern swing that includes games at Raritan Valley and Harcum.
“I always try to say I recruit nationally; it’s kind of nice to play some teams that aren’t within driving distance,” Marsh said. “I want to play a lot of different teams. I want to expose my players to a lot of different players. Obviously, when you’re playing the same 18 games you start to see the same type of programs, so it’s just a totally different program that we have no idea about.
“I think it’s interesting playing a lot of different players, a lot of different coaches and see where we stack up with these tier players. We’re building this program and we’re trying to get this team where we want it to go. I don’t want to turn down anybody to play.”
The women open their season against Hagerstown (Nov. 4), then travel to a Delaware County team (Nov. 8) reviving its program after a five-year pause. They hope to add another game or two before the schedule is completed.
Before opening the season, the Mighty Oaks have scrimmages against Penn State-Brandywine and St. Elizabeth (with 2024-25 Mighty Oaks minutes leader Jakayla Jenkins).
Marsh has brought on two new assistants since the end of last season – Jeremy Jeanne and Kayla Chambliss. Jeanne is the former Delaware Military Academy head coach and athletics director. Chambliss, a Delaware grad, previously coached at Lincoln and Wilmington universities.
They join Kiara Eubanks, Garret Sample and Thomas Stanley on the staff.
“I’m just real excited to have a ‘real staff,’ Marsh said. “My first year I had one assistant coach. The second year I had two assistant coaches and now I’m up to (three assistants and two volunteers), which is really nice.
“It’s so much easier in practice the more coaches you have. Like last year you’re trying to teach something and people are moving around. Now you have more coaches who can kind of pull people aside and handle it.
2025-26 SALEM CC WOMENS BASKETBALL SCHEDULE OCTOBER 23: x-Penn State-Brandywine; 30: x-St. Elizabeth. NOVEMBER 4: Hagerstown; 8: at Delaware County; 18: at Mercer; 20: Palm Beach State; 22: at Essex; 25: at Delaware Tech. DECEMBER 2: Union; 4: at Bucks; 6: at Raritan Valley; 9: Morris; 11: RC-Cumberland; 13; Lackawanna; 20: at Cecil. JANUARY 10: at RC-Gloucester; 12: at Hagerstown; 15: Harcum; 17: Middlesex; 20: Mercer; 24: at Lackawanna; 27: Delaware Tech; 31: Raritan Valley. FEBRUARY 3: at Union; 7: at Middlesex; 10: at Morris; 14: Essex; 17: at Harcum. (x-scrimmage)
Green, Mighty Oaks restock roster, mold an athletic team ‘geared’ for the nationals looking to create its own legacy
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT — Mike Green looks like a guy who knows something and can’t wait to spring it on folks.
The Salem CC basketball coach had that same feeling last year, but had to wait until the calendar turned to turn it all loose – with historic results.
His instincts proved right and with the emergence of three second-semester eligibles the Mighty Oaks soared to their first-ever JUCO district championship and a top five finish in the national tournament.
This year, with virtually an entire new roster – such is the churn in junior college basketball – and without some of the elements that made last season special, the third-year Salem coach feels even better about the product he can put on the court next winter.
And this time he can put it all on the floor without having to hold anything back.
“I’m high on all these kids,” Green said after one of the team’s recent summer workouts. “I think this team is more talented than last year, but that doesn’t mean anything.
“We got out to the nationals (last year) and saw parts that we needed (and) we picked them up. But it’s a long road before you even get to nationals. Last year let us know we’ve got to turn it up even more. I think this team is more geared for nationals, but you’ve got to get there. You’ve got to take care of all the stuff in between. Brand new team, brand new year.”
The Mighty Oaks return only three players from last year’s 26-8 team that won three games in the national tournament In Herkimer, N.Y., and in some ways Green is OK with that because he sees as his job to get his players to the next level as quickly as possible.
To replenish the roster Green went back to his roots, digging deep into Philadelphia and Delaware to steal players either overlooked in the process or late bloomers and even snatching others away from programs too slow to pull the trigger.
“Our town, Philadelphia, picked up on (their vision) big time,” Green said. “We promoted it well. It’s a thing now. Salem is a thing now. We did more turning guys down than anything.”
There are 10 newcomers in total. Some even came over from region rivals.
Kamari Brasher played five games at Northampton last year, going for a double-double in his college debut. Nyeem Johnson, a 6-3 guard perhaps the biggest catch of the signing class, averaged 14.9 points in 15 second-semester games for Montgomery County CC last year. He scored 15 points in 32 minutes in the Feb. 4 win over Salem that was the Mighty Oaks’ last loss before the national tournament, but didn’t play in the district championship game Salem won by eight.
Johnson already has two Division I offers – Cal State-Bakersfield (which showed interest early last year in Jyheim Spencer) and Louisiana Tech. Naseem Wright is another projected Division I talent.
“Seeing their success, I only plan to continue that,” Johnson said. “Coming in, I’ve seen the type of team they are. They play fast, they play hard, everybody is talented. This is a way more talented team, so I plan to win everything.”
Now that he’s here, he’s all in with the Mighty Oaks.
“It’s all love,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s no bad blood or anything (when the Mighty Oaks face Montco again). I just plan to step on the court and do what I do.”
The Mighty Oaks are expected to raise their district championship/national tournament banner before their Nov. 13 game against Bergen CC. They’re also expected to unveil a new set of green road uniforms, designed by Green, during their picture day.
“The talent level is high,” Green said. “Now, we just have to get these guys to buy in like we did last year and get them trusting each other.”
SALEM CC BASKETBALL SIGNEES Lenar Anderson, 6-2 SG, Wilmington, Del. (McKean) Kamari Brasher, 6-5 F, Roslyn, Pa. (Abington/Northampton) Zy’Aire Gibson, 6-3 SG, New Castle, Del. (William Penn) Paul Glants, 6-4 G, Abington (Abington) Nayeem Johnson, 6-3 G, Philadelphia (CMS/E. Stroudsburg/Montco CC) Saadi Lee, 6-0 PG, Philadelphia (West Catholic) Jarrell Little, 6-3 G, Philadelphia (Dobbins) Taavi Mateen, 6-3 G, Philadelphia (Cheltenham/Wood/Camden) Idris Rines, 6-6 F, Upper Dublin (Upper Dublin) Quadeair Smith, 6-4 F, Philadelphia (Audenried) Nasseem Wright, 6-6 SG, Philadelphia (Lincoln/Girard)
SALEM CC RETURNEES Xavier Brewington, PG, 34 GP, 10.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 45-145 3FG, 47 steals, 99 assists Julian Jones, PG, 12 GP (inj.), 3.4 ppg, 21 assists Stefan Phillips, F-C, 27 GP, 5.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 45-73 FG, 45-51 FT
Photo: Salem CC basketball coach Mike Green talks with his team at the end of a recent summer workout.
After scoring a huge opening-round upset, Salem CC swept out of Region 19/North Atlantic District tournament
REGION 19 TOURNAMENT At Rutgers-Camden Friday’s Games Brookdale 12, Salem 2 (5 inns.) RCSJ-Gloucester 16, Salem 0 (5 inns.) Saturday’s Games RCSJ-Gloucester vs. Brookdale, noon Second game, if necessary, 3 p.m.
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
CAMDEN — You might be able to sneak up on the best teams in the country every once in a while, but unless something magical is in the works it’s not going to happen two days in a row.
The Salem CC baseball team was brimming with confidence after knocking off the No. 1 team in the country in the opening round of the Region 19/North Atlantic District Tournament. But the second day back against two of the top three teams in JUCO Division II just wasn’t the same.
The Mighty Oaks were five-inning run-ruled out of the tournament at Rutgers-Camden, losing to No. 3 Brookdale in the winner’s bracket 12-2 and then getting eliminated 16-0 by the No. 1 RCSJ-Gloucester team they knocked off the day before.
“I don’t know if we recovered from yesterday,” coach John Holt said. “We were feeling pretty good and might have been too overconfident. We’ve got to play clean baseball against good teams and we didn’t do that. I think we can play with both of those teams, we didn’t have enough gas today to get through it.”
“I think it was the energy; that’s really it,” sophomore centerfielder Demetrius DeRamus said. “The energy was just low and brought everything down.”
“We tried to keep the energy up, but there was only so much in the tank for us,” corner outfielder Yen Rodriguez said.
It probably didn’t help their mindset that the Brookdale game started more than two hours after its scheduled noon start time due to storms that blew through the area shortly after the Mighty Oaks arrived at the facility. With the teams evacuated from the field — and Salem in the middle of batting practice — the Mighty Oaks waited out the entire delay in the cramped comfort complex on the concourse with players reportedly falling asleep in the stalls.
“When our guys are stuck in a men’s bathroom for over an hour, standing like that, and we were warmed up already,” Holt said, “(outfielder) Jay LaBold may not get hurt if he doesn’t tighten up for an hour and a half. Obviously, that effects the game pretty big. I had to leave (starting pitcher Jared) Vandersteur in longer than I wanted to (127 pitches) because we had pulled the DH. I think it had a little bit of an impact, but we’ve got to be able to overcome that. We were thrown off.”
The Mighty Oaks beat Gloucester in the tournament’s opening game 6-5 in 12 innings Thursday. It gave them enormous confidence going into Day 2, but it also lit a fire under the Roadrunners. Gloucester has outscored its two opponents since the loss 28-1 and given up just five hits in 10 innings.
The Runners must beat Brookdale twice Saturday to win the championship and earn the district’s automatic bid to the national tournament. As the No. 1 team in the country you’d expect them to get the one at-large bid to the national tournament if Brookdale takes them down.
“We were really disappointed in ourselves the way we played yesterday and we felt to be honest we handed the game away,” Roadrunners coach Rob Valli said. “And to be honest, they woke us up. They allowed it to turn from us being mad at ourselves to getting woken up and being ready to perform today.”
Gloucester (49-5) jumped on Salem for four runs in the first inning, then broke it open with eight in the second. Second game Salem starter Seth McCormick had four straight batters in 1-2 counts in the first inning, but all four reached base and either scored or drove in a run. “It just comes down to execution,” McCormick said.
The Mighty Oaks (28-26) were held to one hit in the elimination game, Matt Murphy’s leadoff double in the second inning. They loaded the bases with three walks in the fifth, but Gloucester got Demetrius DeRamus to end the game.
DeRamus, who hit a game-saving two-run homer in the ninth inning of the first Gloucester game, was in a position to close his Salem career with a hit to give him 100 career RBIs.
Brookdale walked off the winner’s bracket game with five runs in the fifth. The walk-off run scored on a bases-loaded wild pitch.
The Mighty Oaks took a 1-0 lead in the visitors first when Yen Rodriguez scored on Tyler Hacker’s bases-loaded walk. Ball four on the walk was a wild pitch and DeRamus tried to score from second but was out at the plate that at first glance looked like he slipped a foot on the dish before contact with the pitcher covering.
DeRamus’ 98th career RBI got the Mighty Oaks to within 7-2 in the top of the fifth.
While the losses brought a disappointing close to the Mighty Oaks’ season, there was a lot to remember.
Their 28 wins were a single-season school record against arguably the most challenging schedule in program history. They hosted and won a playoff series and won a game in the district tournament. They beat the Nos. 1 and 14 ranked teams during the season and played No. 2 close in two games with one of the losses decided on a controversial walk-off balk. Holt scored his 400th coaching victory and 100th at Salem during the season and four of the sophomores collected the 100th hits of their career.
“Hindsight, it’s a good year,” Holt said. “We’ve played a challenging schedule to prepare us for this weekend and it paid off. We were able to give Gloucester its first conference loss; that’s always a plus. We hung with the best teams in the country all year long. For a program that’s only been around for five years that says something. I think this thing is in the right direction. I think we’re building something here that could end up being special. We just have to work to improve every year.
“Last year we made the playoffs, this year the playoffs was the expectation and then the goal was to make some noise and I think we did that. Going into next year it’s continue to take a step forward with the program. I’m proud of this team. I think this group has had a lot of heart, a lot of guts. This is going to be a bunch that sticks with me regardless of how long I coach.”
Salem
100 01-
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Brookdale
202 35-
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WP: Tyler Mendez. LP: Jared Vandersteur. HR: Gary John Perone (B)
Mighty Oaks give a performance for the ages, stun No. 1, two-time reigning national champs in opening round of Region 19 D3 Final Four
REGION 19 TOURNAMENT Thursday’s Games Game 1: Salem 6, RCSJ-Gloucester 5 (12 inns.) Game 2: Brookdale 9, RCSJ-Cumberland 8 (10 inns.) Game 3: RCSJ-Gloucester 12, RCSJ-Cumberland 1 (5 inns.) Friday’s Games Game 4: Salem vs. Brookdale, noon (winner to championship) Game 5: RCSJ-Gloucester vs. Game 4 loser, 3 p.m. Saturday’s Games Championship (2 if necessary), noon
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
CAMDEN — John Holt had one simple message for his blue-collar Salem CC baseball team before it boarded the bus for the trip up 295 for the Region 19 tournament.
We just have to win three, fellas.
Now they just have to win two – as long as they keep winning.
The Mighty Oaks shocked everyone in the JUCO baseball world except themselves Thursday when they stunned top-ranked, top-seeded and two-time reigning national champion RCSJ-Gloucester 6-5 in 12 innings at Rutgers-Camden.
The benefit of the win was to happily go back home early without having to play another game today and will play second-seeded No. 3 Brookdale Friday at noon. Jared Vandersteur, the region’s leader in ERA, is expected to draw the start for the Mighty Oaks (28-24) with Seth McCormick slated for their third game, which could be Friday’s 3 p.m. elminational game or Saturday’s championship game.
The win was Salem’s record 28th of the season and 401st of Holt’s coaching career. The Roadrunners fell to 47-5; they hadn’t lost to a Region 19 opponent since last May.
The Mighty Oaks (28-24) won despite striking out 21 times in the game.
“Our boys showed up today,” Holt said. “They played their hearts out, they really did. I’m as proud as I’ve been of a group in almost my entire career. These guys laid it all out there today. They played a tough game against a great team and they just out-toughed them today.”
It was the second time the Mighty Oaks have knocked off a No. 1-ranked team under Holt, the last being RCSJ-Gloucester in 2021.
The Mighty Oaks were defeated handily by the Roadrunners during the season, but they showed they could play with the best teams in the nation by hanging with now No. 2 SUNY-Niagara twice on their Florida trip in mid-March.
“Great that we get to go home early, enjoy the rest of the day, chill out, get ready to come back tomorrow,” third baseman Chris Kelly said. “It means a lot.
“It means everything, from 1 through 28, including the coaches, coming out here beating the No. 1 team in the country. No one else thought we could do it. We believed 1 through 28. We came into this weekend thinking we know we got it, we’re going to come in, dominate, and we did it. We did what we had to do.”
Heroes were plentiful, with Demetrius DeRamus and Matt Murphy at the top of the list.
Kelly brought Angel Velez home from third with the winning run on a two-strike sacrifice fly in the 12th.
DeRamus was down to the Mighty Oaks’ last strike of the game, but gave them life with a two-out, two-run homer over the park’s version of the Green Monster in right to tie it 5-5 in the visitors’ ninth. He had three RBIs in the game, leaving him three shy of 100 for his career.
Cole Dawson got the rally started with a one-out single, then stole second and went to third on a passed ball.
“I’ve been in that situation so many times, it’s just routine at this point,” said DeRamus, who hit a two-run game-tying homer in the 11th inning of a 12-inning win over RCSJ-Cumberland earlier in the season. “We work on it a lot in practice, two-strike approaches. I think it’s just something about RCSJ in general that lights the fire in me. I’m just lost for words right now, just happy we get to go to the next game.”
Jon Gambone gave the Mighty Oaks six strong innings as the starter, throwing 115 pitches on the heels of a 133-pitch effort in his previous tournament start. Pat Seitzinger pitched 4 2/3 shutout innings through the 11th and Murphy, pitching for only the second time in college, closed it out like a veteran in the 12th.
“We knew the last time we played them that wasn’t our team,” Seitzinger said. “I didn’t do good (in that series), but I did good today and that’s what matters more.”
Murphy had pitched only one Inning previously in his college career (March 8), but he had been getting up to 90 in his bullpens and Holt thought that velo in that situation with Murphy’s closer mentality was just what they needed. The head coach shifted the day’s lineup to put Murphy at DH – with Yen Rodriguez in rightfield and Jason LeBold in left (his first action since April 13) – for just such a circumstance.
The sophomore righthander worked through the 12th on 15 pitches. He ended the game on a double-play grounder that shortstop Dawson took himself to second and then fired to first to set off a raucous celebration in the dugout.
“I’ve been telling coach all year I’ve wanted to pitch,” said Murphy, whose last extended pitching appearance was June 1, 2022, at Eastern Regional High School. “He’s been telling me to get ready every series. I’ve been ready every series, I’ve just been waiting for it. He gave me the call and I did the best that I could. I was doing it for my team.
“All day we were picking each other up. I didn’t want to let my teammates down so I went in there, gave it all I had and a great outcome happened.”
Demetrius DeRamus reaches the plate after his game-tying two-run homer in the ninth inning. (Screenshot from Gamechanger video)
