RCSJ Honors Fall Standouts, Vecchio and Ngcobo Named Athletes of Season

Rowan College of South Jersey held its fall athletics awards banquet on December 15, 2025, recognizing top performers from soccer, cross country, and volleyball at a ceremony hosted by the college. Executive Director of Athletics Brian Rowan presented Athletes of the Season honors to Laney Vecchio of the women s cross country program and Alphiwe Ngcobo of the men s soccer team, highlighting individual excellence amid strong team results this fall.

The college celebrated multiple team achievements including Region 19 championships for the women s soccer and women s cross country teams, and a Region 19 playoff berth for the women s volleyball team. The RCSJ Gloucester Roadrunners were acknowledged as team champions in women s cross country, and Vecchio earned national recognition as the NJCAA All American women s cross country national champion. The Roadrunner Unified Sports team was also honored for its fall season, reflecting the program s emphasis on inclusion and community participation.

Coaches distributed team awards and noted a series of postseason honors earned by individual athletes. On the men s side, Ryne Handley was named to the All Region 19 first team for cross country, while Alphiwe Ngcobo was named to the All Region 19 first team for men s soccer and teammate Gavin Riemer was named to the All Region 19 second team. Women s cross country placed multiple athletes on All Region 19 lists with Laney Vecchio and Kayla Ayars on the first team, and women s soccer saw forwards Brianna Howard and Ava Delaney and midfielder Ava Pino named to the All Region 19 first team with defenders and goalkeepers joining the second team honors. Women s volleyball featured Marisa Van Atter on the All Region 19 second team.

For Cumberland County residents the awards carry concrete implications. Individual and team success at the Region 19 and national levels can strengthen recruiting pipelines from local high schools, attract greater public and private support for college athletics, and increase community attendance at games. Unified Sports recognition also reinforces local efforts toward inclusive programming and opportunities for athletes with differing abilities. As RCSJ moves into winter and spring seasons, administrators and coaches will leverage these honors to sustain momentum, support student athlete development, and engage the broader community in college sports programming.