Jersey Blues Celebrate Excellence At 11th Annual Athletics Banquet

Lincroft, NJ – Brookdale Community College Athletics celebrated another unforgettable year of success during the 11th Annual Jersey Blues Athletics Banquet, held inside the Student Life Center on campus. Student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and supporters gathered to honor the accomplishments, dedication, leadership, and academic excellence that highlighted the 2025-26 academic year.

The evening opened with a burst of energy as Assistant Director of Athletics & Recreation Trish Taylor took the stage in place of the sorely missed Director of Athletics & Recreation, Katie Amundson. Accompanied by the iconic "Gonna Fly Now" by Bill Conti, Taylor set a tone of perseverance, determination, and triumph that carried throughout the evening's festivities.

One of the first honors presented during the evening was the Coaches Milestone Award, recognizing Head Baseball Coach Johnny Johnson for earning his 900th career victory this season. The milestone further solidifies Johnson's status as the winningest coach in Brookdale baseball history and highlights a coaching career defined by excellence, consistency, and an unwavering commitment to student-athlete success.

Following a delicious buffet dinner, Brookdale President Dr. David Stout addressed the crowd and expressed his pride in the accomplishments of the student-athletes, coaches, athletic department, and supporters. He commended the Jersey Blues community for its continued success both on and off the field and the positive impact it has on Brookdale College.

Special recognition awards were presented to individuals whose dedication and service have made a lasting impact on Brookdale Athletics. Abbey Ford received the Most Outstanding Brookdalian Award for her outstanding photography work and generous volunteer efforts throughout the year. Through her dedication to capturing memorable moments and showcasing Jersey Blues student-athletes, Ford donated countless hours of her time and talent in support of Brookdale Athletics.

The Jersey Blues Unsung Hero Award was accepted by BTV's, David Oster, for Brookdale Television's Nate Zerbe for his outstanding contributions to Brookdale Athletics. Through his and BTV's exceptional livestream productions and year-round dedication, they have provided unmatched coverage of Jersey Blues events, allowing fans, families, and supporters who could not attend in person to stay connected while showcasing Brookdale's student-athletes and programs.

As the evening continued, each head coach reflected on their team's season before presenting their respective Most Valuable Player and Coaches Award recipients. These awards recognized the dedication, perseverance, leadership, and athletic achievements displayed throughout the year.

The banquet culminated with the presentation of Brookdale's most prestigious individual honors. The Scholar Athlete Awards recognized student-athletes who maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA throughout the academic year. Female Scholar Athlete honors were awarded to Bella McKelvey (women's volleyball), while Ryan Tan (Baseball) earned Male Scholar Athlete of the Year recognition.

The highly anticipated Athlete of the Year Awards celebrated two student-athletes whose performances elevated their programs to new heights. Women's soccer standout Bella Tomassini and baseball star Ray Mulhern were selected as the Female and Male Athletes of the Year.

Bella Tomassini – Women's Soccer & Women's Basketball

- First Team All-Region Honors

- First Team All-GSAC Honors

- Region 19 Player of the Year

- GSAC Player of the Year

- GSAC Player of the Week - Twice

- United Soccer Coaches Junior College Division III All-America Second Team

- NJCAA Player of the Week

- NJCAA First Team All-American

Baseball Outfielder – Ray Mulhern

- 1st Team All-Region

- 1st Team All-GSAC

- GSAC Player of the Week

- Lead the Nation for Scored Runs – 102

- 11th in the Nation for Stolen Bases

The 11th Annual Athletics Banquet was a memorable celebration of another outstanding year for Brookdale Athletics, honoring the student-athletes, coaches, staff, and supporters who continue to make the Jersey Blues tradition one of excellence both on and off the field.

2025-2026 Team MVP Award and Coaches Award Recipients