NJCAA Region 8 Notebook: March 5

Photo courtesy of Indian River State College Athletics

Posted: Mar 05, 2024

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Florida College System Activities Association has released its weekly coaches' polls and announced its Weekly Awards.

February 26, 2024, Coaches' Polls

Region 8 Weekly Awards (for games February 26-March 3)

DI Men's Basketball Player of the Week: Jayshayne Woodard, Indian River State
Women's Basketball Player of the Week: Celia Riviere, Northwest Florida State
DI Baseball Player of the Week: Victor Figueroa, Florida SouthWestern
DI Baseball Pitcher of the Week: Juan Fernandez, Miami Dade
DI Softball Player of the Week: Leah Clark, Central Florida
DI Softball Pitcher of the Week: J'dah Girigorie, Indian River State
DII Baseball Player of the Week: Mike Cuello, South Florida State
DII Baseball Pitcher of the Week: Aaron Potter, St. Johns River State
DII Softball Player of the Week: Kendall Catherwood, St. Johns River State
DII Softball Pitcher of the Week: Kaitlyn Duquette, Lake-Sumter State

Visit Region 8 Player of the Week HQ to read more about this week's honorees.

Winter Sports Updates

Men's Basketball
- Division I: Five teams continue to be featured in the NJCAA DI Poll, including four in the top 13 - No. 8 Daytona State College, No. 9 Northwest Florida State College, No. 12 Chipola College and No. 13 Eastern Florida State College. Indian River State College re-entered the poll at No. 23 following a win over then-No. 24 Florida SouthWestern State College.
- Division II: Florida State College at Jacksonville defeated Florida Gateway College to win the FCSAA Division II Championship. FSCJ moves on to the Gulf South District Championship Game, where it will play Region 22 Champion Snead (Ala.) State Community College on Saturday in Bay Minette, Ala. The winner advances to the NJCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championship.
Women's Basketball
- Division I: Gulf Coast State College ends the season at No. 3 in the NJCAA DI Poll followed by No. 5 Northwest Florida State and No. 7 Eastern Florida State. Chipola is No. 20 and Pensacola State College, No. 21.
- Division II: Palm Beach State College will play Region 22 Champion Coastal Alabama Community College-North in Saturday's Gulf South District Championship Game in Bay Minette, Ala. The winner advances to the NJCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship.
Swimming & Diving
- Indian River State will host the NJCAA Swimmng & Diving Championships, beginning Wednesday and continuing through Saturday. Both Indian River State and the College of the Florida Keys will be represented in the meet. The Indian River men are going for a 50th straight National Championship; the women are going for a 42nd straight title.

Spring Sports Updates

Baseball
- Division I: Gulf Coast State remained No. 1 in the NJCAA DI Poll while Pensacola State moved up to No. 5. Northwest Florida State is No. 16 and Florida SouthWestern, No. 17.
Softball
- Division I: Region 8 again has eight teams in the NJCAA DI Poll, including Northwest Florida State, Florida SouthWestern and Indian River State at Nos. 2-4, respectively. The College of Central Florida is No. 8 and Gulf Coast State, No. 9, making five teams in the top ten. Seminole State College (No. 13), Eastern Florida State (No. 14) and Chipola (No. 16) are also ranked.
- Division II: St. Johns River State entered the NJCAA DII Poll at No. 18.
Women's Golf: Eastern Florida State placed seventh at the Oldfield Intercollegiate event; Seminole State placed ninth at the Lynn University Invite; Daytona State placed eighth at the Reynolds Lake Oconee Invite.
Women's Tennis: St. Petersburg College went 2-1 in play at the Collin Women's Superbash; Hillsborough knocked off a pair of NCAA opponents (Buffalo, Oakland); and Eastern Florida State defeated Mount St. Mary's.
Men's Tennis: Like the women, Eastern Florida picked up a win over Mount St. Mary's on March 1.
Beach Volleyball: State College of Florida has raced out to a 7-0 record in region play.
Women's Flag Football: Defending NJCAA Champion Florida Gateway is off to a 1-1 start, including a 54-0 win over the FSU Club Team on Saturday.

For more Player of the Week coverage, follow the FCSAA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at "TheFCSAA."