STCC wrestling claims 8th NCWA Northeast Conference Championship title

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Springfield Technical Community College wrestling continues to dominate, securing first place at the National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) Northeast Conference Championship (NEC) for the eighth time.

The championship, held at STCC on March 1, featured 14 teams competing for the prestigious title. Vice President of Student Affairs Darcey Kemp was in attendance to support the team as they achieved this milestone victory.

"It was incredible to witness the dedication and perseverance of our student-athletes," Kemp said. "Their hard work and commitment to excellence both on and off the mat truly embody the spirit of STCC. We are so proud of them."

The win allowed the STCC wrestling team to advance to the NCWA Nationals, which took place on March 13-15 in Bossier City, La.

At Nationals, the men’s wrestling team placed 15^th in the country out of more than 100 teams. STCC women’s wrestling finished 24^th. Jerymar De Jesus of Lawrence, a freshman on the women’s team, was named conference champ in the 110-pound weight class. She was named an All-American wrestler at 110 pounds.  It’s been five years since a female wrestler at STCC achieved All American, said head wrestling coach Alberto Nieves.

“When I was named All-American, I wasn’t sure what that meant,” De Jesus said. “But then it hit me that it meant I was one of the best. I thought, that’s amazing and crazy what I just did! I was so excited,” said De Jesus, who looks forward to competing again next year.

Nieves expressed pride in his team’s perseverance, acknowledging the adversity they faced this season.

“I think this is a good year for us because even though we won our eighth conference title, coming in, I thought we were a little bit of an underdog team,” Nieves said. “We had four individuals with injuries – three of them were conference champs, and two were All-Americans. I thought, how do we regroup? We were fortunate that some of the kids came back to get a second degree.”

I love it at STCC. Coming here helped me develop as a wrestler, Parisse Williams, STCC student

Despite these challenges, the team’s dedication and work ethic propelled them to victory. Nieves highlighted the unique commitment of STCC student-athletes, many of whom juggle multiple responsibilities outside of wrestling.

“The wrestlers are dedicated and hard workers,” Nieves said. “We’re fortunate to have students who enjoy the sport of wrestling. Our community college students are often supporting their families. We’re fortunate enough to help them out and give them an opportunity to compete in the sport of wrestling.”

The STCC wrestling squad includes 13 men and one woman, each contributing to the team’s success. Among them is 37-year-old wrestler Todd Sweeney, a standout competitor pursuing a certificate in alcohol and drug counseling. His journey back to wrestling is one of perseverance and passion.

“I wrestled all through high school. I graduated in ’07, but never competed at the college level,” Sweeney said. “This is something I’ve always wanted to do. I always wanted to see how I would have matched up at this level, and I always wanted to go back to college. After high school, I chose work over school.”

Now, with a second chance, Sweeney is making the most of the opportunity.

“I took first place – I’m a conference champion at 125 pounds,” he said, referring to the regional championship match. “It was amazing. I was ecstatic. It didn’t sink in until the next day. This hard work is paying off, and it’s worth every second of it.”

Other team members echoed Sweeney’s enthusiasm and commitment. Johnny Andre of Springfield, who won first place in the 184-pound weight class, emphasized the team’s growing reputation.

“I feel like we’re building a dynasty,” Andre said. “We work hard, we push hard. It's a great place to get better. It’s a great culture, a great team, and we're hungry for it.”

Parisse Williams, of Chicopee, who is studying accounting and business, also praised the STCC wrestling experience.

“I love it at STCC. Coming here helped me develop as a wrestler,” Williams said. “It’s a place I can come to and have people to talk to. I enjoy being with my team – it’s like a family.”

Justin Barr of West Orange, N.J., a two-time conference champion and returning All-American, earned the outstanding wrestler award for the second consecutive year.

“We put the work in every day,” Barr said. “I had a pretty tough match at the regionals, but I kept scoring and pushed through.”

Looking to the future, Barr plans to continue wrestling while pursuing a career in Heating, Venting and Air Conditioning (HVAC).

“My coaches really motivated me to keep going,” Barr said. “I started off slow at the beginning of the year, but they pushed me to put the work in every day. I want to thank them.”

Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.

About Springfield Technical Community College

STCC, the Commonwealth's only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC's highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide unequaled opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the college – a designated Hispanic Serving Institution – seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed and socially responsible graduates.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu

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