Sunshine State Conference Celebrates Historic 2024-25 Season with Eight Team National Championships
MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Sunshine State Conference added eight NCAA Division II team national championships during the 2024-25 academic year, bringing its all-time total to 135 and cementing a historic achievement in collegiate athletics.
SSC All-Time National Championships: Team | Individual
With these victories, the SSC becomes the first NCAA Division II conference since 1988-89 to win eight or more national titles in a single academic year, a feat last accomplished by the California Collegiate Athletic Association over three decades ago.
"Achieving eight national championships in a single year is a testament to the strength and consistency of SSC programs," said Acting Commissioner Maryanne Simkulak. "It's a proud moment for our institutions, who continue leading Division II athletics and academics."
In addition to the league's dominance in competition, the SSC also reached numerous academic milestones, most importantly a record-breaking 90 percent Academic Success Rate (ASR), surpassing the previous all-time high of 89 percent achieved in 2023.
As the SSC looks ahead to its next 50 years, this historic season sets a new benchmark, blending tradition with a forward-looking commitment to excellence in athletics and academics.
2024-25 SSC Team National Champions:
Lynn Men's Soccer – Captured the program's fourth title (2003, 2012, 2014, 2024), marking the school's 15th overall and the SSC's 10th in men's soccer. [
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Lynn Volleyball – Earned the first national championship in program history, boosting the school's title count to 16. A win that marks the SSC's eighth volleyball title. [
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Nova Southeastern Women's Swimming – Won a third consecutive national championship (2023, 2024, 2025), bringing the program's and school's total to three and 14, respectively. It stands as the SSC's third trophy in women's swimming. [
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Nova Southeastern Men's Basketball – Claimed its second national title in three years (2023, 2025), contributing to the school's 15th championship and the SSC's fourth in men's basketball. [
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Tampa Women's Lacrosse – Secured back-to-back titles (2024, 2025), now with two program championships, 23rd overall for the school, and three in SSC history for women's lacrosse. [
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Barry Women's Tennis – Captured its ninth national title (2011, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025), extending the school's championship total to 29 and the SSC's record in women's tennis to 14. [
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Embry-Riddle Women's Rowing – Made history with the first-ever NCAA Division II championship for both the program and the university. It also marks the SSC's fourth title in women's rowing. [
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Tampa Baseball – Reached a new milestone with its NCAA Division II-leading 10th national championship (1992, 1993, 1998, 2006, 2007, 2013, 2015, 2019, 2024, 2025). The Spartans own 24 total team titles, while the SSC boasts 21 national baseball championships. [
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2024-25 SSC Team National Runners-Up:
- Tampa men's swimming
- Nova Southeastern women's tennis
- Tampa men's lacrosse
- Tampa softball
2024-25 SSC Individual National Champions:
- Jacob Hamlin, Tampa - Men's Swimming (200, 500, 1000, & 1650 Freestyle)
- Luna Mertins, Lynn - Women's Swimming (100 Freestyle & 100 Butterfly)
- Tibor Tistan, Tampa - Men's Swimming (50 Freestyle)
- Kristina Orban, Nova Southeastern - Women's Swimming (200 Freestyle)
- 800 Free Relay, Tampa - Men's Swimming
- 800 Free Relay, Nova Southeastern - Women's Swimming
- 400 Free Relay, Nova Southeastern - Women's Swimming
- Varsity 8, Embry-Riddle - Women's Rowing
2024-25 SSC Academic Highlights:
- SSC recognized as the top conference in NCAA D2 Academic Success Rate, with a record-breaking 90% ASR [STORY]
- Six SSC Institutions Earn Recognition from NCAA for 2024 Academic Success Rates [STORY]
- Luna Mertins from Lynn was named Academic All-America Team Member of the Year in women's swimming
- Twenty-two athletes named CSC Academic All-Americans so far in 2024-25
- Two Elite 90 Winners in Evan Gibbs of Tampa Men's Lacrosse and Soleil Edwards of Embry-Riddle Women's Rowing