Sunshine State Conference Sets Division II Record with Nine National Championships in 2025-26
The “Conference of National Champions” surpassed the previous NCAA Division II and league record of eight national titles.
A.J. Vazquez, Communications Contractor
ORLANDO, Fla. – The Sunshine State Conference completed a historic 2025-26 academic year by winning a Division II-record nine NCAA national championships, the most by any conference in a single year in NCAA Division II history. The conference surpassed its previous record of eight national titles set in 2024-25 and broke the Division II record of eight championships previously shared with the California Collegiate Athletic Association, which set the mark in 1981-82.
Since its founding in 1975, the Sunshine State Conference has established itself as one of the most successful conferences in NCAA Division II. The conference's record-breaking 2025-26 campaign adds another milestone to a tradition of academic and athletic excellence that has defined the SSC for more than five decades.
The record-setting year further solidifies the SSC's reputation as one of the nation's premier Division II conferences and its title as the “Conference of National Champions.” The league's nine national titles bring its total to 144 national championships earned throughout its 50-year history.
The historic championship run began in the fall when Florida Tech captured the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer National Championship in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Panthers defeated Franklin Pierce University 3-0 to capture their first-ever national championship.
During the winter season, Nova Southeastern University Women’s Swimming won its fourth straight national championship, scoring 486 points. The Sharks’ win was fueled by eight gold medals, along with five silver and two bronze. This was Nova Southeastern’s fourth women’s swimming national championship and 16th overall.
Individually, the SSC had four national champions. Nova Southeastern’s Kristina Orban won three national titles in the 100-yard butterfly, 100-yard freestyle, and 200-yard freestyle, while teammate Emilia Ronningdahl took first place in 200-yard individual medley. From the University of Tampa, Burlingtyn Bokos was the national champion in the 400-yard individual medley
Relay teams also found great success at the national championship, with the Sharks taking home national titles in the 800-yard freestyle relay, 400-yard freestyle relay, 200-yard freestyle Relay, and the 200-yard Medley Relay.
The University of Tampa Men’s Swimming completed the SSC sweep at the 2026 NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving National Championship in Evansville, Indiana, taking the national title with 522.5 points. The Spartans won five gold medals and completed a sweep of every freestyle relay event, leading Tampa to claim its second swimming and diving national championship and 27th overall.
Lynn University’s Maurice Grabowski took first place in four different individual events. He won the 50-yard freestyle, the 100-yard freestyle, the 100-yard backstroke, and the 100-yard butterfly. Tampa’s Jacob Hamlin won a pair of gold medals in the 1,000-yard freestyle and 500-yard Freestyle.
The Spartans won national championships in the 800-yard freestyle relay, 200-yard freestyle relay, and the 400-yard freestyle relay. The Knights won the 200-yard medley relay.
The league’s success continued throughout the spring as Florida Southern College secured the NCAA Division II Men’s Golf National Championship in Boulder City, Nevada, at Boulder Creek Golf Course. Max Barile clinched the title, defeating Cole Rouse from Wingate University by four strokes and leading the Mocs to a 3-2 victory en route to the program's 14th national championship and 31st overall for the institution.
Nova Southeastern won its second national title of the year at the 2026 NCAA Division II Women’s Tennis National Championship, marking the program's second title and 17th for the school. In Surprise, Arizona, the Sharks entered as the No. 3 national seed and clinched the national championship after a commanding 4-1 victory over Catawba College.
Up the coast in Rochester, New York, Florida Southern captured its second national title of the year. The Mocs defeated Maryville University 9-7 in the NCAA Division II Women's Lacrosse National Championship to win the program's second national title and 32nd for the institution. Charlie Laye was named the championship’s Elite Scholar Athlete for having the highest grade-point average among competitors.
Tampa Men’s Lacrosse won its second-ever national championship in Charlottesville, Virginia, claiming the school’s 26th national title. The Spartans rallied from an early four-goal first-quarter deficit to defeat previously unbeaten Adelphi University, 12-11 in overtime. Tommy Ortega scored the game-winning goal in overtime, while Evan Gibbs won the national championship’s Elite Scholar Athlete award.
Saint Leo University Softball won the Lions’ second-ever national championship and first in program history. To cap off a historic 54-win season, the Lions defeated McKendree University, 5-2, in game two of the best-of-three series. Through the fourth inning, the game was tied at a single run apiece, but the Lions began to click offensively, taking the lead and never surrendering it.
Tampa earned its third national championship of the year and 27th overall when the Spartans baseball program captured its 11th national title and became the first NCAA Division II baseball program to win three straight national championships and just the second program at any NCAA level to accomplish the feat. After dropping game two, 12-4, to West Chester University, the Spartans responded with an 8-4 win in game three to claim the series.
The nine championships surpassed the previous Division II single-season record and the league’s personal best of eight, highlighting the league's depth across a wide variety of sports. The SSC’s member institutions look to continue this storied success next season and add to a championship tradition that now includes 144 NCAA national titles.
SSC National Championships (2025-26)
Florida Tech - Women’s Soccer
Nova Southeastern - Women’s Swimming
Tampa - Men’s Swimming
Florida Southern - Men’s Golf
Nova Southeastern - Women’s Tennis
Florida Southern - Women’s Lacrosse
Tampa - Men’s Lacrosse
Saint Leo - Softball
Tampa - Baseball
About the SSC:
Founded in 1975, Sunshine State Conference member institutions have won a total of 144 NCAA national championships across 15 sports and boast an NCAA Division II leading 89% Academic Success Rate. In 2025-26, the SSC marks its 50th anniversary, reflecting on a proud history of athletic and academic excellence.