Keyser, W.Va. – The 2025-26 academic year proved to be one of growth, achievement, and historic milestones for Potomac State Athletics as the Catamounts continued to build momentum across competition, student-athlete success, and departmental development.
The year was highlighted by championship performances, record-setting accomplishments, national recognition, and the continued expansion of athletic opportunities for student-athletes at Potomac State College.
Department Highlights
Potomac State Athletics celebrated several significant milestones throughout the year. In September, the department inducted its 2025 Hall of Fame Class, honoring former standouts Nicky Brown (Baseball), Beth Cook (Softball), and Alex Kile (Women's Cross Country) for their lasting contributions to Catamount Athletics.
The department also expanded opportunities for student-athletes by launching a Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) partnership with Influxer on January 8, 2026. Potomac State further announced the addition of Men's Wrestling on January 6, 2026, before naming Mark Paradine as the program's inaugural head coach on April 6.
On February 9, 2026, Potomac State announced Kraig Whitehair as the new head coach of the women's soccer program.
Among the year's most prestigious honors, Carita Mills earned national recognition after being named the NJCAA Athletic Trainer of the Year, highlighting the dedication and care provided to Catamount student-athletes throughout the year.
Fall Sports
Women's Cross Country
The Catamounts captured the 2025 NJCAA Region 20 Championship, led by Cassidy Cumberledge, who claimed individual Region 20 Champion honors. Potomac State advanced to the NJCAA National Championships in Fort Dodge, Iowa, where the team finished 21st nationally.
Cumberledge was joined by Teagan Huff and Baylee Jarrett as All-Region selections. Cumberledge also earned Potomac State Athlete of the Month honors in October after an outstanding season that included three individual meet victories.
Men's Cross Country
The men's program matched the success of the women's team by capturing the 2025 NJCAA Region 20 Championship and advancing to the NJCAA National Championships. The Catamounts finished 43rd nationally in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
LJ Sealy earned All-Region recognition for his performance throughout the season.
Volleyball
Volleyball posted a strong 13-6 overall record and advanced to the Region 20 Tournament Quarterfinals. During the season, the Catamounts put together an impressive 18-match set winning streak, showcasing one of the program's most dominant stretches in recent years.
Sarah Iman and Elliana Mosby earned First Team All-Region honors, while Christianna Sledge was named Second Team All-Region and Victoria Lester received Honorable Mention recognition. Lester also earned a spot on the Region 20 All-Tournament Team.
Men's Soccer
The Catamounts compiled a 9-4-1 record and advanced to the Region 20 Semifinals before falling to eventual national runner-up CCBC Essex.
The season marked the program's most wins since 2015 and its highest winning percentage since 2013.
Mateo Miranda earned First Team All-Region honors, while Jean Widcarl Vales was named Second Team All-Region and Hasan Azam received Honorable Mention recognition. Miranda and Vales were also selected to the Region 20 All-Tournament Team.
Women's Soccer
Women's Soccer finished the season with a 1-7-2 record. Mollie Wheatley earned Honorable Mention All-Region recognition.
Following the season, the program entered a new chapter with the hiring of Kraig Whitehair as head coach in February 2026.
Esports
Potomac State Esports continued to establish itself as one of the department's rising programs.
The Rocket League team captured the NECC Division 7 Championship, while the Overwatch team recorded a Top-4 finish in the ECAC, adding another championship-level accomplishment to the department's fall season.
Winter Sports
Women's Basketball
Women's Basketball delivered one of its most successful campaigns in over a decade, finishing with a 22-6 overall record and earning NJCAA Region 20 Runner-Up honors.
The 22 victories represented the program's highest win total since the 2010-11 season.
Head Coach Larry Kruk was named Region 20 Coach of the Year, while Mya Glisan, Miya Harris, and Ericka Zirk earned All-Region honors. Glisan and Harris were also named to the Region 20 All-Tournament Team.
Men's Basketball
The men's basketball program posted a 22-8 overall record and advanced to the Region 20 Semifinals.
The 22-win season marked the program's highest victory total since the 2017-18 campaign.
Jordan Taylor earned First Team All-Region honors, while Rodney Vilsaint and Peter Quaye received Second Team and Honorable Mention recognition, respectively. Vilsaint was also selected to the Region 20 All-Tournament Team.
Spring Sports
Track & Field
The 2025-26 academic year marked the inaugural indoor and outdoor track & field seasons in Potomac State history.
The Catamount women finished fourth and the men placed sixth at the Outdoor Region 20 Championships, competing against some of the region's strongest programs.
The Catamounts earned multiple All-Region honors, including First Team recognition for Phoebe McCann in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase, Tanner Detrick in the men's pole vault, and the women's 4x100-meter relay team of Cassidy Cumberledge, Phoebe McCann, Avah Shrout, and Baylee Jarrett.
Second Team honors were earned by Avah Shrout in the women's high jump and Alek Detrick in the men's pole vault.
Softball
Softball continued its tradition of excellence, finishing with a 33-7 overall record and advancing to the Region 20 Championship Game before earning Region 20 Runner-Up honors.
The Catamounts placed six student-athletes on the All-Region team, led by First Team selections Skyla Compton and Adison Pritts.
Compton and Pritts were joined by Delaney Randolph and Katelyn Cooper on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) NJCAA Division II East Region Team.
Compton was named Region 20 Co-Athlete of the Month in March, while Compton, Randolph, and Jaianna Wickline earned Region 20 All-Tournament Team honors.
The program also announced a partnership with Rawlings during the academic year, further elevating the visibility of Potomac State Softball.
Baseball
Baseball posted a 33-14 overall record and advanced to the Region 20 Championship Series, finishing as Region 20 runner-up.
The Catamounts set a new program record with 56 home runs, the most ever hit by a Potomac State team in a single season.
The season also featured a historic milestone for Head Coach Doug Little, who earned his 900th career victory. Little was additionally inducted into both the West Virginia Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the Mid-Ohio Valley Sports Hall of Fame.
Jaxon Drennen was recognized as Region 20 Athlete of the Month in April, adding to a memorable season for the Catamounts.
Individual Recognition
Potomac State student-athletes earned regional and national recognition throughout the year, highlighted by three Region 20 Athletes of the Month selections:
- October: Cassidy Cumberledge (Women's Cross Country)
- March: Skyla Compton (Softball, Co-Athlete of the Month)
- April: Jaxon Drennen (Baseball)
Looking Ahead
As the 2025-26 academic year comes to a close, Potomac State Athletics reflects on a year defined by championships, historic accomplishments, program growth, and national recognition.
With the addition of men's wrestling, the successful launch of track & field, championship performances across multiple sports, and continued success both on and off the field, the future remains bright for Catamount Athletics.
From regional champions and national award winners to record-breaking performances and milestone achievements, the 2025-26 season will be remembered as one of the most successful years in recent Potomac State Athletics history.