Northwest Florida Lady Raiders celebrate third national title in five years
NICEVILLE, Fla. (WMBB) – Generations of Northwest Florida State Raiders fans gathered to celebrate the 2025 NJCAA Champions.
A celebration was held Tuesday for the Northwest Florida Raiders as they marked their third national championship title since 2021.
The Lady Raiders secured their title after defeating Shelton State Community College on April 1 in Wyoming.
Generations of Raiders fans gathered today to celebrate the national champions, taking pictures and collecting autographs.
This victory marks the third national title in five years for the team.
Head coach Bart Walker reflected on the team's resilience, noting a pattern throughout the years.
Despite setbacks, the team has always come out stronger.
'Ironic,' Walker said. 'We lost the state championship in 2021, won a national championship. We lost a state championship in 2023, won a national championship. We lost a state championship this year, and won a championship.'
The Lady Raiders finished their season with a 32-3 record, including a loss in the state championship game against Chipola College (Marianna), which fueled the fire needed to prepare for the national tournament.
Northwest Florida State President Mel Ponder credited the team's success to the culture established by Coach Walker and his staff.
'It shows that they can recognize talent and not only see it but show how they can function as a team,' Ponder said. 'Each player is a phenomenal talent on their own, but when you have a coach like Coach Walker who can recognize that talent and get them to work together, it leads to the best synergy, passion, and teamwork. That's how greater things are achieved.'
Both Ponder and Walker praised the selflessness of the individual players, acknowledging the significant impact it had on the team's success this season.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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