New Panhandle dynasty, NWF brings home another title
NICEVILLE, Fla. (WMBB) – The Northwest Florida State Women's Basketball team meets the criteria to be called a dynasty after winning its third NJCAA Championship in five seasons.
Winning the title was redemption for the NWF sophomores who suffered a heartbreaking overtime defeat in the national championship game last season.
Despite many of the freshman from the 2023-24 team receiving offers to play at four-year schools, they all decided to stay at NWF and redeem their sophomore teammates who moved on.
Northwest Florida Head Coach Bart Walker said watching his players accomplish their year-long goal was truly an honor.
'Last year was, you know, it was it was a hard pill to swallow,' Walker said. 'The sophomores were hurt by last year, and many of them had an opportunity to leave and go to Division One. And I think that's why they had this success this year because, you know, we talk about being selfless and giving to others, and they did that.'
With a third NJCAA Championship under his belt, Coach Walker joined elite company in the coaching ranks.
He is now just three titles behind the Gulf Coast State College coaching legend, Roonie Scoval, who was inducted into the national Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.
Walker was inducted into the FCSAA Hall of Fame earlier this year, and his resume could easily find him a Division One coaching position, but he says he has no plans of leaving Niceville.
'Everybody asks me, you know, are you looking for it, you know, to get to the next level,' Walker said. 'I've been there. I'm just really uncomfortable being at Northwest Florida. The quality of life for me and my family is off the charts. And, if you start chasing those kind of things, then you lose sight of what the real thing is, and that's about these people and these young ladies and these athletes here at Northwest Florida.'
The Lady Raiders are planning to hold a community celebration at the NWF campus next week. The tentative plan is Tuesday, April 8, but the official time and date should be announced this weekend.
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