Milwaukee Area Technical College Wins First National Championship in College’s History
MATC Stormers Men’s Basketball wins the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II championship. (Picture by Milwaukee Area Technical College)
Just a few weeks ago, Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) Stormers Men’s Basketball team won the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II championship making it the first national championship in the college’s history.
The NJCAA Division II Tournament was hosted by Danville Area Community College in Illinois. The 7th-ranked Stormers won four tournament games including defeating the 8th-ranked Macomb Community College Monarchs of Warren, Michigan, 86-65 in the championship game on March 25, 2023. According to a press release, this win is MATC’s highest seed to win the NJCAA championship. A rally was held to celebrate the team in Milwaukee.
Stormers Player Mikale Stevenson said it was an amazing feeling to witness.
“It was good to get the recognization we deserve,” Stevenson said.
Stevenson was named NJCAA Third Team All-American, NJCAA DII Tournament ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM, and NJCAA Midwest B District Tournament MVP. As the team gets recognized for their hard work on the court, Stevenson said MATC makes it just as important that the players are keeping up with their academics.
He added that MATC pushes its students to reach new levels through support.
“They have been there since I got here,” said Stevenson. “They gave me the encouragement to keep going.”
Head Coach Randy Casey is a part of the support system the players have at MATC. Coach Casey hopes this win brings light to all of the good things MATC has going on. Coach Casey has won numerous awards, but for him, it’s about being there for his players.
“I wouldn’t change anything. These guys are my family,” said Coach Casey.
As Wisconsin’s largest technical college and one of the most diverse two-year institutions in the Midwest, MATC is continually beating the odds.