Palm Beach Gardens Lving - April 2026

“This season has been historic for us and the College. Our approach centers on growth, developing student-athletes not only as basketball players but also as leaders in the classroom and community.” Palm Beach State Athletics Director John Scarpino appreciates Coach Tae’s balanced and disciplined style that has driven the team’s winning culture. “Our men’s team has shown tremendous focus, resilience, and determination. They continue to represent Palm Beach State and our community with integrity and dedication to working and winning.” While the extraordinary winning streak ended in the NJCAA’s quarter finals, Coach Tae has inspired individual and team excellence on and off the court, complemented by the College’s Women’s Basketball team, claiming the FCSAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship for an incredible fourth consecutive year. Palm Beach State's Maureen Smith also garnered well-deserved recognition as the FCSAA DII Women's Basketball Coach of the Year. “The award is humbling and truly reflects what our players accomplish on the court. This is not just coach of the year for Maureen Smith, though. It's a coach of the year honor for Palm Beach State." Honors also found freshman Janiah Suprius as the Women’s FCSAA Player of the Year, while sophomore Marvin Golf has been recognized as the FCSAA Division II Men's Basketball Player of the Year. As if that’s not impressive enough, Marvin has been named an NJCAA DII Men’s Basketball 1st Team All-American, with Janiah an NJCAA DII Women’s Basketball 2nd Team All-American. From the hardwood of the court to a three wood off the tee, Palm Beach State’s Men’s and Women’s Golf teams are both swinging for the green after nearly a four-decade hiatus. It’s a new era that blends traditional play with the innovation at hand, namely TGL presented by SoFi at the College’s Palm Beach Gardens campus. Proximity and access have provided Palm Beach State golfers with high-tech training, using the same practice equipment as golf greats Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, cofounders of TGL, along with TMRW Sports CEO Mike McCarley. With the men’s and women’s teams led by former PGA pros and married couple Ron and Susan Bond-Philo, respectively, both teams are, in fact, traveling to Kansas and Illinois to compete in national championships (NJCAA) this month, something Susan sees as just the beginning of what’s to come. “We’ve built a strong foundation and enthusiastic teams. Now, it’s about continuing the momentum and finding the right home base for the next generation of Panther golfers.” Recently, no Palm Beach State College Athletics program has had more momentum than Women’s Beach Volleyball, earning consecutive national championships for the past three years. In fact, their exceptional success is being recognized with an innovative new volleyball complex located at the Lake Worth campus. With funding made possible through a partnership with Baptist Health South Florida, construction is just beginning on this world-class venue set to host tournaments and special events not only for the College but also for the entire community. The state-of-the-art complex positions Palm Beach State as a hub for athletic competitions and broadcasts across South Florida. The addition is indicative of how Palm Beach State College is building bigger and better than ever, ushering in a new era of education through innovation, community growth, and student success. And Athletics is no exception, offering a path that fosters academic excellence and personal development for our young people and a promising future. As for the Women’s Beach Volleyball players’ future, they’re heading to Huntsville, Alabama, seeking an unprecedented fourth consecutive national title on April 29, weeks after the time of this writing. If the spikes and serves have gone the way of the Panthers, these three-time champions have already avoided the agony of defeat and are once again basking in the thrill of victory. M AY 2 0 2 6 | PA L M B E A C H G A R D E N S L I V I N G 11