22 Jersey Blues Athletes Earn Perfect 3.6+ GPAs

Balancing practice schedules, travel, and competition with coursework is no easy feat, but 22 Brookdale Community College student-athletes made it look effortless this year.

The Jersey Blues earned NJCAA All-Academic honors for the 2025-26 academic year, with three athletes achieving perfect 4.0 GPAs. The National Junior College Athletic Association reserves these honors for student-athletes who maintain at least a 3.6 cumulative GPA while competing.

Matthew Desiderio, Isabella McKelvey, and Ryan Tan led the pack with flawless 4.0 GPAs. Desiderio and Tan both played baseball, while McKelvey dominated on the women's volleyball court.

Eight more athletes earned Second Team honors with GPAs between 3.8 and 3.99. The group included players from baseball, softball, volleyball, and soccer teams, with Taylor Suckey earning recognition in both women's soccer and basketball.

Another 11 Jersey Blues claimed Third Team spots with GPAs between 3.6 and 3.79. These scholars represented seven different sports, from cross country to tennis, showing that academic excellence spans every corner of Brookdale's athletic program.

Why This Inspires

These numbers tell a story beyond grades and games. They show young people who refused to choose between their passions and their futures.

Student-athletes often face impossible schedules. Early morning workouts, afternoon classes, evening games, and late-night study sessions become the norm. Yet these 22 Jersey Blues proved it's possible to excel at both without compromise.

Their achievement also breaks the tired stereotype that athletes must sacrifice academics for sports. These students showed up fully in both arenas, setting an example for younger athletes wondering if they can pursue both dreams.

For a community college serving students who often work jobs alongside classes and sports, these honors carry extra weight. They represent determination, time management, and pure grit.

Twenty-two students just proved that with support and dedication, you can be both a scholar and an athlete.