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November 9, 2023 – Coming fresh off a win against Gaston College on Nov. 8, the STORM basketball team at Davidson-Davie Community College is ready to rumble in its first home game of the season. The STORM will play Johnston Community College at 3 p.m. on Nov. 11 in the Carol F. Brinkley Building on the Davidson Campus in Thomasville. Admission is $7.
After finishing last season with a 35-1 overall record and placing fifth in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament for the 2022-23 season, Head Coach Matt Ridge is looking forward to adding on to the STORM’s impressive stats.
“We’ve won our regular season championship and conference tournament championship the last four years,” notes Ridge, who has led the STORM for 16 years. “Our record for those last four years is 122-8.”
Adding to already remarkable stats, Ridge adds the team’s overall record the past 16 years is 431-81; the home record is 241-19 – meaning the STORM has the most wins of any junior college in the nation.
And while Ridge has been there for well over a decade, he says he can’t take the credit for such a successful program. “We have had a lot of selfless people inside our Davidson-Davie basketball program over the last 16-plus years,” Ridge explains. “For example, my former and current incredible assistant coaches have worked tirelessly behind the scenes recruiting and performing many other duties.”
He says the amazing fan base also plays a role in the team’s success. “We have the best fans out of all of the junior colleges, and our home record reflects how our fans create an atmosphere in Brinkley Gym – it’s hard for our opponents to win in our gym,” Ridge says.
The STORM has a couple returning players that will be integral pieces for the 2023-24 season, Ridge notes. “Nygie Stroman played last year and he should be a big part of our current team,” Ridge says. “And Trey Fields played last year and will be important to the team, but he’s also coming off of knee surgery after a summer injury.”
The team has a lot of new talent this season to watch, too, Ridge adds, including:
Ridge says with the talent and dedication from this year’s team, he’s hoping the group gets better every day, both individually and collectively. “I hope we evolve into the best team we can be,” he says. “We believe in focusing on the root (process), and the fruit will take care of itself.”
The STORM’s current record for the season is 1-1. Some big rival games to watch in the coming season are matchups against Fayetteville Technical Community College on Nov. 29 and Jan. 24; Sandhills Community College on Jan. 3; and Pitt Community College on Jan. 13 and Jan. 27.
For a full schedule, team roster and bios, coaching staff, stats and more, visit davidsondavie.edu/basketball.
All home games will take place in the Brinkley Building on the Davidson Campus, located at 297 DCC Road in Thomasville. All games are streamed on davidsondavie.edu/live-basketball.
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Davidson-Davie Community College (www.DavidsonDavie.edu), which incorporated Davie County into its name in 2021, is a fully accredited, multi-campus college where students of all ages and backgrounds pursue academic and career-focused education in order to build successful futures. As one of 58 institutions within the North Carolina Community College System, Davidson-Davie offers more than 40 degree and professional certificate programs, as well as affordable college-credit coursework to students who plan to transfer to four-year schools. With a mission to serve the changing needs of students competing in a global environment, Davidson-Davie is committed to quality education, innovative and equitable learning experiences, training, and support across a wide range of 21st-century career fields.
Jared Bowman
Director of Multimedia Strategies
336.224.4664
Jared_Bowman@DavidsonDavie.edu