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News Topic: Athletics

  • Teamwork Takes Center Field as Indian River State College Hosts Unified Sports Kickoff

    Teamwork Takes Center Field as Indian River State College Hosts Unified Sports Kickoff

    FORT PIERCE, Fla., (October 14, 2025) – Indian River State College (“The River”)Softball hosted a Unified Sports kickball game with Project STAGE students on Monday, October 13, at Dale Atkinson Field. This community event launched Unified Sports at Indian River State College, a Special Olympics program that brings together athletes with and without intellectual disabilities to compete together.

    Indian River State College is the first college in Florida to launch Unified Sports, and the third post-secondary institution, along with the University of Florida and Edward Waters University.

    A group of Indian River State College students wearing blue “Unified Sports” shirts high-five each other along a sunny campus walkway lined with palm trees, smiling and cheering in a show of unity and school pride.
    Indian River State College students and athletes celebrate together during a Unified Sports event, building camaraderie and school spirit through teamwork and connection.

    Unified Sports at Indian River State College pairs Special Olympics athletes who are college students with other college students to compete on the same teams. The program encourages students to see past differences and connect through shared effort and sportsmanship. The event celebrated the campus community through friendly competition, music, food, and prizes.

    “I think Unified Sports is a great program that allows our students with unique abilities to participate in a friendly competition,” said Brett Williams, Indian River State College librarian and co-sponsor of the program. “It has been wonderful seeing how the student athletes have stepped up to organize and support this event. I am hoping that the unified sports program will continue to bring students of all abilities together fostering friendship and acceptance.”

    Project STAGE combines classroom learning through the Specialized Career Training Course with paid and unpaid internships. Students develop job skills, create professional portfolios, and practice interviews while working closely with local employers.

    The kickoff event drew enthusiastic participation from both Project STAGE students and the River Softball team, creating a spirited start to what the college hopes will become a long-standing campus tradition.

    To learn more about Unified Sports at Indian River State College, visit https://irsc.edu/programs/special-programs/project-stage/ or contact Project STAGE at (772) 462-4257.

    Stay up to date by subscribing to our River Report newsletter!

  • New Season, New Energy: Indian River State College Basketball Tips Off with “River Madness” on 10/17

    New Season, New Energy: Indian River State College Basketball Tips Off with “River Madness” on 10/17

    Coach T.J. Jackson unveils a Division I-caliber roster and a new era of fan engagement at The River. 

    FORT PIERCE, Fla., (Oct. 14, 2025) — Indian River State College (“The River”) is transforming its basketball season opener into a community-wide celebration with the debut of River Madness. River Madness delivers a high-energy, family-friendly showcase — live DJ, local vendors, food trucks, giveaways, and the first look at the 2025–26 men’s basketball roster. 

    “I want both sides of the bleachers full,” said Head Coach Travis “T.J.” Jackson. “This isn’t just about basketball; it’s about bringing people together and making River basketball part of the fabric of Fort Pierce.” 

    Event Details 

    • When: Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, 5:00 p.m. 
    • Where: Indian River State College Massey Campus Gym, 3209 Virginia Ave., Fort Pierce 
    • Admission: Free and open to the public. Food and beverages are available for purchase. 
    • Media: Media should check in with the PIO at the gym entrance for credentials and courtside access. 

    After a 10-win rebuilding year, Jackson’s team returns deeper, hungrier, and more balanced. The new roster includes six freshmen who held Division I offers before choosing The River. The student-athletes were drawn to the program’s focus on development, discipline, and academics. 

    Indian River State College competes in Florida’s Region 8, one of the toughest junior college conferences in the nation. Families also appreciate JUCO’s affordability and proximity; elite competition with little to no student debt. 

    “River Madness is more than a tipoff,” Jackson said. “It’s the starting whistle for a culture that connects this campus and this city. This is your team, Fort Pierce. Let’s make it sound like home.” 

    Full season schedules and updates are available at irsc.prestosports.com. 

    Stay up to date with The River by subscribing to our River Report newsletter! 

  • RiverBlog: River Madness Is More Than a Tipoff, It’s a Call to Fort Pierce

    RiverBlog: River Madness Is More Than a Tipoff, It’s a Call to Fort Pierce

    By: Rodrigo Berlanga Rodriguez & Kathleen Walter 

    When Head Men’s Basketball Coach Travis “T.J.” Jackson talks about the 2025 – 2026 season, he rarely starts with stats. He starts with people: students, families, and the community that drive the success of Indian River State College Athletics. It is this same community that he encourages to fill both sides of the bleachers at the gym at the College’s main campus in Fort Pierce. 

    “I’ve seen on a good day, 20 people in the stands…I want to bring both sides of the bleachers out,” Coach Jackson said in an exclusive interview on IRSC Public Media’s RiverTalk. 

    Listen to River Talk

    On Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., Indian River State College (“The River”) will debut River Madness, a high-energy, family-friendly showcase designed to do exactly that: connect the College’s storied basketball tradition with the heartbeat of Fort Pierce. Think live DJ, local vendors and food trucks, prizes and giveaways, plus your first look at a roster Coach Jackson says is “electrifying.” 

    Smiling man in a white Nike jacket stands under dramatic blue and yellow lighting, representing Indian River State College Men’s Basketball Head Coach Travis “T.J.” Jackson.
    Indian River State College Men’s Basketball Head Coach Travis “T.J.” Jackson.

    Building a Culture, Not Just a Team 

    Coach Jackson’s vision is simple and ambitious: make Indian River State College basketball a gathering place. River Madness replaces the traditional Blue & Gold scrimmage with something bigger: a celebration of campus and community. The goal is more than just building hype; it’s about creating a habit. Get fans in the building and build the kind of home-court energy that lifts student-athletes all season long. 

    Coach Jackson is also explicit about the order of operations: academics, character, then performance. The team standard is a 3.2+ GPA and a diploma for every sophomore. Discipline and accountability aren’t slogans; they’re the scaffolding that allows talent to grow. 

    Why JUCO, Why Now 

    If you haven’t been to an Indian River State College game, or any junior college (“JUCO”) game, Coach Jackson thinks you’ll be surprised by the quality of play, especially in Florida’s Region 8. The league is stacked with Division I-caliber athletes and veteran coaches. The 2025–26 roster includes six freshmen who held Division I offers before choosing The River. The attraction? Real minutes, real development, and a culture that treats students like the adults they’re becoming. 

    Junior college also makes sense for families financially. “It is an opportunity where you’re debt-free, where you don’t have to take out student loans and all that crazy nonsense,” says Coach Jackson. It teaches the off-court maturity that makes the on-court performance sustainable. Coach Jackson’s pitch to parents and players is refreshingly candid: JUCO is the fast track to the four-year level when you combine playing time with academic momentum and character growth. 

    Coaching With Purpose 

    Coach Jackson’s story helps explain his drive. He learned the game in the driveway from his mother, a Hall of Famer at Alcorn State University. A devastating knee injury in college ended his playing career, but not his passion; he found coaching while mentoring youth back home in Mississippi. That lived experience shows up daily at The River, in how he develops players and how he talks about their futures. 

    He’s also meeting the moment on Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). The River uses a creative program called “Riverbooks,” a mock-currency system that teaches athletes how value is built through discipline, conditioning, and consistency. The message is clear: control your habits, and you can control your narrative. 

    The Bounce-Back 

    Indian River State College won just 10 games a season ago. No one is ducking that. This year’s team is deeper, hungrier, and more balanced, and it plans to restore the standards that River fans know and expect. Coach Jackson credits smart recruiting and an unshakable locker-room culture. The bar is set high, and the path runs straight through home. 

    Three Indian River State College basketball players in blue and white uniforms sit on yellow bleachers holding basketballs, showing focus and confidence before the new season.
    Poised for a breakout season, Indian River State College basketball players reflect the grit and confidence driving The River’s renewed spirit on and off the court.

    How to Be Part of It 

    • River Madness: Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. at Indian River State College Massey Campus Gym (3209 Virginia Ave., Fort Pierce, FL 34981)
    • What to expect: Basketball, DJ, local vendors & food trucks, prizes, and giveaways
    • Bring: Family, friends, community groups, youth teams, and your voice
    • Season info: Schedules and social links are on the Men’s Basketball page at https://irsc.prestosports.com/sports/mbkb/index.

    Coach Jackson’s door is open, literally. He invites community partners, service groups, and local leaders to reach out about collaborations and game-day experiences for their organizations. 

    This is your team, Fort Pierce. River Madness is the starting whistle. Let’s make the gym sound like home.

    Promotional graphic for Indian River State College’s “River Madness” men’s basketball kick-off event featuring two players in River uniforms, scheduled for Friday, October 17 at 5 p.m. at the Massey Campus Gymnasium.