The roughly three-years in the making return of Palo Verde College (PVC) student athletics saw a historic afternoon April 26 as the first members of the upcoming fall 2019-2020 Pirates basketball men and women’s teams officially signed on the dotted line in front of friends and family.
College staff and administration were also on-hand to support, with Pirates basketball head coaches Ryan Copple and Joe Alvarez being formally introduced by PVC Director of Student Success & Equity Jaclyn Randall.
“Thank you for coming and supporting our upcoming Palo Verde College season starting in 2019 and 2020,” said Randall in welcoming attendees. “(PVC) has not had a basketball team here since 1981.”
PVC President/Superintendent Dr. Don Wallace, who has publicly highlighted the encompassing benefits of student-athletes to colleges and communities previously, was also in attendance at the campus Clancy Osborne gymnasium for the day’s signings and presentation.
“We also have our Vice President of Instruction & Student Services Dr. Scott Bauer, who’s also our athletic director — without him, we wouldn’t be here,” noted Randall. “And we have another administrator in the house (— our) Associate Vice President of Human Resources Cecy Garcia.”
The area’s 36th Congressional District Representative Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-D) also forwarded a letter in support of the student-athletes’ big day, stating:
“It is my distinct pleasure to welcome you to Palo Verde College Athletics Signing Day, and to extend my sincerest congratulations to today’s student athletes. To the student athletes — this is an outstanding accomplishment in educational and athletic achievements. The opportunity to compete at the collegiate level while pursuing a four-year degree later on is a true reflection of your dedication and your hard work. Over the next two years you will face challenges, both in the classroom and on the court. However, I have no doubt that you will succeed in every way. Thank you to the Palo Verde College Athletics program for organizing this special event and welcoming these students to their new home. Thanks to the program, our community will be particularly excited and look forward to watching the Pirates excel this year. Once again, congratulations to you student-athletes — Best of luck. Go Pirates!”
As previously reported in December 2018, the PVC college basketball program was accepted as part of a California Community College Athletics Association’s (CCCAA) re-alignment. The new conference the PVC Pirates will be a part of is the Inland Empire Athletic Conference (IEAC), which will also include Barstow, Victor Valley, San Bernardino Valley, Riverside City College, and others.
“This is a great day for Palo Verde College, the athletic department and the kids signing — I’m kind of at a loss for words given how far this has come. It’s great for our town of Blythe,” said Copple, noting that recruiting has delivered players from as far as Springfield, Ill., Phoenix, Las Vegas, the state of Indiana, and some homegrown talents as well.
“It’s exciting,” said former Palo Verde High School (PVHS) graduate Nick Ward, who will be joining the PVC Pirates team with brother and fellow former Yellow Jacket Jeramy Ward. “This is starting a whole new college basketball era in Blythe, so it’s cool. It’s exciting to be a part of it.”
The Pirates’ first home game at PVC is currently scheduled for Nov. 6, against Arizona Western College (AWC) — with a potential special homecoming recognition of past PVC Pirates alumn at the event.
For former high school Arizona teammates Kayala Campbell and Mercedes Sloan, the opportunity to play together at the collegiate level in different surroundings, with coach Alvarez, were two pluses in joining the PVC Pirates basketball program.
“It’s his basketball IQ. In all the years he’s played, coached, and everything — he just knows a lot more,” said Sloan, also noting the local small town community’s all-around positive feedback. “(We’re) looking forward to a good season.”
The afternoon’s signees included: Alex Alvarez (Phoenix, Ariz.), Mercedes Sloan (Phoenix, Ariz.), Kayala Campbell (Phoenix, Ariz.), Josh Golding (Parker, Ariz.), Nick Ward (Blythe, Calif.), Christian Bell (Phoenix, Ariz.), Jeramy Ward (Blythe, Calif.), Ashiwome Abadjivor (Phoenix, Ariz.), Larry Hemingway Jr. (Springfield, Ill.), Samau’ji Demargio Bell (Phoenix, Ariz.), and Malik Davenport.
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