RCC to launch athletics program

LUMBERTON — Soon, you’ll be able to say, ‘take me out to the ballgame,” the RCC ballgame that is.

Robeson Community College has forged partnerships with Lumbee River EMC and the City of Lumberton that is paving the way for the college to begin an athletics program. A memorandum of understanding has been signed by RCC and the City of Lumberton concerning the shared use of Field 5 and the multipurpose field at Dr. Raymond B. Pennington Athletic Complex in Lumberton.

RCC will offer men’s baseball and women’s soccer, slated to begin in late 2025.

“This has probably been the No.1 question that I have received from constituents since I began serving as president – when will RCC add a sports team — and I’m thankful to finally be able to say that historic day has now come,” stated RCC President Melissa Singler. “Soon, RCC will have its very own athletics program and it is going to be a great addition to our campus.”

The partnership between Lumbee River EMC and Robeson Community College is a pivotal development for educational and athletic opportunities in Robeson County. Through the creation of an athletic program, this collaboration will enhance the overall student experience, promoting academic excellence, physical fitness, and teamwork.

The initiative will provide local talent an opportunity to showcase their skills, earn scholarships, and pursue higher education, while also giving the college the ability to recruit students from around the world as news spreads about the its athletic program.

“LREMC’s support of athletics at Robeson Community College highlights our dedication to enriching the lives of residents beyond our core services, strengthening our role as a true community partner,” said Jon T. Locklear, LREMC president and CEO. “Together, LREMC and RCC are shaping the future of Robeson County by investing in its youth, providing them with more avenues for growth, and reinforcing the importance of community support in driving positive change.”

The City of Lumberton hopes the new athletics program at Robeson Community College will help bring people together and create a new sense of pride in the community.

“The City of Lumberton is very honored to be a part of this historic moment in RCC’s history,” stated Mayor Bruce Davis. “Sporting events have a way of bringing people in the community together, there’s a spirit of unity involved as everyone gets behind their home team and cheers them on — and for the City of Lumberton and Robeson County — that will be Team RCC.”

With the signing of the MOU, there will still be much work to be done behind the scenes before the athletic program can begin. RCC will need to hire an athletic director, coaches, as well as become a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). The college will also need to recruit players for its inaugural team. RCC will also need to determine a mascot and design for its sports team, but Singler believes all the work will be well worth it.

“The addition of athletics to our campus will bring vitality to our campus, and provide a renewed sense of student life, as well as build synergy within our community,” Singler said. “The addition of sports will enhance our curriculum programs, making our programs more competitive and more highly sought after, increasing awareness of our programs of study and the success that can be achieved through attending a community college.”

According to research, the addition of athletics programs can increase enrollment, help with student retention, and can also become an economic engine to the community, driving revenue and creating a new source of funding for the college itself.

“Athletics is often the key piece of the puzzle that helps keeps students engaged inside and outside the classroom,” stated Eric Freeman, the executive vice president at RCC. “With student athletes bringing a culturally diverse perspective, it will make for a more dynamic and well-rounded education for all.”

“The addition of athletics at Robeson Community College is simply an opportunity gained and an added value for our students,” added Freeman. “Athletics means more opportunity for our students, more opportunity for our college, and more opportunity for our community.”

Freeman, a former professional baseball player with the Kansas City Royals, knows baseball and is excited about adding sports to the curriculum at RCC.

“The exposure that athletics will bring to Robeson Community College, our county, and our state, will just be phenomenal,” stated Freeman. “It’s going to be great to be able to go out to see our students compete and maybe one day, make it to the national competition.”

Until then, it will be ‘game on’ as RCC will begin laying the groundwork and moving forward with all the preparations necessary to get the program up and running.

“We are so excited about the addition of athletics,” stated Singler. “This is going to be transformational for Robeson Community College and we can’t wait to throw out the first ball at Dr. Raymond B. Pennington Athletic Complex in Lumberton.”

If you would like to help support the athletics program at Robeson Community College, please contact the RCC Foundation at 910-272-3236. Donations are currently being accepted for scholarships, which will assist student athletes in their pursuit of higher education, as well as corporate sponsorships to help fund the program.