Athletics Signing Day Welcomes New Student Athletes to Atlantic Cape for the Upcoming 2024-25 School Year

MAYS LANDING — The bright future of Atlantic Cape Community College’s Buccaneers Athletics program was on display as new incoming freshmen student athletes were introduced to the college during Athletics Signing Day, May 17 on the Mays Landing campus in the Student Center.

Joined by family and friends, the nine male and female student athletes in attendance signed a certificate of intent confirming their commitment to play their respective sport during the 2024-25 school year before posing for a photo with their new head coach and receiving an Atlantic Cape Buccaneers cap.

“Welcome to the Atlantic Cape family. We make sure that all of our students are properly developed academically and give them all of the resources, including a food pantry in the gym, that they need to succeed while here on campus,” said Dr. Natalie Devonish, Vice President, Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. “We also have dedicated advisors, tutors and anything they need on this campus, as well as an administration that fully backs our athletics department.”

Deron Azille of Lower Cape May has been playing soccer for more than 10 years. Accompanied by his father and mother, who graduated from Atlantic Cape with her associate’s degree nearly nine years ago, Azille said he chose Atlantic Cape because “it’s affordable, close to home and I know a lot of the guys.”

Men’s Soccer Head Coach Luiz Paz also introduced three additional incoming freshman student athletes. Ivan Cordoba and Christopher Torres from Atlantic City High School, and Antonio Mendez from Mainland Regional High School.

Millinda Marigliano of Absecon attends Atlantic City High School and will be playing on the Women’s Basketball team in the fall for new Head Coach John Miller. Marigliano, who attended with her mother, father and younger sister, said that Atlantic Cape’s affordability is important to her since it will be her responsibility to pay her way through college. Marigliano was also intrigued by the Women’s Basketball program’s new path moving forward after speaking with Coach Miller.

“He was explaining the program to me and I wanted to try it out because it seems like a good opportunity for me,” said Marigliano, who has been playing basketball since third grade.

Women’s Soccer Head Coach Wesley Raywood introduced three new incoming freshman student athletes. Anette Bautista Escobedo and Gisselle Lopez from Atlantic City High School, and Mishell Escolona Gomez, who is currently enrolled at Atlantic Cape.

The Men’s Volleyball team, represented by Athletic Director Jamal Edwards, introduced Stephen Obeng from Hammonton High School as well.

Visit atlanticcape.edu/athletics for more information on all Atlantic Cape Buccaneers athletics programs.

About Atlantic Cape Community College

Atlantic Cape Community College is a Middle States accredited, 2022 Achieving the Dream Leader College and Hispanic Serving Institution proudly serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. As a comprehensive, two-year community college, Atlantic Cape offers 47 undergraduate degree programs, and 33 certificate and professional series programs at its Mays Landing, Atlantic City and Cape May campuses. Atlantic Cape is home to the renowned Academy of Culinary Arts, rated the top culinary school in New Jersey, and for more than 50 years, our highly-acclaimed Nursing program. Atlantic Cape also partners with more than 30 colleges and four-year universities to offer students the opportunity to seamlessly earn a bachelor’s degree upon graduation.