Cardinals Basketball
The Cards wore the mantle of NJ- CAA champions well despite getting the opponents’ best effort every outing. The TVCC men’ s only home loss came to Blinn in January on a night that Coach Gregg Heiar sustained a minor heart attack.
“ We talk about competitive greatness. Being at your best when your best is needed. We try to do that every day,” Heiar said.
HEIAR
TVCC swept to a Region 14 Tournament championship and two wins at the NJCAA Tournament before losing 72-66 to Howard in the quarterfinals. Howard went on to claim the championship, while the Cardinals finished 30-6.
Lady Cardinals Basketball
TVCC was full of surprises as they mounted a return to the national tournament after a rare miss in 2025. Coach Precious Ivy’ s team won the Region 14 regular season and the regional tournament, ending with a thrilling 70-68 defeat of Kilgore in the final round.
Ivy said the Kilgore games were indicative of the way the team was willing to work during the season.
“ They had toughness, resiliency, never gave up and believed in each other. They were doing it for the team down the stretch. They had some close games, but were great in the clutch. Ivy was also named the Region XIV Coach of the Year. Plus, Lady Card Malaya Jones was named an NJCAA All-American and
IVY
Women’ s Basketball Coaches Association honoree. The Texas Association of Basketball Coaches recognized Myyah West as a Junior College Assistant Coach of the Year.
Cardinals Softball
According to information from TVCC, among the highlights for the Cardinals in the season were program records for most wins and fewest losses. They also won the Region XIV Conference North Zone title for a third straight year, posting the most conference wins in program history with 22. They also recorded the first world series win in four trips with a dramatic 9-8 comeback decision against Southern Idaho. The Cardinals were unbeaten at home with a 34-0 mark, the final six 6-0 at the new on-campus Drumgoole Field.
Coach Maria Winn-Ratliff reached some personal milestones in 2026, including passing 900 wins. She came to TVCC in 2021 and has 201 wins piloting the Cardinals.
RATLIFF
Greater Athens Magazine | July 2026 | 21