Newsroom

Four Sophomore Athletes Sign With Four-Year Schools

Penn Highlands Community College proudly announces that four of its sophomore athletes will be advancing their athletic and academic careers at four-year institutions. This achievement is a testament to both their personal dedication and the strength of the College’s sports programs.

Leading the way is the men’s basketball team, fresh off back-to-back WPCC/Region 20 Championships. Two of the team’s sophomores are moving on to compete at the next level, as well as standout student-athletes from the men’s golf and softball programs.

The athletes advancing to four-year programs include:

• Jayvien Brumbaugh, Men’s Golf, Mount Aloysius College (NCAA Division III) 
  Brumbaugh (Mount Union, PA) became one of the most accomplished golfers in program history after earning the team’s first All-Conference honor and placing seventh in both the WPCC and Region 20 Tournaments in 2025-26. He is the first Black Bears golfer to continue their career past Penn Highlands.
• Tori Harrison, Softball, University of Pittsburgh at Bradford (NCAA Division III) 
  Harrison (Portage, PA) is the second Penn Highlands softball player to advance their career to the four-year level. She posted an average just shy of .300 with a .343 on base percentage and 15 runs scored in 22 games during her lone season with the program. Harrison also tallied two outfield assists and did not record an error while serving as a catcher and centerfielder for the Black Bears.
• Byron “BJ” Lavender, Jr., Men’s Basketball, Kentucky Christian University (NAIA) 
  Lavender (Tampa, FL) led the team with 490 total points and topped Region 20 with 88 3-point field goals in 2025-26. He is a two-time WPCC All-Conference selection, a two-time First Team All-Region 20 selection, and was named Most Valuable Player of the 2025 Region 20 Tournament.
• Victor Raymond, Men’s Basketball, Brewton-Parker Christian University (NAIA) 
  In his lone season at Penn Highlands after transferring from Big Bend Community College, Raymond (Seattle, WA) earned WPCC All-Conference honors after averaging 12.1 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. He tallied 13 double-doubles, highlighted by totaling 27 points and 16 rebounds in a win over Butler County Community College on February 12. Raymond was named Region 20 Player of the Month for February.

Since Athletics was reinstated at Penn Highlands in 2010, over 30 student-athletes have moved on to compete at four-year colleges and universities.

Click here for more information on Black Bear Athletics.