PirateQ 
The Pensacola State men’s basketball team wrapped up an unforgettable season on March 23, falling 83-75 to Trinidad State in the first round of the NJCAA National Championship tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas. Entering as the no. 10 seed, the Pirates fought hard but ultimately fell short in their bid for a national title.
While the loss was heartbreaking, Head Coach Pete Peña sees the season as nothing short of a success.
“I told them last night, ‘You have taken me on a wonderful journey. I know how disappointed we all are right now, but I just love you and appreciate the ride you have taken this school and me on, personally. It’s been great.’”
During his 16th season at PSC, Peña led the Pirates to their sixth State Championship title, winning the FCSAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship on March 15 with a thrilling 54-51 victory over Gulf Coast State College. Having lost to Gulf Coast in three previous matchups, the Pirates proved that the fourth time was the charm.
Dylan Colon led the Pirates with 12 points, nine rebounds and six assists and was named the Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. Amarion Savage and Dimitri Clerc joined Colon on the All-Tournament Team.
With their state title, the Pirates punched their ticket to the NJCAA National Tournament, marking another milestone in an already historic season.
Peña’s leadership and dedication did not go unnoticed. He was named both the 2025 FCSAA Coach of the Year and the 2025 NJCAA South Atlantic District Head Coach of the Year.
“It’s very humbling, but I also know it’s a product of a lot of hard work by a lot of people: our administration, our Athletic Director Bryan Lewallyn, our assistant coaches Cam Beldon and Dylan Brown – who amaze me every day with how much they care about our kids – and the most important part is our kids. They all contribute to the environment we are able to create,” Peña reflected.
“Any time somebody receives a Coach of the Year, it’s never only about them. It’s about the collective – administration, coaches, staff and our kids. Everybody joins in that award and plays a part in creating the kind of environment where success can happen.”
The Pirates’ last FCSAA Championship came in 1993, a season that ultimately ended with the program’s first and only NJCAA National Championship. While this year’s journey ended sooner than hoped, the foundation for future success has been firmly set.
PSC Athletic Director Bryan Lewallyn praised the team’s character and growth throughout the season. “Our players learn from our coaching staff that they have to invest in your team versus yourself, and when you do that, the self takes care of itself. The best players all care more about the success of the team, and they become better players because of it.”
Peña agreed, saying, “A season like this is not possible without quality people and quality kids. These players are young and still growing, and my staff and I have the privilege of guiding them through that process. Improvement happens when players trust their coaches’ feedback and are willing to grow. That type of maturity comes with having the right people, and we’ve been blessed with a team full of them.”
“People have been complimentary everywhere we’ve gone about how our players conduct themselves, and that means the world to me,” Peña said. “I constantly say to them: ‘I want YOU to be proud of YOU, I want YOU to make our school proud of YOU, and I want YOU to make your families proud of YOU.’ That’s how we carry ourselves.”
With a state championship, national tournament appearance, and a season filled with growth and achievement, the Pirates have set a high standard for years to come.
Bryan Lewallyn reflected, “It was great to watch the team’s evolution from last year to this year and to see them become better players on the court and grow with greater confidence off the court. When the team gets things off the court or the field ‘right,’ it starts to happen on the court. To see what Coach Peña was able to do with the team is nothing short of just a phenomenal job of creating men out of young men.”
Congratulations to Coach Peña, Coach Beldon, Coach Brown and the entire PSC Pirates men’s basketball team on an outstanding season!