With optimism for the future, New River Community and Technical College will once again host an expanded field for the 8th Annual New River CTC Invitational basketball tournament, scheduled for Jan. 5-10, 2026, at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center.
With the updated WVSSAC basketball classifications, New River CTC will welcome some of the top high school teams from all four divisions. The week-long event will feature more than 30 of the state’s premier basketball programs, highlighted by the addition of the Martinsburg Bulldogs to the Class AAAA division. The Woodrow Wilson Flying Eagles and the Huntington Highlanders will also return to the Invitational. Woodrow Wilson, a 16-time state champion, will look to secure its 17th title.
Also returning are several preseason favorites for the Class AAA championship, including the Shady Spring Tigers, Greenbrier East Spartans, Princeton Tigers, Nitro Wildcats, and South Charleston Black Eagles. In Class AA, the Westside Renegades and the Logan Wildcats will headline a field packed with state championship-caliber talent.
“The weather played havoc on last year’s event, but we are excited about this year’s participating teams and understand the importance of high school athletics to the communities we serve. In many cases, high school sports are the lifeblood and fabric of our communities,” said New River CTC Invitational Tournament Director Michael Green.
The New River CTC Invitational is the college’s single largest fundraising event and continues to grow each year. Thanks to strong community support and generous sponsorships, the college provides scholarships to each participating high school.
Green also hopes the Invitational inspires high school students and families to consider New River CTC for their post-secondary education. The college offers more than 40 programs that qualify for “free tuition” through the West Virginia Invests Program.
“I cannot thank our sponsors enough for stepping up to make the Invitational a community-supported event. The leadership of local businesses and organizations has been incredible and is truly appreciated,” Green said.
As in previous years, Special Olympics athletes will also take the court. The Raleigh County Special Olympics team will face their counterparts from Fayette County in what has become one of the most anticipated games of the tournament, Green added.
For more information or to learn about sponsorship opportunities, please contact the New River CTC Foundation at 304-929-6734 or foundation@newriver.edu, or visit www.nrctcf.org.
