PATRICK SPACE FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Just eight months after playing their first organized game, the Patrick/Cape Varsity Basketball Team has defied the odds and earned the title of 2025 Military Basketball Association Champions.
Varsity sports have long been a cornerstone of morale and readiness across the Department of Defense. The Military Basketball Association, in particular, serves as the premier platform for varsity-level basketball, promoting resilience, discipline, and camaraderie across all service branches. Hundreds of teams from installations around the globe competed throughout the 2025 regular season—but only the top 16 were invited to the MBA Nationals Tournament in Philadelphia.
What started as a vision within the Force Support Squadron to revive varsity-level sports quickly became one of the most inspiring underdog stories in Department of Defense athletic history. The team—comprised of Guardians, Airmen, and civilians—stormed through the MBA playoffs and defeated top-seeded Fort Bliss in a nationally televised championship game on CBS Sports.
“In March 2024, Lt Stanley and I set a goal in the Force Support Squadron Fitness and Sports Center, to start a varsity basketball team. We wanted to see it stood up by the end of the year, and by September, the team and coaches were in place,” said MSgt Michael Voutila. “Just eight months later, that same team went on to win the Military Basketball Championship. It’s incredible what this group accomplished in such a short time.”
Led by head coach SSgt Jeff Hurst and supported by fitness staff like Sid Ferrell and Kyle Mallet, the team rapidly developed their identity. “Jeff deserves a great deal of credit for the energy, leadership, and commitment he brought to this team,” Voutila added.
The team finished the regular season ranked 9th out of all DoD varsity programs—a notable feat for a first-year squad. But it was their performance at the MBA Championship Tournament in Philadelphia that captured national attention.
“Although I did not bring varsity basketball back, I was there practicing with the team from the very beginning,” said Sid Ferrell, the team’s starting center. “We didn’t know who would consistently show up or how we’d match up. But we stayed in the gym all season and put in the work. When we got to Philly, we were locked in.”
Ferrell acknowledged the team’s seeding may have underestimated their strength. “We thought we deserved a 5 or 6 seed, honestly. But no matter what the number was, we just took it one game at a time. After a close loss to Ramstein, we knew we could compete with anyone. We motivated each other, played as a team, and won as a family.”
The championship game against Fort Bliss tested that bond. Down by two at halftime, the team rallied in the third quarter, finishing the frame up by ten and never looking back.
“We realized that the Fort Bliss team was very much beatable if we played together,” Ferrell said. “We stayed calm, drew fouls, and trusted each other. When it got tight near the end, we put the ball in Grayson Tejeda’s hands. He played like an MVP.”
The victory not only crowned a new champion but also put Space Launch Delta 45—and the broader Space Force community—on the national sports stage. “Being able to win the MBA championship in our first year as a program truly shows how locked in we were as a team,” said Ferrell. “Representing the Space Force is an honor, and we knew that communication and support would result in success.”
The broadcast drew the attention of CBS Sports analysts, including basketball legend Charles Barkley, but the recognition closer to home may matter most.
“I hope this win shows the base community that anything is possible,” Ferrell said. “What’s next? We’re resurfacing the court, getting new jerseys, hosting a tournament—and going back-to-back next year. Huge things are coming for Patrick SFB Varsity Basketball.”
As the team awaits a formal recognition ceremony and the arrival of their championship hardware, the message is clear: through teamwork, resilience, and an unshakable belief in each other, Space Launch Delta 45 proved that champions can rise from anywhere.