Cyber Defense Students Continue to Excel in National Cyber League Fall 2025 Competition

College of Coastal Georgia Cyber Defense students delivered another outstanding performance in the fall 2025 National Cyber League (NCL) competition, with 34 students finishing in the top 25 percent among 7,865 competitors nationwide.

Leading the team was senior Eddy Ross, who scored an impressive 2,845 out of 3,000 points, earning 63rd place overall — the highest score ever recorded by a CCGA student. Fellow senior Balber Reyez followed closely with 2,665 points, securing 127th place.

Three sophomores demonstrated exceptional skill by joining the prestigious “2,000 Points Club”:

• Connor Laugs — 2,475 points (201st place)
• Victoria Stanford — 2,335 points (269th place)
• Will Garrett — 2,040 points (516th place)

Freshman JJ Johnson made an impressive debut, scoring 1,815 points and finishing 711th overall — the highest among CCGA’s 14 freshmen who ranked in the top 25 percent.

“This competition pushed them to think critically and adapt quickly,” said Dr. Nelbert “Doc” St. Clair, associate professor of cyber defense.

St. Clair, who guided the students through the preparation phase, praised their dedication.

“Our students didn’t just compete — they excelled,” he said. “Their performance shows the strength of CCGA’s cyber defense program and their ability to tackle real-world challenges under pressure.”

The National Cyber League is a biannual competition designed to prepare students for careers in cybersecurity. Participants face real-world challenges in areas such as cryptography, password cracking, network traffic analysis and vulnerability exploitation. NCL emphasizes hands-on learning and practical problem-solving, making it one of the most respected collegiate cybersecurity competitions in the United States.

Victoria Stanford, Class of 2028, said, “The National Cyber League has been instrumental in advancing my growth as a cybersecurity student. The challenges presented in both the Individual and Team Games have sharpened my analytical thinking, problem-solving and technical skills. Each scenario pushed me to approach complex issues strategically and engage the critical and investigative mindset required for a cybersecurity career.”