Eastern View Alum Sewordor Wins NCAA Division III Title with UMW

Joshua Sewordor represented his hometown of Culpeper and Eastern View High School proudly as a key contributor to the University of Mary Washington's national championship run.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 9:00am

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A cubist-style painting featuring fragmented geometric shapes in bright orange, deep blue, and vibrant green, capturing the energy and excitement of a college basketball championship celebration.A community celebration of Joshua Sewordor's national championship triumph with the UMW men's basketball team reflects the pride and energy of his hometown roots.Indianapolis Today

University of Mary Washington freshman guard Joshua Sewordor, a graduate of Eastern View High School in Culpeper, played a significant role in helping the Eagles win the NCAA Division III national championship this season. Despite not expecting a major role early on, Sewordor grew into an important bench player for UMW, contributing key minutes and production during their historic tournament run.

Why it matters

Sewordor's success at the national level has brought pride and recognition to his hometown of Culpeper and his alma mater Eastern View High School. As the lone player on the roster from the local area, Sewordor represented the 540 region well and gave the community a rooting interest in UMW's championship pursuit.

The details

Sewordor, the 2022-23 Battlefield District Player of the Year at Eastern View, helped the Cyclones win a district title and became one of UMW's most highly touted recruits this year. While his role early on was relatively small, he grew into a key bench piece for the Eagles, playing a significant role in what became the most memorable NCAA tournament run in program history.

  • Sewordor averaged 5.2 points, 1.2 assists and 2.2 rebounds per game across all six tournament games for UMW.
  • Sewordor hit two big 3-pointers in the Division III national championship game in Indianapolis as his freshman year ended with him hoisting a national championship trophy.

The players

Joshua Sewordor

A freshman guard for the University of Mary Washington men's basketball team and a graduate of Eastern View High School in Culpeper.

Patrick Thornhill

The head coach of the Eastern View High School boys basketball program.

Hudson Sewordor

The older brother of Joshua Sewordor and a former standout at Eastern View High School.

Abla Sewordor

The mother of Joshua Sewordor who was unable to travel to Indianapolis to watch the national championship game in person.

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What they’re saying

“When I committed, I didn't think I would be good coming off what they did last year, but I didn't think I would play more than half of the game.”

— Joshua Sewordor, UMW Freshman Guard

“I always had it in mind that when the team had the opportunity to travel, I would make it a point to support Joshua if I was able to.”

— Hudson Sewordor, Joshua's Older Brother

What’s next

Joshua Sewordor and the UMW men's basketball team will be celebrated in Culpeper on Saturday with a community event to honor their national championship achievement.

The takeaway

Joshua Sewordor's success at the national level has brought immense pride to his hometown of Culpeper and his alma mater Eastern View High School, proving that small-town talent can shine on the biggest stage and that community support can make all the difference.