Tonya Sanford Boykins

Antoniea (Tonya) Sanford-Boykins found success at every sport she tried during a decorated athletic career at East Rutherford. From 1981-85, Sanford-Boykins played basketball, softball, volleyball and ran track during her time with the Cavaliers. Upon graduation from East, Sanford-Boykins earned a basketball scholarship to Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte where she also played softball.  As a Golden Bull, she won numerous awards and honors and then began a successful coaching career on both the high school and college levels.

Even though Sanford-Boykins was a four-year letter winner in track and volleyball at East Rutherford, she had the most success on the basketball court and the softball diamond. She captained the Cavaliers’ softball team in 1984 and 1985, winning All-Conference honors during those seasons. Sanford-Boykins was also named Best Offensive Player In 1984 and Best Defensive Player, along with Co-MVP during her Senior season of 1985. 

Sanford-Boykins was even more dominant on the basketball court. She earned All-Conference honors in 1984 and 1985, averaging 14.8 points and six rebounds as a Senior in 1985. Due to her success, Sanford- Boykins was awarded a basketball scholarship to play for the Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls, becoming the first female athlete from East Rutherford to earn an athletic scholarship.

Just as in high school, Sanford Boykins was also a multi-sport athlete at JCSU. As a Senior in 1988-89, she helped the Golden Bulls earn a 2 nd  place finish at the CIAA Conference Tournament, while being selected for the All-Tournament Team. She also garnered the JCSU Coaches Award during that same season. Not to be outdone, Sanford-Boykins claimed multiple team awards for the Golden Bulls’ softball team, too including Rookie of the Year, Best Offensive Player, Best Defensive Player and team MVP.

After graduating from Johnson C. Smith, Sanford-Boykins was an assistant coach for the Golden Bulls for one season. She returned to Forest City and took a break from playing but came back to the court 10 years later for one final season in 1998-99, playing overseas for a semi-pro team in Brunswick, Germany.

When her basketball career was finished, Sanford-Boykins turned her attention to coaching where she was an assistant coach for the Lady Cavaliers’ Basketball and Softball programs for several seasons. Due to her success as an athlete and coach, Sanford-Boykins was inducted into the East Rutherford Hall Of Fame in 2010, while also being named one of Rutherford County’s Top 50 Female Athletes of all time.

Sanford-Boykins has taught Business and Information Technology classes at East Rutherford since 2007 and she also serves as a Pastor at True Vine Church Of God in Forest City.  Sanford-Boykins and her husband Robert have three children, DeVince, DeVonte and DeVoria.