On Nov 1 the men’s basketball and region 21 champions will begin their 2023-2024 season with midnight madness. The Knights will take on Bunker hill at the fitness center in Haverhill. The doors will be open at 11:00 p.m. 

This will be the first time in program history dating back to 1971 that The knights will participate in a midnight madness event. The remaining schedule will be released later this month 

For more information contact basketball head coach Darren Stratton at dstratton@necc.mass.edu. Or Athletic director Dan Blair at dblair@necc.mass.edu or Basketball head coach Darren Stratton at dstratton@necc.mass.edu 

A new face will be leading the Track and field team in 2023, Melanie Tarbox. Special educator and a nine-year Haverhill high coach will join NECC as their next head coach. The hiring was announced on Sept 6th by athletic director Dan Blair. 

In addition, to her nine-year stint as Haverhill high’s track and field and cross-country coach she served as a gymnastics coach for six years for the Hillies.  

Tarbox graduated from Bently University earning a degree in marketing. During her four-year career at Bently she participated in both indoor and outdoor track and field. She also earned her bachelor’s degree in education at Merrimack College and doctorate in leadership education at Endicott College. 

Tarbox’s prior coaching experience and relationship to the Merrimack valley made her an ideal fit for the job. 

“Melanie brings everything to the table that we’ve been looking for in our next track and field coach. She competed in high school and college, she’s a Haverhill native and deep connection in the Haverhill school system” Blair said. “[Bartox] has a strong coaching background of nine years with Haverhill track and cross-country program as an assistant. She knows Merrimack Valley, and the Merrimack Valley is where we do most of our requiting.” 

The Haverhill Native lives in Hampton, NH. She will start her responsibilities later this month 

After a 13-year hiatus, women’s basketball is back in Northern Essex. Head coach Malaquias Canery and NECC athletic trainer, Nicole Curry hosted a meeting last Tuesday at the fitness center. Several team members were in attendance.  

First, physicals within the last 13 months and insurance cards must be submitted by email to Curry before participating. These are due by next week. 

“I’m going to love this team forever; you guys are cemented as the first team” said Malaquias expressing his excitement for 2023-2024 season. 

The first practice will be held on October 1st at the fitness center. The first scheduled game will be on Saturday November 4th in Conney Island, NY. 

“I’m excited we finally got all the right pieces together to make this happen. We have been trying to get a team together for the last couple of years and we finally put all the pieces to the puzzle together” Athletics director Dan Blair said. 

One player commented that she was “happy to be part of a team again.”  

For additional information contact Athletic director Dan Blair at dblair@necc.mass@necc.edu 

In Northern Essex’s first home turf match, The Knights (5-0) claimed a win over Roxbury community college on Sept 16th. They breezed past Roxbury in three best of five sets by scores of 25-3, 25-4 and 25-10 at the fitness center. 

Vielika Sanchez and Abigail Heredia, both of Lawerence, led NECC in points with 14 and 13 respectively. Sanchez tallied 7 aces as well. 

Defensively, outside hitter Chantel Melgan of Lawerence, MA recorded seven digs. 

Right side hitter and setter, Telaviv Nunez of Lawerence, MA put The Knights on the board 1-0 assisted by middle blocker Margo Martinez in set one. After falling behind 3-2, The Knights went on a 16-1 run to lead 18-3. A lead they wouldn’t relinquish. 

The third and final set was a closer affair. With a 14-5 Knights advantage RCC closed the gap by collecting five points 14-9. However, The Knights bounced back finishing the match with an 11-1 run. Heredia delivered the dagger with a kill for the 25-10 victory.