Basketball head coach, Darren Stratton has announced that he is partnering with the Free-range market in Medford to join relief efforts for citizens effected by the Earthquake in Turkey and Syria last week. Donations can be dropped off at the fitness center between 8:30 A.M.- 4:30 P.M this week until Saturday Feb 18. This tragedy is personal for the NECC community, three members of the basketball team Metin Yavus, Mehmet Asik and AtaSavas Kurtulus all have called Turkey Thier home.
Items that can be donated include power blankets, sleeping bags, tents, flashlights, thermos bottles, diapers, baby formula, and hygiene products for men and women. Clothing that will be accepted includes underwear, scarves, beanies, socks, raincoats, sweaters and boots.
For more information contact Athletic director Dan Blair at dblair@necc.mass.edu or the basketball head coach Darren Stanton at dbstratton9@aol.com
All posts by Daniel Henrick, Sports Editor
NECC basketball climbs to 3rd in NJCAA poll rankings
On the Jan 30 week of voting The Knights jumped into the third spot of the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletics Association) weekly poll rankings. They received a total of 91 votes. Previously they ranked seventh and fourth in the top ten ranking list. The Knight’s 13.5 off rebounds per game, 51.5 total rebound per game and 24.0 rebound margins per game all rank first in the league.
In addition, The Knights rank first in points, 2,506, field goal attempts 72 and games played at 24
Standout forward, Luis Reynoso of Lawerence ranks first in the league in rebounds at 13.5, points scored with 429 and total minutes played at 566.
The Knights have a 20-game win streak with a (24-1) overall record. They are also undefeated in conference play as well (19-0).
Six games remain in the regular season.
Knights roll past Rams 91-66
The Knights continued a five game home stand with a victory over the Rams from Springfield Technical Community College on Tuesday Jan 26 by a score of 91-66 at the Northern Essex fitness center. The win improves the Knight’s record to (20-1) and the Rams fell to (4-13).
This first meeting between the Knights and Rams on Dec 2, 2022, had featured an uncharacteristically poor offensive performance by the Knights shooting 30% inside field goal range and 20% from 3 point range. In addition, the knights had scored a season low 27 points in their first half of that game.
“We’re going to try to run, we’re going to put a little more pressure on them going up and down the court to the type of style we want to play. We’re going with a quicker line up and we’re going to try to attack the rim much more and try to speed up the game a little bit more,” said head coach Darren Stratton regarding scheme adjustments to prevent another sluggish offensive start in this rematch.
These adjustments worked.
After a 2-2 tie, forward Edwin SamMbaka of Lawrence shot a two-pointer putting the Knights up 4-2 one minute into the rematch and the Knights never trailed or tied again. Overall, the Knights shot a much-improved offense in the rematch shooting 53% from field goal range and 50% from three-point land.
The score was 41-29 at halftime.
When the second period game clock hit zero the Knights were victorious by a final score of 91-66.
The win pushed the Knights win streak to 16 and remain undefeated in conference play.
The Knights were scheduled to be back in action for the third game of their five-game home stand Saturday, Jan 28, against Quinsigamond Community College at the fitness center.
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NECC hosts baseball tryouts
The NECC Knights baseball team recently held tryouts for the next season.
Tryouts were held at Trinity stadium on Sept 1 at 9 a.m. for infielders and catchers and 10:30 a.m. for outfielders. All positions meet Sept. 2 at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity stadium.
Time commitment for the team is up heavy. Between practices and extra work will add up to a total of 40 hours a week. Skills needed are the ability to run, throw and pitch at a high level.
Team sports offers exercise to remain in shape and create friendships.
“That’s one of the best parts of the job to see the friendships born through athletics, blood, sweat and tears. The guys come together that will last a lifetime,” said Baseball Head coach Jeff Mejia.
A tryout does not guarantee a roster spot. The roster size for the team is limited to carrying 34 players at practice and in the spring the roster is trimmed down to 28. Roster cuts are among one of coach Mejia’s most unpleasant parts of the job, he said.
“We try to evaluate every student athlete as thoroughly as we can, but we take it very seriously because we realize if we are cutting a student athlete it may be the last time they ever play. That’s a very difficult part of the job, but a necessary part of the job,” Mejia said.
Every athlete in the previous seasons has brought their own equipment such as baseball gloves and bats, but some equipment can be provided if needed.
What coach Mejia is looking for in his athletes is “to be in good academic standing with the college” and “someone with the skill set good enough to be a good contributor to our baseball program.”
For additional information about baseball at NECC contact Jeff Mejia at jmejia@necc.edu
NECC welcomes new cross-country head coach, David Tousignant
On March 17 David Tousignant of Lowell arrived at NECC to serve as the next head coach for the Men and Women’s Varsity cross-country program. Athletic director, Dan Blair announced the hiring.
“He has good experience at the high school level throughout the region and I think that will translate here at the college,” Blair said regarding the hire.
The newly appointed head coach has ambitious plans for improving the cross-country program “I know that the baseball team was in the junior college World Series and the basketball team has been very successful. I want our runners to be talked to in the same breath as the baseball and basketball teams,” Tousignant said. “I hope to make cross-country and track and field more synonymous with NECC much like baseball and basketball.” Tousignant is also planning on partnering with head track and field coach, Nelson Desilvestre to help bring cross-country and track and field into the forefront of NECC sports.
Tousignant has also expressed a desire for an Alumni run in the fall.
“Next fall I would like to see an alumni road race as a fundraiser for the school. Get people, administrators, teachers, alumni, have a day to get back on campus just kind of draw everyone around the program,” he said.
The first practice of the 2022 season will be held Monday Aug. 15th. The season will begin in the fall and end in the winter. The team is open to men and women. There are no roster cuts in the program. Practice lasts about an hour and a half and meets usually take place on Saturdays. A key part of practice is building endurance and cardio needed for long distance running. Tousignant tailors his practices to be enjoyable and fit in easily to a student athlete’s daily routine.
Overall athleticism is a point of emphasis Tousignant has in his training regimen which he plans on teaching each of his athletes.
“As you can imagine running an 8k (five + miles) is nothing short of stress on the body, which is why we focus so much on overall athleticism and not just miles and miles,” he said.
Cross-country athletes endure a difficult and physically demanding workout regime. Tousignant who was also a student athlete in college and high school explained how he can relate to the strenuous activities that his cross-country athletes go through.
“I run road races, it helps me to relate to the athletes themselves so when they start talking about how they feel after running six miles in the morning, I have done that. It helps me to relate to what they are talking about, it is not outside my comfort zone, and they talk about the feeling in their calves or their quads, I have probably had that same feeling myself. It helps them realize I have gone through my own program so to speak. It helps me understand what they are talking about,” Tousignant said.
Cross country is also a demanding phycological sport as well. “Endurance and long-distance runners can already run, what’s most important is mental and phycological focus on fighting through the physical demands of the sport,” Tousignant said.
Although this will be Tousignant’s first season coaching at the college level, he still brings plenty of coaching experience to the table. For the last 20 years he coached at high schools in schools in the Merrimack Valley. He is currently serving as a coach at Lincoln Sudbury Regional High school. Tousignant previously served on coaching staffs at Greater Lowell high school, Burlington and Tewksbury high schools and Norte Dame Academy.
Prior to coaching Tousignant spent 38 years in law enforcement as a Detective Sergeant for the Lowell police department. During Tousignant’s interview with Blair for the head coaching position Tousignant quipped “This is funny, I’m usually the one asking questions,” he said.
Tousignant first entered coaching in 2001. While he was working as a detective sergeant, his wife’s cousin remembered that he participated in Track and field in high school and college and asked if he could coach the team at their school for the season. Tousignant agreed, enjoyed it, and has coached every season since “My secondary career was born,” he said.
Tousignant has a wife, Susan of 38 years and they have a daughter, Lauren who is a writer in New York City. Susan has served as a teacher for nearly 50 years. Tousignant enjoys spending time remaining active by running and exercising at the gym.
For more information on the cross-country program contact David Tousignant at dtousignant@NECC.Edu or Athletic director Dan Blair at dblair@NECC.Edu
Back-to-back dominant pitching performances From NECC Right-hander
A flamethrowing right-handed pitcher, Todd Tringale of Saugus at Northern Essex community college tossed two consecutive no-hitters for the Knights. Tringale, a sophomore at NECC, is pitching in his second season for the Knights.
His first no-hitter occurred March 27, against Eastern Conn. State (JV). He threw 104 pitches and struck out 13 batters and issued three walks over seven innings.
What better way to follow up a no-hitter? Another no-hitter.
April 2 Tringale took the mound against Quinsigamond Community College. He threw 88 pitches, striking out nine and walking three over a run rule shortened five inning game.
“In both the outings, the thought of a no-hitter was definitely in the back of my mind, but my main priority was going out there executing all my pitches and throwing up a zero and getting three more outs,said Tringale.
In 2021 he finished the season with a record of 4 and 1 with a 2.16 ERA in 10 appearances. Tringale struck out 78 and walked 25 batters over 50 innings of work.
His 2022 campaign has produced comparable results. He is 6 and 0 with a razor sharp 0.68 ERA over 39.2 total innings this season. In seven appearances he has struck out 70 batters and walked just 15.
April 7, 2021, Tringale received recognition by the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) as national pitcher of the week, one of only two pitchers from NECC to have ever received the award. The other was teammate, Levi Burrill of Amesbury, March 22, 2021.
Tringale describes his pregame warm up as “simple…its definitely long, but simple.” An hour before each start he spends 15 minutes moving around to get blood flowing then moves on to stretching his legs, arms and shoulders for another 15 minutes. Next, he moves on to throwing by playing a game of catch with one of the catchers on the field until the first pitch. Finally, Tringale grabs a drink of water, gets a bullpen session in, and takes the mound.
Tringale was first introduced to baseball at age five and has played every season since “Baseball was brought into my life when I was5-years-old. . I’ve been a part of a team every year since then. I really fell in love with the game when I was around 14 years old, and that is when I decided to pursue it for school,” Tringale said
Two pitchers Tringale will always have respect for are Hall of Fame pitchers, Randy Johnson and Nolan Ryan.
“Not only were they the two most dominant pitchers ever, but their mentality of pitching is what made me look up to them,”aid Tringale
He credits his coaching as the key to his success.
“I give all the credit to my coaches in the past. I had all the tools to be successful, but with the minds of all the great coaches I’ve had in my life we put it all together and let it lead (to) this journey. I couldn’t thank those coaches enough,” Tringale said
Head coach, Jeff Mejia spoke highly of him. “He’s been fantastic for us this season and has a very bright future ahead of him,”aid Mejia
Tringale previously attended University of Massachusetts Amherst, but the two were not a fit. Tringale found NECC as a draw because of the perennial success of the NECC baseball program.
“I decided to transfer out of Umass Amherst because I was getting a gut feeling that this wasn’t the place for me. Umass is an extremely large school and I felt like I was overwhelmed there. I chose to come to NECC because I wasn’t ready to give up baseball just yet, I knew about the outstanding program here and wanted to be a part of the winning atmosphere,”said Tringale
Tringale has participated in a summer collegiate league, playing for the North \Shore Navigators in Lynn.The Navigators belong in the NECBL (New England \Collegiate Baseball League).
“I love playing for the Navigators not only for the great competition but because it is close to home. This summer I will be going into my third summer playing for them, “Tringale said As a pitcher you are in control of the pace of the game, the ball is in your hands to be thrown initiating the action. This is the aspect of pitching Tringale enjoys the most.
“The pitcher controls the tempo of the game. I’m a player that likes the speed of the game to go a certain way, and when I’m on the mound I control that. Sure, I miss swinging the bat, but I wouldn’t give up pitching for the world,”“Tringale said
Tringale is the youngest in his family. He is the son of Joel and Karen Tringale and has a 24-year-old big brother named Jeremy. Jeremy graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2020 and is now an architect.
His father, Joel, is a very skilled carpenter. “I would say he is very talented at what he does.” Todd Tringale said
Todd’s mother, Karen, is a director for a childcare center. “I have never met someone who cares more about what she does than my mom. Even though she works crazy schedules, she has been by my side from day one,” Todd Tringale said.
Overall, Tringale is appreciative of the support from his family loving family. “I am extremely grateful for a supporting and caring family.” Todd said
Tringale will be graduating from NECC this spring. He plans on transferring to Dayton University in Dayton, Ohio to study criminal justice and play Division I baseball.
Softball season forced to take a seat on the bench this spring
The 2022 Northern Essex Community College softball season will end before it began this year. Due to a roster with a small number of players and injuries, fielding a full team will be ineffaceable.
“We had eight young women very interested, but we really need about eleven or twelve to field a team,” Athletic Director Dan Blair said.
The last time NECC was able to field a softball team that played a full season was in 2018. That team finished second place in their division. The 2020 softball season had several talented players and started with promise but was cut short two games into the season by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rookie head coach, Xavier Nunez was looking forward to the task of leading the softball season.” I wanted to begin building a culture in the softball program,” said Nunez. “I am disappointed about not playing but that makes me more excited about playing next year.”
Nunez is an NECC alumni who played baseball for the Knights as a third baseman in 2016 and 2017. In two seasons he batted .383 in 46 games. He currently is also a member of the NECC baseball coaching staff under Jeff Mejia for the last two seasons.
An inability to field a team is an issue that is facing the rest of the conference teams as well.
“We are in the Yankee small college conference for softball and of the six teams in the league only one was able to field a team,” Blair said.
Although the softball program has battled a numbers problem for years there is still reason for optimism for 2023 and beyond. Nunez’s knowledge from playing for and working under Mejia’s coaching staff will give him an insight into how to duplicate the success the baseball team has has had.
“It’s my hope we can retain six or seven of the girls interested and bring in another six or seven for the coming fall and really start building up the program. I would like to see the softball program succeed, we have the resources, we just need the players,” Blair said.
Every other spring sport such as baseball, golf, track and field and esports will all still be participating this spring.
No offseason for Athletic Director Dan Blair
For Dan Blair, who serves as the Northern Essex Athletic director, there is no offseason, he has a hand in every sport and sporting activity at NECC (Northern Essex Community College). Blair is entering his fifth school year as of 2021-2022 as our school Athletic director. Daily tasks for Blair include scheduling practices and officials for games, overseeing all facilities and communicating with other Athletic directors from different regions.
Before arriving at Northern Essex in 2018, Blair was employed for ten years at Franklin Pierce University located in Rindge, NH serving in various roles. He began as the university’s NCAA compliance coordinator in 2007. In February of 2009 he was promoted to Assistant Athletic director. In Early 2015 he rose to the position of Associate director of the athletics. During this time, he supervised all the Franklin Pierce’s sports activities over his final two and a half years at the university. Then Blair departed from Franklin Pierce University to join Northern Essex in the fall of 2017.
Blair successfully led the sports program throughout the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. Northern Essex was among one of just two schools in the region able to play. “Being the only community college in Massachusetts and one of only three in New England to play last year, we became a model for how to run the athletic program through COVID for other schools in the region to follow” Blair said.
During Blair’s tenure the sports department has thrived. The baseball team is considered among the best in the country. In Blair’s inaugural year at Northern Essex the baseball team claimed an XXI region championship and later achieving a District F win which advanced them to the college world series in Nashville, TN. The volleyball team has also claimed a pair of region XXI championships. In the 2019-2020 season Men’s Soccer and Women’s basketball teams made a return to Northern Essex and for the first time esports appeared at NECC.
The number of students participating in the athletic program have risen exponentially. “we’ve grown from 43 student athletes to about 150 and we have over 200 enrolled students interested in the program each year.” Despite a top-notch sports program, the aspect he is most proud of is “seeing the students succeed both in the classroom and athletics.”
Blair graduated from Bridgewater state university in 2006 earning a degree in Psychology and special education. Then he went on to Franklin Pierce University where he received his master’s degree in sports facility management. Over Blair’s time at Bridgewater state, he took part in the school’s track & field and cross-country teams for four years while he was a student. He also spent a single year coaching the track and field team at Bridgewater.
Blair lives in Newburyport, MA with his wife Amy, as well as his two daughters, Kennedy, and Mackenzie. Outside of NECC he enjoys golfing, traveling with his family and doing yard work
From graduate to essential worker: Respiratory therapist profile
Northern Essex Community College alumna Meghan Finn, 32, is now a respiratory therapist at Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital in Salem, N.H.
Finn graduated from Timberlane High School in 2006 and set her sights on becoming a cosmetologist.
“I graduated from Timberlane High School, class of 2006, and moved on to a cosmetology school,” she said.
She attended Continental Academie of Hair Design in Hudson, N.H. in the fall of 2007 through the spring of 2008. Finn learned how to cut and style hair. However, after a year, she did not like the profession, and changed jobs.
Finn first found her way to NRH in Salem, when her friend talked about a job opening as a secretary.
“I heard about a secretary job from a friend at Northeast Rehab in Salem in 2009 and they were close to where I lived,” she said.
Finn spent the next few years as a secretary at NRH before deciding to become a respiratory therapist in 2013.
“I saw for myself what people endured from various illness and realized I wanted to help them treat them and to recover,” she said. “I wanted to become a respiratory therapist to help people who are feeling sick and have breathing problems.”
Studying and training in the field was not easy.
“I needed to take a year of prerequisites, which is an introduction to this career. Classes were hard and intense. There was a lot of biology, science and chemistry involved,” she continued, “I spent much of my time in the science lab and the writing center. There was so much writing involved I visited the writing center very often.”
Respiratory therapy can be a stressful career but can also be very fulfilling to a person that enjoys and takes pride in helping others.
“Being a respiratory therapist is bittersweet for me because on one hand there will always be people with breathing problems like asthma, but I will be able to help those people,” Finn said.
There are many options for a respiratory therapist.
“The career path to this job requires an associate degree in respiratory therapy or you could also move on to a bachelor’s degree. A respiratory therapist could choose to specialize in clinical care, pulmonary function testing or an asthma educator.” she said.
A global pandemic is something Finn never imagined would happen, nevertheless she learned how to adapt to it in March 2020.
“It was stressful and scary. At that time, we knew very little about the virus. As time went on, we needed to adapt to new rules, new protective equipment and protocols, so it really kept us on our toes.” she explained.
Finn gave advice for current and future students, “Take advantage of all available resources like the math and writing center. The writing center was very helpful for me, by proofreading my papers and the people there are very nice.”
COVID curveball: The pros and cons of learning online
Life changed abruptly for students and faculty members when the Covid-19 pandemic hit last March.
With cases rising around the country, this prompted the precautionary decision for all schools, from kindergarten to college, to go virtual. By mid-March, most school campuses were closed and had transitioned to online classes full time to help slow the spread of Covid-19.
“I felt uneasy since this was not something I experienced before,” said Callin MacDonald, 20, of Haverhill.
“I didn’t even get to say goodbye to my friends,” said UMass Lowell student Emily Henrick, 20, of Haverhill.
Online learning consists of regular zoom meetings and visits to online educational platforms such as Blackboard. It offers more flexibility than in-person courses. Students can wake up later than previously necessary to attend classes.
“I have the freedom to create my own schedule,” said MacDonald.
This newfound freedom has presented another challenge: staying focused. Attending class from home as opposed to in classrooms, opens students to an abundance of distractions that may make staying on task difficult.
As Henrick put it, “Discipline is required and so is motivation. Instead of a library or classroom, I’m in my bed with my phone next to me”.
UMass Amherst student, Carson Beviliacqua, 20, of Haverhill, was frustrated when schools first shifted online due to his inexperience with online courses.
“I found it hard to find motivation to work when I’m in the same place I relax in,” he said.
There is promise for a better semester this upcoming fall. The Covid-19 vaccine rollouts have begun, and new cases are decreasing.
“I hope to return to in person learning for the fall now that I’m vaccinated and so is my family, which makes me comfortable being around other students,” said by Henrick, expressing her optimism for the fall semester.
MacDonald seems indifferent, “Learning remotely isn’t ideal, but I’ve gotten used to it by now. I would rather learn online if going on campus puts my own health at risk.”
Meanwhile, Bevilacqua is “crossing his fingers” for a return to campus.
The transition to remote learning has affected everyone differently. Numerous people enjoy the extra flexibility, while others struggle to focus with virtual assignments.
The experience has shown most students and faculty members were not prepared for prolonged remote learning but have adapted very well since last spring.
