A trio of former Knights were inducted into the 2024 class on March 20. The three recipients were a cross-country standout, Larry Fowle, standout baseball player Colby Maiola and Sercan Fenerci a standout basketball player and a team CEO. The ceremony took place at the technology center. 

“We covered three different sports with three decorated athletes that span twenty years. We’re hoping more alumni will get involved back from the start in 1970s to now. We’ don’t know the whole history of the athletic program so we’re hoping more will come and share the past with us so we can grow the hall of fame that way as well,” said athletics director Dan Blair. 

Larry Fowell 

In Fowle’s Knights career he broke a school record back in 2001, a record that he still holds today. He is the only cross-country athlete to break a 27-minute run mark in 8,000 meters (about 4.97 mi) at the school. He was named NJCAA player of the week on October 21st, 2001, for his recording breaking performance. In his sophomore year Fowel finished third in The NJCAA northeast district meet. Under coach Dawn Caputo, he helped lead The Knights to the college’s highest ever finish at 10th place finish at the NJCAA tournament in San Antonio, TX. 

“I can still remember breaking the school record and her (Caputo) running over to give me a hug at the finish line” said Fowel. “Coach Caputo is just as deserving this honor as I am tonight”. Thank you for this induction from the bottom of my heart.” 

Sercan Fenerci 

For Fenerci, a Turkish Native, has made basketball his life spanning each level from playing, to coaching and currently team management. Sercan is the first international player to have joined The Knights basketball team. In his season with the Knights 2003-2004, he was named to a 21 all-region first team and ranked third in rebounding (13.1). He also overcame his struggles with the language barrier. 

“If it wasn’t for Sercan I don’t think we would have all the international players to play for Northern Essex. He opened the floodgates for the international players to come to Northern Essex and know what a special place it is. He is the epitome of what Northern Essex is, build from the ground up.” said Stratton 

After graduating from Northern Essex, he went to Angelo State University with a full athletics scholarship. After graduating from Angelo State, he joined the coaching ranks by becoming a volunteer assistant coach for one season at NECC. Then he became the head coach at Lamar Community College and as National Team Coach for the Turkish Basketball Federation. Sercan is now the CEO of and President of the Providence Pirates ABA Basketball Team. 

“I am so thankful, I appreciate “Dan’s (Blair) support and Larry and Colbey for being in the same class as you” said Sercan. He also thanked his aunt and uncle who directed him to Northern Essex. 

Colby Maiola 

In 2016, Maiola was named NJCAA player of the year as he helped lead the baseball team to their first national championship appearance. Under head coach Jeff Mejia in 2016 the two-time region 21 first team selection led the league in slugging percentage at (.932) and finished third in on base percentage with (.582). Mariola batted (.435) that season with 29 extra base hits. He continued his playing career at the University of Massachusetts Lowell for two years. 

“If I could I would have played all four years here.” said Maiola. “Being here helped me establish who I am and who I wanted to be. So, to be back here getting this honor means the world to me and to hear everyone else loving this place as well is truly incredible” added maiola.” 

Maiola recollected the moment he first learned about his induction into the NECC hall of fame 

“I’m sitting at my desk, my phone starts ringing, and coach Mejia pops up, I answered the phone, and he told me he wanted to be the first person to tell you are being inducted into the Northern Essex Hall of fame. All the joys from my two years playing here came rushing back the friendships all the experiences all at once rushing back at me.” Maiola also thanked his parents, and his sister Morgan, for the support and sacrifices they made for him. 

Mejia spoke highly of Maiola as a person as well as an athlete  

“He is a natural born leader. On the field, he was the national player of the year, so he was a gifted baseball player. In baseball there are ups and downs so he would bring the team together and lead our team to the 2016 national championship,” said Mejia about his former player. “Straight A student, graduated here with high honors here as well as Umass Lowell. 

This was Northern Essex’s fifth annual hall of fame induction, which started in 2019. As an annual event Nothern Essex is accepting nominations for athletes who meet the criteria and made major impacts on the athletics program. Submissions are accepted on the NECC athletics webpage all year. 

On April 7th, Men’s basketball head coach Darren Stratton was presented with the Guardians of the game champion. The honor came a year after Northern Essex finished with back-to-back region 21 finals victories. Coach Stratton received the award at the final four and NBAC (National association of coaches) convention in phoenix.  

Stratton was grateful for the recognition, thanking God, his family, the players, NECC Athletics staff and academic coaches. He cited them for their trust and support for his success. 

“This achievement could not have been accomplished without the overwhelming support of athletics from President Lane Glenn and Vice President Mike McCarthy, they continue to go the extra mile for not only our Men’s Basketball Team but for all our students here at NECC, said Stratton. “More Importantly, I would like to thank my wonderful wife Elizabeth Stratton and my family for the sacrifices they make daily, allowing me to do something I truly love. Lastly, I would like to thank my assistant coaches, managers and all my basketball players. They are the ones that truly deserve this award” Stratton added. 

Expectations were high after coming off the first NJCAA tournament in program history. Stratton’s team lived up to those expectations as They went 30-1 in the regular season, 32-2 overall and captured consecutive region 21 titles. They were the first team in the region to accomplish that feat since Springfield tech in 2003 and 2004. 

The Knights entered the NJCAA tournament in Herkimer, NY as the number two seeded team. They fell to Riverland community college 72-59. Although The Knights fell short of a national NJCAA championship crown, they were 2-0 in the consolation bracket and finished 5th for the second year in a row. 

This was Stratton’s twentieth season as The Knights head coach. During that span he accumulated a record of 320- 206. 

 Northern Essex baseball added to their win column with a double header sweep against Roxbury community college on March 30 at Trinity stadium. NECC (6-9) extended their win streak to three in a row. The Knights won by scores of 18-1 and 16-6, both were run rule shortened games. 

Game one 

Jayden Voelker of Coventry, RI who got the start for the Knights was electric striking out 15 Tigers. Voelker allowed one run on four walks over five innings of work and didn’t yield a hit. Roxbury’s lone run came in the fifth inning with a base loaded walk to force in a run. The Right hander’s performance earned high praise from Knights head coach Jeff Mejia. 

“All 15 outs were strikeouts I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it, he was lights out,” said Mejia. 

In the bottom of the fourth inning an injury scare occurred when a Knight collided with the Tigers first baseman Andrés Pitno. Pitino was on the ground for several minutes. “His head collided with the turf” explained Roxbury head coach Justin Carey to a concerted spectator “we will keep you (the spectator) updated” added Carey. 

The offense provided all NECC would need to win. An explosive second inning featured 11 runs on six hits and a walk. The Knights pushed seven more runs across between the third and fourth inning thanks to extra bases hits by Michael Fabiano of Reading, MA and Ryan Brown of Haverhill, MA for the 18-1 victory. 

Game two 

The second match was closer as starter Harrison Cooley of Barrington, RI was charged with six runs, five earned in 2.1 innings. Cooley struggled with his command allowing four hits, one walk and three hits batsman. 

“It wasn’t my day” Cooley said. 

“He didn’t get to warm up the way he typically does, and it certainly showed but he did a good enough job to keep us in the game” Mejia said about Cooley’s rough outing. “In those circumstances all you want to do is be close so you could comeback.” 

Mejia decided to use his bullpen with one out in the third inning, he turned to reliever Mike Gisener of Wilmington, MA. Geissler was brought in with runners on the corners and one out up 6-2. The right hander allowed a walk to load the bases. Then followed a Tiger hit an RBI double to left field to put Roxbury within two 6-4. A bases loaded walk forced in a run, 6-5. A sacrifice fly to right field tied the score at six. Geissler limited the damage to four runs. The score was now tied at six apiece. 

NECC ‘s bats picked up a struggling pitching staff tagging The Tigers with 16 runs on 16 hits including a two-run shot over centerfield by Chris Bear of Boston and a home run from Thomas Fratto of Reading, MA. 

“I liked that we came back, every time they threw up a run we responded with at least one run. Explained Mejia. “Our guys kept battling all their other arms and they were their better arms than the last game” 

In the top of the fifth inning The Knights once again went to their bullpen, this time Jeremy Lopez of Amesbury, MA got the call. Lopez fared much better, tossing a clean fifth inning and worked around one walk for the 16-6 win.  

Bear was a highlight on offense for the day going 6-for-7 (.857) with eight RBIs, eight extra base hits and a walk. 

“Chris bear had a great series and he’s our leader,” said Mejia. 

Fratto and Eric Wainwright of Falmouth, MA Both had a sold day at the plate collecting a combined eight RBIs on five hits and a home run from Fratto.