All posts by Ollie Longo, Correspondent

Opinion

Virus delivers an unfair blow to NECC students

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President Donald Trump and the United States Federal Government forgot about college students when they came up with the CARES Act.
The $2 trillion aid package made multiple earmarked billions for giant institutions and small businesses. It granted adults an instant $1200 plus $500 for each of their dependent children. Plus, those making upwards of $800 per week through unemployment claims picked up an extra $600 per week from the federal government to help in the COVID-19 crisis.   
The one group which received no relief? Any college student who remains a dependent of someone else, receives nothing, no aid, no help, nothing. The stimulus package overlooks many Northern Essex Community College students and has certainly had a ripple effect in these trying times.  
“I feel like we are being overlooked and it is not fair,” freshman Jose Baez said. “The way I look at it, we need money as much as anyone does, more than a lot of people. How could they forget us?”  (Editor’s Note: There are CARES funds available to colleges. NECC has accessed some funds and says they will work to distribute some to students.)
Coronavirus’ effects on college students has been more than just a switch from learning in the classroom to classes online. For those with a part-time jobs, it has produced quite the strain.  
Others saw their normally safe, quiet jobs in fast food or at a store suddenly become dangerous.  
“I work at Market Basket,” freshman Todd Randall said. “This has been crazy to go in and work. I’m lucky to have a job, and I know that. And Market Basket has been great trying to protect us. But it’s still a little scary. I need the job, so I just go to work and do all I can to be safe and smart, you know all the things they’ve been telling us to do.”  
Students with jobs in food service have taken on an extra strain as takeout and deliveries have become so important to some families during these times. But that comes with public interaction, even in these times of a so-called “surge” according to Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker. Precautions are taken with gloves, masks and extra care, but uncertainty remains. 
That is only one type of uncertainty that NECC students must and will have to continue to deal with. “What happens when the semester ends?” asked sophomore Xavier Rhodes of Lawrence. “I thought I had a summer job all lined up. Now that’s up in the air. If I don’t make money this summer, I’m not sure how I am going to pay for school.” 
With so many people unemployed due to the pandemic, work could be hard to find for college students. The governor has not spoken of exactly when the area would open, meaning getting back to business. Simply put, this virus may not physically have a huge impact on students. Still, the emotional, financial and mental impact has been and could continue to be vicious. 
Sports

Baseball team looks to the future

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Coronavirus changed life for college students from coast to coast this spring. At Northern Essex Community College, it silenced the national power baseball team, coached by Jeff Mejia, taking a season of opportunity away as the coach was ready to add his son, also named Jeff to the Knights baseball roster.  This season, the home fields on Lake Kenoza will remain dormant.
  
The setback has not stopped Mejia from working hard to keep the run of trips to NJCAA Nationals intact, even with the off year. He recently announced three key recruits being added to his already expected-to-be loaded roster.  
The first to commit was Manchester Central High School’s slick Kevin Rodriguez. An all-state shortstop, who hit .375 for Central a year ago and swings a left-handed bat. He has an above-average arm according to Prep Baseball Report of New England.
“Proud to announce my commitment,” said Rodriguez. “It’s a big pickup for the Knights,” said coach Mejia via Twitter. 
 The Knights again went over the border for another key recruit, Kameron Levesque. He is an outfielder from Pinkerton Academy of Derry, who hit .302 as a junior. Levesque is a multi-sport talent who also plays hockey. He expects to add depth in a crowded, talented outfield group.  “Welcome to the family,” coach Mejia told Levesque.  
The ultimate gem of the class could be Saugus pitcher Todd Tringale, who graduated high school in 2019. A 6-foot right-hander, Tringale originally attended UMass Amherst as a top recruit. He spent last summer in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League, an honor for only the premier incoming college freshmen. Pitching mainly out of the bullpen for the North Shore Navigators, who play in Lynn, Tringale was 1-0 with a 3.68 ERA. In his only playoff appearance, he went four shutout innings in a loss to the Bristol, Conn. Blues. “I’m excited to see where this journey takes me and what the final outcome will be,” said Tringale.  
Mejia and the Knights now hope to be back to work as soon as September, barring any coronavirus flareups, with the all-important fall training season. It is clearly a huge time for NECC baseball, which has won NJCAA Division III Region 21 in seven of the last eight seasons. The highlight of highlights being in 2018 when the Knights also took the District F Championship.  
  
Sports

Basketball fans, players welcome Stratton back to NECC

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Darren Stratton’s workload has picked up again, and he would have it no other way. Epic struggles to clear his good name in court and restore his reputation over the past nearly five years have landed Stratton, a Haverhill resident, where he once was and ultimately, where he wants to be.

Stratton was named head coach for the men’s basketball team at Northern Essex Community College, a position he previously held from 1999-2015.

“This is a wonderful homecoming for me and my family,” Stratton told David Dyer of The Eagle-Tribune newspaper. “I’m extremely excited and I think we can get things headed in the right direction.”

Stratton replaces Joseph Tardif, the head coach at NECC over the past three seasons. Tardif replaced Stratton after the latter was indicted on illegal gambling charges. Those charges were later dropped. After losing only two seasons out of 17 and over 200 wins amassed with the Knights in that time, Stratton was replaced.

Since then, the men’s program at NECC has struggled greatly. In the past three seasons, NECC was 19-57, including a 5-20 campaign in the 2019-2020 season.

Coach Stratton has been an assistant under coach Tardif at NECC over the past two seasons. “Coach Stratton is one of the top basketball minds in the region, but that’s not the only reason he fits so well at Northern Essex,” said Rivals Basketball AAU Director Michael Trovato. “He cares about his kids. They are like his family. He fights for them, and he will do anything he can to help them succeed, first and foremost on the court, but also in life.”

The NECC team is only part of the Stratton equation though. He also helps mentor young players and coach them in his Warrior AAU program.
“Coach Stratton is a great guy,” said Boxford, Mass., 8th grader Chris McCarthy. “I wouldn’t want to play AAU for anyone else.”

Finding players who bring excitement and energy to the NECC program is priority number one for Stratton. The recruiting period started in mid-March as athletes finished up their high school careers and some searched for places to go and continue playing while receiving an education. Stratton will assume full time duties as he takes over the program in the fall.

Stratton is a Haverhill High School graduate, who once played at Northern Essex Community College for the late legendary coach, Mike Rowinski. His teams play hard man-to-man defense and are generally fun to watch, running athletically up and down the court.