Northern Essex Community College to Induct Rowinski, 2000-2001 Women’s Basketball Team into Hall of Fame

Northern Essex Community College’s 2000-2001 Women’s Basketball Team. (Courtesy photograph.)

Basketball coach Mike Rowinski. (Courtesy photograph.)

Northern Essex Community College’s 2000-2001 Women’s Basketball Team and former Haverhill men’s basketball coach Mike Rowinski are to be inducted into the college’s Athletics Hall of Fame in March.

One of the most accomplished women’s teams in the college’s history, the 2000-2001 women’s basketball team captured the Region 21 championship and advanced to the national semi-finals with an overall record of 24-10, including a national quarterfinal victory over top seeded Fulton-Montgomery. Coached by Andrew Pittington the team was led by Glenda Cancel, Jessica Hamilton and the Hamblet sisters Lyndsey and Tricia who all averaged double figures in points per game throughout the season. Cancel was named the Region 21 Tournament MVP and was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Hamilton and Tricia Hamblet following the team’s 76-47 victory over Springfield Tech in the regional final.

A Haverhill High alum and 1981 graduate of the college with a degree in criminal justice and men’s basketball student-athlete, Rowinski went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from St. Ambrose University in Iowa. He amassed a record of 227-70 in 13 seasons serving as the men’s basketball coach, while also doubling as the college’s baseball coach in the spring season. His reach extended far beyond the campus as he contributed to various youth and high school programs in the region. Following his time at Northern Essex, Rowinski moved to Michigan where he captured a state baseball championship at Harper Woods High School. He would return to the region and coach the Georgetown High boys’ basketball program for eight seasons prior to his passing where he recorded a 95-79 record. Today, four area high schools—Georgetown, Newburyport, Amesbury and Triton—remember Rowinski’s legacy each December with the Rowinski Boys’ Basketball Tournament.

The induction ceremony is the second since the creation of the Hall of Fame last year and takes place Tuesday March 24, at 6 p.m., in the Technology Center on the Haverhill campus. The event is open to the public and tickets may be purchased in advance for $30 and are available until March 20. Registration and tickets are available online at https://www.neccknights.com/Hall_of_Fame/HOF_Registration.

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