Seven to be Inducted Next Month into Haverhill High School Hall of Fame; Award for Murphys

Seven Haverhill High School athletes from 1970 to 1996 are scheduled to be inducted into the school’s 2023 Athletics Hall of Fame next month. Haverhill High School Athletic Director Thomas E. O’Brien said Wednesday inductees are Rick Brown,’75, football and track; Samantha Good, ’96, volleyball, basketball and softball; Sara Jewett Hopkins, ’96, basketball and softball; Marc Spencer, ’91, golf; Paul St. Onge, ’70, football, wrestling and track; Amy Veilleux Simmons, ’94, volleyball and basketball; and Steve Wholley, ’74, football, indoor track and baseball. In addition, a Brown & Gold Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Mary and Ted Murphy for their longtime support of Haverhill athletics. The Haverhill High School Hall of Fame was established in 2017 to honor former students, coaches and administrators who excelled in the field of athletics while attending Haverhill High and for their accomplishments after high school.

Haverhill YMCA’s North Shore Elite Cheer Team Brings Back Medals, Prizes

North Shore Elite, Haverhill YMCA’s Cheer Team came back this weekend from National Championships in Orlando, Fla., with bronze and silver medals, among other prizes. Among the level participating were Venom, Senior 3, winning a Bronze medal; Queen Bees Youth 2.1, taking Silver; Honey, Senior 2, winning sixth place; and Sassy Stingers, Mini 1, coming in 10th out of 17. YMCA Regional Executive Director Tracy Fuller said participation in the tournament would not have been possible without the help of Covanta Haverhill and the company’s Mark Van Weelden. “One of our teams was a silver finalist this weekend going to Nationals, and to have that support, to have some of our athletes for our Cheer Team to be able to perform on a national stage this weekend, in Florida, due to his generosity, and Covanta’s generosity, is just fantastic,” she said. North Shore Elite Cheerleading in Haverhill is a full- and half-year competitive performance recreation cheerleading program.

Haverhill YMCA’s Cheer Team Seeks Support As It Competes This Weekend in Orlando

North Shore Elite, Haverhill YMCA’s Cheer Team, is sending four teams to next weekend’s 2023 National Championships in Orlando, Fla. The North Shore Elite Performance Recreational Cheer Team competitors are Sassy Stingers, Queen Bees, Honey and Venom and compete starting this Friday. A grant from Covanta is helping to defray the cost of competition fees. “On behalf of our cheer team at the Haverhill YMCA, I am so grateful for business leaders like Mark Van Weelden and Covanta who are so willing to make sure every young athlete has an opportunity to reach their fullest potential,” said Haverhill YMCA Regional Director Tracy Fuller. She said donations are need to cover team costs, including events and gear.

Haverhill City Council Lauds HHS Wrestling Team After Fifth Place Win in New England Championships

The Haverhill High School Wrestling team, along with coach Tim Lawlor, received praise and recognition from the Haverhill City Council Tuesday following their recent fifth place win in the New England Championships. Council President Timothy J. Jordan introduced the coach and his team, praising their success this year as well as for the previous ten years.  Lawlor began by praising his two team captains, Brent Nicolosi and Cale Wood Jr.

“Cale is a two-time sectional place winner and Brent is a state champion and a two-time New England place winner and, after this weekend, he’s also now a two-time All American as he took third place in the country this past weekend,” he said. The coach also took the opportunity to introduce team members Shea Morris, a freshman who placed third in the All State Championships this year, and Matthew Harrold, also a freshman and a division one state champion who took fifth place in the country this past weekend. In congratulating the team on their success, Jordan presented them with a citation from the Council.

‘Hill Thrill’ Road Race, Honoring Michelle Benedetti, Takes Place Sunday; Benefits Scholarships

The second Annual Michelle Benedetti Memorial run and walk—this year called the “Hill Thrill Road Race”—takes place Sunday morning. Benefitting four yearly scholarships for Haverhill High School students, the 5k run and 5k walk are this year joined by a second 10-mile course as well. There will be T-shirts and a special race medallion from Ashworth Awards for all participants. An afterparty at Maria’s Restaurant, 81 Essex St., Haverhill, also returns. The Hill Thrill, as in “HaverHILL” offers the 5k route for seasoned runners, avid walkers or anyone in between.

City Council Honors Haverhill High Boys Swim and Dive Team for Championship Win

Records are made to be broken and last week the Haverhill City Council honored the Haverhill High School Boys Swim and Dive Team and their coach for doing just that. The team swam their way to a Merrimack Valley Conference Championship back in January, their first time doing so in 43 years. Dan Tanguay, a math teacher at Haverhill High and the team’s head coach explained. “We brought back 12 core swimmers this year. We had some very, very promising newcomers.

New Haverhill High Football Head Coach Next to Climb to Top of ‘Pike’s Peak’

“Pike’s Peak” just keeps getting taller. Pike’s Peak is the name still emblazoned above the broadcast box at Haverhill Stadium, commemorating longtime WHAV play-by-play announcer William C. “Bill” Pike who died in 2002. It could be added it also remembers Pike’s son, the late Robert A. “Bob” Pike, who was head coach at Haverhill High School football for 14 years. Now, it may give added inspiration to grandson Robert William “Rob” Pike, who was named Wednesday as the next football head coach at Haverhill High School. “Growing up in Haverhill, I revered Hillies Football, to be the head coach would be an honor.

Northern Essex Coach Stratton Picks Up 275th Career Win After Saturday Victory

Northern Essex Community College head men’s basketball coach Darren Stratton picked up the 275th win of his career while leading the #5 nationally ranked Knights to their program record tying 14th straight win Saturday afternoon as they defeated Bristol Community College by an 88-75 final score. With the win, Northern Essex improves to 18-1 on the season and 13-0 in conference play. It marks the third time in program history the college has reached 14 consecutive wins including most recently as last season. In a first half that had no flow as the officials called 34 first half fouls, Northern Essex took a 40-38 lead to the locker room led by Darlin Santiago’s 11 first half points. The Knights opened things up a bit in the second half and opened the lead by as many as 18 points.