Education

Northern Essex Coach Stratton, Staff Receive Recognition for Third Consecutive Championship Win

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Northern Essex Community College men’s basketball coach Darren Stratton and his staff were recognized Sunday morning at the National Association of Basketball Coaches Champions Breakfast at the NCAA Division I Final Four. The breakfast ceremony recognized Stratton’s achievement of winning a third consecutive NJCAA Region 21 Championship as he was presented a “Champion of the Game” plaque by CBS Sports broadcaster Zach Gelb and former NCAA Division I head coach Phil Martelli Sr.

Stratton and the Knights basketball team became only the second team in the history of Region 21 to win three straight championship and the first to achieve the feat in 37 year when Mattatuck accomplished the threepeat from 1986-88. The Region 21 championship game victory on March 2 was the 350th win of his career. Over the last three season Stratton has accumulated a 94-8 record and currently stands at 351-210 overall in his 23 seasons leading the NECC program. Stratton will kick off season number 24 on November 1st at the Brookdale (N.J.) Basketball Classic.

Haverhill

Red Sox ‘Hats Off to Heroes’ Honors Haverhill’s Jarvis on Opening Day

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Haverhill’s Donald R. Jarvis, injured in Afghanistan while serving with the U.S. Army, was the recipient of the Red Sox’s “Hats Off to Heroes” program on opening day Friday. Jarvis, who became Billerica’s director of veterans services in 2022, was nominated by a Billerica veteran who thanked Jarvis for helping with benefits. Jarvis wore a Pedro Martínez number 45 shirt Friday at Fenway Park as an announcer over the loudspeaker cited his heroism. “In Afghanistan, his vehicle was struck by a 250-pound explosive that put him in Fort Belvoir Community Hospital for six months. For his bravery, he received the Combat Action Badge, the Army Commendation Medal and the Good Conduct Medal, and for his injuries, he was awarded the Purple Heart,” the announcer said in part.

Education

Northern Essex Knights Defeat Dallas College Mountain View in Consolation Bracket

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The Northern Essex Community College Men’s Basketball team put on a scoring clinic in the second half to come from behind to defeat Dallas College Mountain View Thursday in the National Junior College Athletic Association DIII Championship tournament consolation bracket. The Knights finished their season on a high note with a 107-99 win, outscoring the Lions 65-44 in the second half after trailing 55-42 at halftime. Northern Essex freshman Xavier Rivera scored 19 of his game-high 25 points in the second half, hitting nine of 10 shots from the field. Rivera was 11 of 14 overall from the field. Haverhill’s Alejandro Delgado added eight of his 19 points in the half.

Education

Northern Essex Community College Men’s Basketball Loses to Dallas in First Tournament Game

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Editor’s Note: Rich Rosa of Haverhill is a graduate student at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, majoring in broadcast and digital journalism. He is the son of Haverhill School Committee member Richard J. and Anne Marie Rosa. The eighth-seed Northern Essex Community College men’s basketball team lost its first game of the 2025 NJCAA Division III men’s basketball tournament 73-68 to ninth-seed Dallas Richland on Wednesday, Mar. 12. The Knights returned to the NJCAA tournament for the third straight year.

Haverhill

Northern Essex Community College Coach Stratton JUCO Coach of the Week

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Northern Essex Community College men’s basketball Coach Darren Stratton was named HoopDirt.com’s JUCO Coach of the Week for last week. This marks the third consecutive year in which Stratton picked up the weekly award during the course of the season presented by Just Play Solutions. He will now be eligible of consideration for national coach of the year honors. Stratton led the Knights to a pair of home victories last week over #9 nationally ranked Quincy College and UConn Avery Point, which at the time ran the teams win streak to 21 games and 46 straight home court victories going back over the last three seasons. The Knights have two games remaining in the regular season when they travel to Springfield Tech and Quinsigamond this week and currently sit tied atop the top of the Region 21 standings.

Haverhill

Haverhill Nonprofits Benefit from Maria’s Charity Event Featuring Former NFL Players

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Several area nonprofits will receive sizeable infusions of cash for the new year after a charity event Sunday with former Patriot’s stars yielded more than $17,000 in proceeds. Hall of Famer and former Patriots Cornerback Ty Law and former Tight End and 2001 Superbowl champion Jermaine Wiggins were on hand Sunday at Maria’s Restaurant in downtown Haverhill to support the Boys and Girls of Greater Haverhill, Haverhill Exchange and Lions Clubs as well as Pentucket Kiwanis. Maria’s Issa Zefta told WHAV how the event came together. “I’ve been at so many different events and I met Ty Law and Jermaine Wiggins, and it was a major hit for a lot of the organizations that do fundraisers. So, we thought we’d bring them to Haverhill and help the community,” Zefta said.

Region

37th Annual Feaster Five Road Race Set for Thanksgiving Day in Andover

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No matter the weather, the 37th Annual Feaster Five Road Race is set for Thanksgiving Day. More than 7,000 runners and walkers will begin the race route, beginning at 8 a. m., at Shawsheen Square, 339 N. Main Street, Andover. It finishes in Brickstone Square. Following tradition, all runners receive a Table Talk Apple Pie at the finish line. Proceeds from the race, presented by Schneider Electric, support Merrimack Valley Striders High School Scholarship Fund, Bellesini Academy, Merrimack Valley YMCA and the Sidney Mae Olson Rainbow Fund.

Education

Podcast: Hunking Student Becomes National Champion in MLB’s Pitch, Hit and Run Contest

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Updated: On Sunday, Oct. 27, Mollie MacIntosh became the National Champion in Major League Baseball’s Pitch, Hit & Run competition when she defeated the other regional winners in the 7- to 8-year-old age bracket. The National Championship was held in Los Angeles, the day after Game 2 of the World Series between the Dodgers and Yankees. Haverhill has been home to a few major league baseball players, most recently Carlos Pena, and the late Mike Ryan, and there is another talented ball player in the wings. It’s 8-year-old Mollie MacIntosh, a third grader at the Caleb Dustin Hunking School.