Haverhill, MA (July 22, 2021) – A pair of 2021 Northern Essex Community College graduates have been recognized by the National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) as Honorable Mention honorees to the Scholar-Athlete Team for 2021. Recognized were Dylan Duval (Middleton) and Tiary Gonzlaez (Haverhill) of the Knights baseball and volleyball programs.
To be eligible for the award, nominees must meet the following criteria: minimum 3.6 GPA on a 4.0 scale, with a minimum of 36 semester hours or 45 quarter hours with a minimum of 24 semester/36 quarter hours at the nominating institution; participation in a minimum of one complete season of varsity competition at the nominating institution; outstanding athletics success; and outstanding qualities of leadership and citizenship.
Duval, a captain of the Knights baseball program that completed a 22-12 season and advanced to the final round of the North Atlantic District tournament in May played in 33 of the Knights 34 games this season. He batted .342 with three home runs, 15 RBI's and 33 runs scored primarily out of the lead off position. In the classroom, he graduated with a 3.67 GPA in Liberal Arts and was a 2019-20 NJCAA All-Academic selection. He will forego the opportunity to continue his collegiate baseball career and has enrolled at Montana State University where he is part of the Army ROTC program.
Gonzalez, who has completed her degree requirements in the Business Transfer program with a perfect 4.0 GPA will be moving on to continue her academic career at Northeastern University. She was also a national semi-finalist for the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. With a COVID shorted volleyball season this past year, she played in 23 career matches on the volleyball court primarily from the setter position.
Northern Essex Community College will make a full return to competition this academic year with volleyball, soccer and cross-country teams kicking off the fall seasons. The Department of Athletics will officially kick off the 2021-22 year on Tuesday August 10th with the inaugural Athletics BBQ Knight.
Northern Essex Community College competes as a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and sponsors thirteen varsity intercollegiate sports including baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's golf, softball, men's soccer, women's volleyball, men's and women's cross country and men's and women's track and field and Esports. For more information on Northern Essex Community College Athletics please visit the official website of Northern Essex Athletics (www.neccknights.com).