Haverhill, MA (June 18, 2026) — For the fourth straight year, the Northern Essex Community College athletic program has climbed higher in the final standings of the NATYCAA Ron Case Cup presented by Daktronics, finishing 12th overall in the non-scholarship division.
Since 2004, the Ron Case Cup has recognized excellence in two-year college athletics based on championship competition. The Knights’ 12th-place finish marks the highest finish ever by a community or junior college in New England in the 23 years the cup has been awarded.
“The 2025-26 athletic seasons for the Knights were truly rewarding and showed the tireless efforts of our student-athletes and coaches, along with the continued success and growth of the entire athletic program. I’d like to thank the college’s administration for their continued support of the program,” said NECC Athletic Director Dan Blair.
In each of the previous three years, NECC has finished higher than the year before, finishing 18th in 2025, 23rd in 2024 and 30th in 2023.
In the 2025-26 academic year, the Knights scored a program-best 54 points, highlighted by the men’s basketball team capturing the school’s first-ever national championship in March. NECC also picked up cup points in baseball (4th place), men’s soccer (5th place) and women’s track and field (19th place).
RCSJ-Gloucester won the trophy for the third consecutive year, which was awarded at the annual NACDA Convention at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas.
To learn more about athletics at Northern Essex, visit the webpage or contact Athletics Director Dan Blair.
