Charlotte, NC (July 24, 2025) – Hard work inside and outside of the classroom is paying off for a record number of Northern Essex Community College student-athletes. The National Junior College Athletic Association has named 16 student-athletes to All-Academic teams, which is a new high-water mark for the program, while both the women’s basketball and baseball teams were recognized for their team GPAs of 3.31 and 3.08, respectively.

Juliet Sellers was named to the NJCAA First Academic Team with a perfect 4.0 GPA

The 16 selections ranked best among all NJCAA Region 21 institutions.

Individuals are honored for achieving a grade point average of 3.6 or higher for the academic year while completing a minimum of 24 credits. Teams are recognized for collective GPAs of 3.0 or higher. Individuals with GPAs between 3.6 and 3.799 were selected as Third Team All-Academic, 3.8-3.999 Second Team All-Academic, and those who achieve a perfect 4.0 are recognized on the First Team.

“Complimenting an extremely successful year on the fields, courts, and track, I’m even more proud of the accomplishments of our student-athletes in the classroom and the outstanding efforts of the college’s Academic Coaching staff, commented NECC Director of Athletics Dan Blair.

Juliet Sellers (Andover) of the women’s track and field team was the Knights’ lone selection among the First Team, while six individuals were recognized with second team honors.

Earning second team honors were a pair of the baseball players from the Knights World Series team in Michael Fabiano (Reading) and Jesse Yngber (Miami, FL), Edwin SamMbaka (Paris, FR) of the region championship men’s soccer team and a track and field national qualifier, volleyball’s Cherly BritoRosario (Lawrence), Rebecca Heathman (Billerica) of the women’s basketball team and Alp Gyler (Istanbul, TR) of the championship men’s basketball team.

Earning third team recognition were men’s basketball’s Victor Metiver (Lawrence) and Derick Twum (Lowell), men’s soccer Lucas Cantilli (Lowell), Angel Lopez (Lawrence), and Nikos Kakavitsas (Athens, GR), women’s basketball’s Morales (Dracut) and Rosie Ferrera (Methuen) and baseball’s Jake Yngber (Miami, FL) and Enger Paulino (Dudley).

The 16 selections bring the Knights’ all-time total of NJCAA All-Academic selections to 90.