Community Support Shines at Middlesex College’s Pink Night
The annual event promotes cancer awareness and rallies around those who have been affected in our community.
Middlesex College hosted its annual Pink Night for the men and women’s basketball games February 3 against Essex County College.
The event, which promotes cancer awareness and asks attendees to wear pink attire, had a special meaning for Colts freshman basketball standout Kendall Dixon, whose father James is fighting the disease. Ahead of the games, a special ceremony was held in tribute to Mr. Dixon, who was unable to attend, and the games were played in his honor.
“Pink Night has become a nice tradition at Middlesex College. I have seen it grow in the past few years and I know families have been touched by the outpouring of support,” said Middlesex College Athletic Director Rocco Constantino. “It’s great to see our administration come out and send the message to Kendall that she has a community who is here to support her in any way we can.”
Dixon, of Monmouth Junction, played at South Brunswick High School. She leads the Colts with 14 points a game and ranks in the top 15 in the nation in three-pointers made.
“She’s also worked at our soccer matches as a ball runner on the sidelines,” Constantino said. “She’s a great person. We appreciate all she has done.”
In the first game, the women’s basketball team lost a close game to Essex County College by a score of 67-62. In the second game, the men’s basketball team topped Essex County College 105-93. The men’s team remains in first place in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 19 standings with two weeks left in the regular season, while the women’s team is in fifth place out of 10 teams in NJCAA Region 19 Division 2.
Pink Night was also a homecoming of sorts for both basketball teams, as the Colts gym renovation had the teams playing the bulk of their games on the road. The facility, with a capacity of just under 4,000, has now been upgraded with a new floor, new bleachers, new sideline chairs, and new curtain to subdivide the space to allow for more than one team to practice.
“It looks phenomenal,” Constantino said. “I think it’s a major step in being able to extend the reach of Middlesex College Athletics. Now that we are a Division II school and have scholarships to offer, we have a facility to match. It’s something we can show recruits as a place they can play and be proud.”
