Liam MacKenzie – Student Reporter
North Andover, MA – Merrimack College is set to add another chapter to its storied athletic history. The Warriors will celebrate another group of individuals and a team whose accomplishments helped shape the college’s athletic tradition.
The Merrimack College athletic department announced its Hall of Fame Class of 2026 on Aug. 4, honoring four former student-athletes and one championship team. Charlie Bertrand ‘20, Juvaris Hayes ‘20 and the 2018 men’s lacrosse team will make up this year’s class.
The inductees will officially be honored during Homecoming, Reunion & Alumni Weekend on Friday, Sept. 25. They will also be recognized during Merrimack football’s home game against New Haven on Saturday, Sept. 26, before their names are added to the Hall of Fame wall inside the Volpe Athletic Complex.
Merrimack Athletic Director Joe Foley praised the class for representing the highest level of achievement in Warriors history. He highlighted their accomplishments, leadership and commitment to excellence as qualities that helped shape the department’s proud tradition.
Charlie Bertrand: A Lacrosse Superstar – Few players in Merrimack men’s lacrosse history made an impact quite like Charlie Bertrand. The 2020 graduate was a three-time USILA All-American, including two first-team selections, while helping the Warriors capture back-to-back NCAA Division II National Championships.
During his junior season, Bertrand produced 22 points across four NCAA Tournament games. He saved one of his best performances for the national championship game, recording seven points on four goals and three assists.
Bertrand finished that championship campaign leading the nation in both points per game and goals per game. He scored 62 goals and recorded 79 points while helping Merrimack win the NE10 Championship and its first national title in program history.
His individual honors were just as impressive. Bertrand earned the Lt. Raymond J. Enners Outstanding Player Award as the nation’s most valuable player and the Lt. Col. J.I. Turnbull Award as the country’s top attackman during his sophomore season.
Bertrand finished his Merrimack career with 274 points and 210 goals across 58 games. He remains one of the most accomplished players in program history.
After leaving Merrimack, Bertrand transferred to Virginia as a graduate student and won a Division I national championship in 2021. He later continued his career professionally in the Premier Lacrosse League and represented the United States at the 2023 World Lacrosse Championship.
Denia Davis-Stewart: Dominating the Paint – Denia Davis-Stewart established herself as one of the most dominant defensive players in Merrimack women’s basketball history. A four-year Warrior from 2016-20, Davis-Stewart earned Northeast Conference Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors during her senior season.
Her dominance around the basket was evident from the beginning of her Merrimack career. As a freshman, Davis-Stewart led the NE10 with 79 blocks and averaged 3.2 blocks per game, earning a spot on the conference’s All-Rookie Team.
She continued to develop into one of the nation’s premier rebounders and shot blockers. During her junior season, she recorded 16 double-doubles while leading the NE10 with 107 blocks and averaging 11.2 rebounds per game.
The numbers became even more impressive as a senior. Davis-Stewart led the country with 395 total rebounds and 13.6 rebounds per game while ranking third nationally with 121 blocks and 4.17 blocks per game.
She finished her Merrimack career as just the second player in program history to surpass 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Her production on both ends of the floor cemented her place among the program’s all-time greats.
Mikyla Grant-Mentis: Rewriting the Hockey Record Book – Mikyla Grant-Mentis left an unmistakable mark on Merrimack women’s hockey. A four-year Warrior from 2016-20, Grant-Mentis became only the second player in program history to reach 100 career points.
She finished with a program-record 117 points in 137 games. Grant-Mentis also recorded 56 goals and 61 assists, ranking second all-time in goals and first in assists in program history.
Her senior season was one of her finest. Grant-Mentis led Merrimack with 33 points and 20 goals, with her goal total ranking second in Hockey East and among the top 10 players nationally.
As a junior, she helped Merrimack produce one of the strongest seasons in program history. Grant-Mentis recorded 34 points and a team-high 22 assists while leading Hockey East in shorthanded goals.
That season also featured one of the rarest accomplishments in Division I women’s hockey. Grant-Mentis scored two shorthanded goals in a single game, becoming just the sixth player in NCAA Division I women’s hockey history to accomplish the feat.
Grant-Mentis continued making history after her Merrimack career. She became the first Black player to win the Premier Hockey Federation MVP award in 2021 and has continued her professional career in the PWHL.
Juvaris Hayes: A Warrior On and Off the Court – Juvaris Hayes was a difference-maker for Merrimack men’s basketball from the moment he stepped onto campus. The four-year starter finished his career as the NCAA’s all-time leader in steals with 457 while becoming Merrimack’s all-time leader in assists with 952.
Hayes finished his career with 1,951 points and 741 rebounds. He also held the program record for assists in a single season with 287 at the time of his graduation.
His defensive dominance earned him the Lefty Driesell Award as the nation’s top Division I defensive player during his senior season. Hayes also earned three NE10 First Team selections and led the country in steals per game during his sophomore, junior and senior seasons.
His senior campaign came as Merrimack transitioned to Division I. Hayes helped the Warriors capture the NEC regular-season championship while earning NEC Defensive Player of the Year honors.
His accomplishments extended beyond defense. Hayes averaged 13.9 points as a freshman, 17.8 as a sophomore and 19.3 as a junior before averaging 10.7 points during Merrimack’s first Division I season.
After playing professionally in Europe, Hayes returned to Merrimack and joined head coach Joe Gallo’s coaching staff. His return allowed him to continue contributing to the program that he helped elevate during his playing career.
Gallo recently reflected on Hayes’ lasting impact on Merrimack men’s basketball in a post celebrating his Hall of Fame selection. “We wouldn’t be where we are today, as a program, if it wasn’t for him,” Gallo said.
Hayes has since helped the Warriors capture two regular-season conference championships and reach two tournament finals as a member of the coaching staff. His impact on Merrimack therefore extends beyond his playing statistics, making his Hall of Fame selection a recognition of both his accomplishments and his lasting influence on the program.
2018 Men’s Lacrosse: A Championship Legacy – The final member of the 2026 class represents an entire team rather than an individual. The 2018 Merrimack men’s lacrosse team becomes only the second team inducted into the Merrimack Athletics Hall of Fame.
The 2018 Warriors finished the season with an 18-1 record, including a perfect 12-0 mark at home. Merrimack outscored its opponents 292-139 before capturing the NE10 Championship with postseason victories over Adelphi and St. Anselm.
The Warriors carried that momentum into the NCAA Tournament. Merrimack won three games by a combined score of 63-21 to advance to the national championship game.
Merrimack saved its biggest performance for the biggest stage. Playing at Gillette Stadium, the Warriors defeated Saint Leo 23-6 to capture the first NCAA Division II National Championship in program history.
The championship team featured several standout performers. Sean Black led the team with 98 points on 40 goals and 58 assists, while Christian Thomas recorded 80 points and Bertrand added 79.
The depth of the team was equally impressive. Eight players scored at least 10 goals, four players recorded 10 or more assists and goaltender Peter Brown won 16 of the 18 games he started.
The 2018 squad established a championship standard that Merrimack would carry into the following season. The Warriors captured their second consecutive Division II national championship in 2019, further cementing the 2018 team’s place in program history.
A Class That Shaped Merrimack Athletics – The 2026 Hall of Fame class represents more than individual statistics and championship banners. Each inductee played a significant role in shaping Merrimack Athletics during a transformative period for the college.
Bertrand, Davis-Stewart, Grant-Mentis and Haye all competed during an era that included Merrimack’s transition from Division II to Division I. Their accomplishments helped establish a foundation for the Warriors as the athletic department entered a new chapter.
The 2018 men’s lacrosse team represents one of the greatest championship achievements in Merrimack history. Its national title helped establish the Warriors as a national power and began a championship run that continued the following season.
Together, the five inductees embody the excellence, leadership and competitive success that Merrimack hopes to carry into the future. Their accomplishments will now have a permanent place in Merrimack history as members of the Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
