A photo finish at the NCAA track and field championships, a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Cuba for the baseball team and an historic men’s basketball season highlighted the Westfield State University 2013 spring semester.
Here’s a look at these and other noteworthy accomplishments by the Owls’ winter and spring sports teams.
Track and field
Sophomore Targie Gervais sprinted to a second place finish in the 60-meter dash at the NCAA Division III women’s indoor track and field national championships. Gervais ran a school record time of 7.61 seconds, 1/100ths of a second behind the national champion.
“Targie had a great start and was closing ground on the winner late, and it was a photo finish,” says Westfield State Coach Sean O’Brien.”If Targie had another two or three meters, she would have likely won.”
Gervais also earned All-America status as a freshman by placing seventh in the 100-meter dash at the NCAA outdoor championships. Her quest for additional All-America honors was stalled, however, as she was sidelined during the outdoor track season with an injury.
Gervais set two of the eight school records by the women’s track and field squad, which captured the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletics Conference (MASCAC) indoor championship. Freshman standout Naloti Palma shattered school records in the shot put and discus, won New England and ECAC shot put title and finished 11th at the NCAA outdoor nationals.
Senior co-captain Rachael Cardin was a team standout who also excelled academically. Cardin was Westfield State’s Senior Female Scholar Athlete of the Year, selected to the college sports information directors of America Capital One Academic All-District team and the MASCAC’s nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year.
Baseball
Prior to its annual spring break trip to Florida, the Westfield State baseball team spent three days in early March in Cuba, where it played exhibition games against the Havana Industriales in their 55,000 seat stadium. Westfield State dropped both games (5-3, 7-0) to the highly regarded professional team, but the scores did not matter as the Owls experienced Cuba’s passion for baseball and the island’s culture.
“I gained a whole new appreciation for the game of baseball,” said Mike Sullivan, a Westfield State sophomore pitcher.” The Cuban players told us they only make $15 per month playing baseball, but I didn’t see anyone without a smile on their face the whole time we were there.”
Athletics Director Richard Lenfest said, “The trip was amazing and the student athletes really appreciated the opportunity. We were very excited for our student athletes to experience this level of play. Our take-away is to be able to improve the caliber of our performance from playing teams in which baseball is so very important, as well as to provide an educational experience for our players that will last a lifetime.”
There were 17 freshmen and eight sophomores on the 32-player baseball roster, and the Owls improved as the season progressed. Westfield State advanced to the championship game of the MASCAC Tournament, losing to Salem State in the finals. The Owls were led by senior catcher/outfielder Andrew Medeiros, an All-New England and all-conference selection, and senior all-conference outfielder Kevin Greene.
Men’s basketball
The men’s basketball team compiled a sensational season, winning its first outright MASCAC regular season championship and placing second in the ECAC New England Division III championships. The Owls set a school record for victories during the 23-6 season, led by the talented senior duo of Matt Devine and Lee Vazquez.
Devine again achieved national recognition as he led the nation in blocked shots for the second straight year. Vazquez ranks third on Westfield State’s career-scoring charts with 1,575 points. The explosive 5-6 guard holds the school record for career steals and ranks second in three-point baskets made and free throw shooting percentage.
Vazquez and Devine received numerous post-season honors. They were selected the top two players in the MASCAC with Vazquez the unanimous selection as conference player of the year. Devine was an ECAC All-New England honoree and Vazquez was named to the National Basketball Coaches Association Northeast All-Region team. Both were selected to the d3hoops.com Northeast All-Star squad.
“They’re probably the best tandem in Westfield basketball history,” said veteran Head Coach Rich Sutter. “You couldn’t find two better guys, two better leaders. Their work ethic had a big impact on the younger players.”
Women’s basketball
The women’s basketball team posted a fine 19-11 record, participating in the MASCAC Tournament championship game and advancing to the semi-finals of the ECAC New England Tournament. Leading the Owls were sophomore all-conference selections Jen Ashton and Gabby Felix and MASCAC rookie of the year Keri Doldoorian.
Women’s swimming and diving
The women’s swimming and diving posted its 20th straight winning season under the guidance of veteran coach David Laing. The Owls placed 12th in New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association (NEISDA) championships led by sophomore Katie Sterpka and junior Kirsten LaMotte. Sterpka was the NEISDA and conference diver of the year in capturing the championships on the one- and three-meter boards. She also qualified for the NCAA Division III regionals.
Men’s golf
Westfield State’s men’s golf team captured its first-ever MASCAC championship with a one-stroke victory over perennial power Salem State at the Blackstone National Golf Course in Sutton. Coach Sutter led the Owls to two MASCAC titles this year as his men’s basketball team also claimed the conference crown. Juniors Joey Cooper, Tyler LaBonte and Rory Wilkowich, along with freshman Tyler Olson, all registered scores in the top 10 as the Owls edged Salem by a stroke and Worcester State by two strokes.
Ice hockey
The Westfield State ice hockey team compiled a 14-9-3 record; the victories are the most in a season since the sport was re-started five years ago. And the Owls were ranked nationally for the first time after opening the season with six straight victories. Talented sophomore TJ Powers was the leading scorer and an all-conference second-team selection.
Women’s lacrosse
The women’s lacrosse team posted an overall record of 11-5 and finished second in the conference, falling to Bridgewater State, 13-10, in the championship game. The Owls landed seven players on the all-conference team, including first-team selections Maura Stack and Mimi Khampaeng, a freshman goalie who earned team MVP honors.
Stack finished her four-year collegiate career with 208 points, the third-best total in the Westfield State women’s lacrosse program’s seven-year history.
