Westfield State won the Smith Cup Trophy - emblematic of the top program
in the Mass. State Conference - for the second straight year in 2008. The
Owls narrowly missed earning their third straight Smith Cup in 2009.
From left to righ are: athletics director Dick Lenfest, track and field star
Marlee Berg, football quarterback Dan Cohen, and college president Evan Dobelle.
Westfield State takes pride in its athletics as well as academics, earning high marks each year in the Massachusetts State Conference. In addition, Westfield State's athletes and teams have made the grade with their quality performances regionally and nationally.
Westfield State now offers 21 sports in its broad based varsity athletics program, with the addition of men's ice hockey, men's golf, and women's golf for the 2008-09 academic year.
Westfield State's most successful varsity sports during the past two and a half decades have been men's track and field and cross country. The teams have produced 38 All Americans and 148 national qualifiers. The Owls have run away from the Mass. State conference competition annually, claiming 26 track and field championships in the past 27 years, and 19 of the past 27 cross country crowns. In addition, the Owls captured 11 consecutive New England Alliance outdoor track and field championships from 1998-2008.
The women's cross country and track and field programs are striving to reach the same level of prominence. They do have three individuals who have claimed national championships. In conference competition, the cross country squad has captured 10 championships in the past 13 seasons, while the track and field team has won 12 straight conference titles. In 2009 the Owls had two All-Americans: Senior Marlee Berg won the NCAA indoor high jump championship and junior Kerry Arouca placed third in the 3,000 meter steeplechase national finals.
One of the more popular sports at Westfield State is men's soccer, which has a long tradition of excellence and plays one of the toughest schedules in New England. Recently, the men's soccer program captured the conference tournament championship in 2006 and qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in six years. In 2001 the men's soccer team placed second in the ECAC postseason tournament.
Increasing in popularity are women's soccer, women's volleyball and field hockey. Head coaches Todd Ditmar (soccer), Fred Glanville (volleyball), and Heather Cabral (field hockey) are highly capable team leaders. Volleyball continues its climb as a highly respected program, the team made history in 2007 by defeating perennial power Bridgewater State to win the conference regular season championship for the first time in 20 years. In addition, the volleyball team shared the MASCAC crown with Bridgewater in 2008 and has placed second in the conference seven times in the past decade. The field hockey team has won seven of the past 14 conference championships. The women's soccer program earned its first NCAA tournament berth in the fall of 2008, posting a 15-5 record and capturing the MASCAC title.
Westfield State football has gained recognition as a competitive member of the New England Football Conference, the largest Division III league in the nation with 16 teams. The program has a longstanding history of stability under the direction of 20th-year coach Steve Marino, and in 2001 the Owls posted their best season ever. Westfield went 10-0 during the regular season, including a 12-0 victory over Nichols College in the New England Football Conference championship game. The Owls qualified for their first NCAA Tournament, losing to Western Connecticut, 8-7. The Owls continued their success in 2002, posting an 8-3 record and participating in the NEFC and ECAC championship games, and won their third straight Bogan Division title in 2003 while compiling a 7-3 overall record. And in 2007, the football squad won its fourth Mass. State Conference championship.
Indoor track and field, men's ice hockey, swimming and men's and women's basketball are Westfield State's winter sports. Each weekend the men's and women's track and field teams participate in the best indoor meets throughout New England. Swimming and diving coach Dave Laing has led his team to 16 consecutive winning seasons and a 115-41-1 record during the past 16 years. In 2007 Westfield posted its best record (9-1) in school history, followed by an 8-2 mark in 2008. The ice hockey team returned to varsity status after a 20-year hiatus and made an immediate impact with an 11-9-4 record while qualifying for the conference postseason tournament.
Westfield State's men's and women's basketball teams rank near the top annually in conference and regional play. The women's basketball team has been highly successful, compiling a school-record seven consecutive 20-win seasons and postseason appearances from 1991-1998. The Owls are now coached by Andrea Bertini, who was a standout player at Westfield State from 1992-1996. In 2009 Bertini guided the Owls to a program-best 22-5 record, the conference championship, and an NCAA Tournament berth. 12th-year men's coach Rich Sutter led the Owls to the an 18-8 record in 2006 as they captured their first conference regular season championship in 21 years. In 2007 the Owls advanced to the conference postseason tournament championship game for the first time in 14 seasons. Westfield returned to the conference tournament championship game in 2008 when it compiled an 19-9 overall record and posted the second most victories in school history. And in 2009 Westfield posted an 18-10 record to earn an ECAC Tournament bid.
Men's and women's outdoor track and field, baseball, softball, and women's lacrosse keep Westfield State in the news during the final months of the spring semester. The softball team under the guidance of former Westfield State standout athlete Lou Ann Simchak is always fundamentally sound while playing many of the top teams in New England.. Simchak led her squad to its first conference championship in 25 years in 2009, along with second places during the conference's regular season in 2003, 2006, 2007, and 20008, and a runner-up finish in the 2005 and 2008 conference postseason tournaments. The Owls posted a school-best 23 victories in both 2008 and 2009.
Baseball, which is now led by highly respected sixth-year coach Ray Arra, also is highly competitive while playing in one of the top conferences in New England. In 2007 the baseball squad won the conference championship and qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 23 years. The Owls shared the conference regular season championship with Worcester State in 2008 and earned another NCAA Tournament berth in 2009.
The women's lacrosse team participated in its first season of varsity competition in 2007, posting an overall record of 6-6, and was highly competitive in 2008 with an 8-7 record. In 2009 the Owls were 11-6 and qualfied for the conference postseason tournament for the second straight season.
The cheering squad under the direction of enthusiastic coach Lisa Moskow participates in numerous top-flight competitions throughout the school year.
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Athletic Eligibility
To be eligible to participate in varsity athletics at Westfield State College, students must carry a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester, must pass a minimum of 24 credit hours per year, and must be in good academic standing and making reasonable progress toward a degree. Students on academic probation are ineligible for both intercollegiate and intramurals competition.
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Important Phone Numbers:
Admissions (in state): 413-572-5218
Admissions (out of state): 1-800-322-8401
Financial Aid: 413-572-5218
TDD Phone: 413-572-5250
Athletics Phone: 413-572-5405
Athletics Fax: 413-572-5477
Woodward Center: 413-572-8221
Public Safety: 413-572-5262
Student Support Services: 413-572-5462
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Special Programs
Special Program: Urban Education (A.I.D.) recruits students from diverse ethnic and educational backgrounds and provides them with intensive academic and career support. Call 413-572-5391 for information.
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Facts About Westfield State
Location: Westfield, MA, two hours west of Boston (exit 3 off Mass. Pike)
Mailing Address: Westfield, MA 01086
President: Dr. Evan S. Dobelle
Vice-President/Student Affairs: Barry Maloney
Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,200 (estimated)
Founded: 1838
Team Nickname: Owls
School Colors: Blue and White
Outdoor Stadium: Alumni Field (4,000 seating)
Indoor Facility: Woodward Center (1,100 seating)
National Affiliation: NCAA Division III
Conference: Massachusetts State College Athletics Conference (MASCAC)