Department Information

Varsity Athletics at Westfield State

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's most successful varsity sports during the past two decades have been men's track and field and cross country. The teams have produced 33 All Americans and 142 national qualifiers. The Owls have run away from the Mass. State conference competition annually, claiming 21 track and field championships in the past 22 years, and 15 of the past 21 cross country crowns. In addition, the Owls have captured seven consecutive New England Alliance outdoor track and field championships

The women's cross country and track and field programs are striving to reach the same level of prominence. They do have two individuals who have claimed national championships. In conference competition, the cross country squad has captured five championships in the past eight seasons, while the track and field team has won seven straight conference titles.

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 2000 and qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 16 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 Heather Langone (soccer) and Heather Cabral (field hockey) are former standout players who are now highly capable team leaders. Volleyball continues its climb as a highly respected program, placing second in the conference six of the past seven seasons. The field hockey team has won six of the past 10 conference championships.

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 14 teams. The program has improved each season under 15th 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.

Indoor track and field, 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 11 consecutive winning seasons and a 75-30-1 record during the past 11 years.

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. Third-year women's coach Steve Marcil led the Owls to an 18-9 record and an ECAC Tournament bid in 2003, while is 2004 squad finished 21-6. Seventh-year men's coach Rich Sutter led the Owls to their best record in nine years during the 2003 season in which they set a school record with 13 straight victories and finished second in the conference.

Men's and women's outdoor track and field, baseball and softball 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 as it competes in one of the best conferences in the country. Simchak led her squad to a second place during the conference's regular season in 2003. Baseball, which is now led by highly regarded third-year coach Tom Lo Ricco, also is highly competitive while playing in one of the top conferences in New England. The baseball squad posted its first 20-win season in 20 years in 2004 and advanced to the conference tournament championship game.

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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