WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State University claimed the 2021-22 Howard C. Smith Cup as the best overall athletics program in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference.
The Owls won the Smith Cup for the second straight time, and the sixth in the last seven presentations of the Cup. (No cup was awarded in the 2020-21 academic year due to pandemic interruptions of the fall and winter seasons).
With college athletics back at full strength this year, the Owls scored a narrow victory over Bridgewater State, as Westfield claimed 72.61 percent of the available points to Bridgewater's 70.61.
Women's athletic teams played a key role in the Owls' Smith Cup win, as women's soccer, women's cross country, field hockey and women's lacrosse all earned maximum points with league regular-season titles. Volleyball and women's outdoor track each placed second in the league table.
On the men's side, Owls' men's basketball won the regular season title, while outdoor track and field and baseball both picked up second-place scoring.
The Owls' Smith cup fate held in the balance until the final weekend of the regular season, when Westfield State baseball took two of three games from Bridgewater, with the Owls securing second place in the conference standings and the overall Smith Cup win.
The Smith Cup is awarded annually to the member institution that compiles the most points based on the placement of each of its programs competing in the league championship sports. The Cup is named in honor of former Massachusetts State College Trustee Howard C. Smith, who in 1970, urged the athletic directors of the eight State institutions to hold a series of meetings to discuss the possibility of forming an intercollegiate conference. In June of 1971, Smith's dream became a reality as an agreement was reached and the MASCAC was created.
Westfield State athletics has been a dominant player in the MASCAC ever since, winning the first Smith Cup ever issued after the 1972-73 season, and has won the cup 16 times in the 48 years in which it has been presented.