Posted: Jun 07, 2018
WESTFIELD, Mass. - Several Westfield State student-athletes were recently named to the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Sportsmanship team for the spring 2018 seasons.
Baseball pitcher Nate Barnes (Westfield, Mass.) senior women's lacrosse midfielder Stephanie Godek (West Springfield, Mass.), senior softball pitcher - first base Michaela LeBlanc (Marblehead, Mass.), junior sprinter-hurdler Lexi Popp (Westford, Mass.) and senior thrower David Drigo (Masconomet/ Middleton, Mass.) were all placed on the team.
The MASCAC Sportsmanship Team is intended to recognize one student-athlete from each team, in every sport that best demonstrates the values of the MASCAC and its Sportsmanship Statement, regardless of their overall performance or statistics for the season. A student-athlete from each institution is selected by their coach to be placed on the Sportsmanship Team
The chosen Owls were all standouts on the field as well.
Barnes, took a regular turn in the Owls pitching rotation, finishing with a 3-1 record and a 4.55 era, starting the Owls second game of the NCAA tournament. He frequently played first base when not pitching.
Godek helped the Owls women's lacrosse team to their second-straight NCAA tournament appearance as the Owls advanced to the second round before falling to eventual national champion Gettysburg. She finished with nine goals and 19 assists on the season.
LeBlanc started 26 games for the Owls, helping the team reach the conference championship for the second straight year. She pitched in eight games with one save, batted .243 for the season and finished with a stellar .995 fielding percentage.
Popp qualified for the NCAA Women's Outdoor Track and Field championship in the 400 hurdles. She set school records in both the hurdles and the 400 meters during the season.
Drigo qualified for the NCAA Championships with the javelin for the second time in his career, finishing 19th in the nation in that event.