Four Lancers Earn MASCAC Player of the Week Awards (Jan. 18-24)

WORCESTER, Mass. – Four Worcester State student-athletes from the women’s basketball and men’s and women’s indoor track & field teams earned Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) awards for the week of Jan. 18-24.

Women’s Basketball:

Freshman center, Britt Herring (W. Brookfield, Mass.) was tabbed the MASCAC Women’s Basketball Rookie of the Week in an 0-2 week for the Lancers.

Herring averaged 13.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks in the two games for the Lancers.

“Britt keeps making strides and continues to establish a strong post presence for us,” stated head coach Karen Tessmer. “It is a positive learning experience for her to play against the top post players in the conference.”

She tallied 10 points, eight rebounds (four offensive) and five blocks in the 65-50 setback to Bridgewater State. She then finished her week with a team-high 17 points and 12 rebounds in the 75-51 loss to Framingham State.

Herring currently leads her team by averaging 11.6 points per game thus far this season.

Men’s Indoor Track & Field:

Junior Sam Weeks (Methuen, Mass.) earned his second-consecutive MASCAC Men’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week accolade for his performance this past weekend at the Springfield College Maroon & White Classic.

Weeks had a first place finish in the shot put event with a distance of 14.45m (47-05.00). He then finished second in the weight throw with a distance of 15.51m (50-10.75), qualifying for both Division III New England and ECAC Championships.

“Sam has progressed quickly despite coming of a hand injury sustained during football season,” stated head coach Al Halper. “This is already a personal record (PR) for him.”

Freshman Marcus Vieira (Peabody, Mass.) was tabbed the MASCAC Men’s Indoor Track & Field Rookie of the Week for the third time (second-consecutive).

“As a freshman, Marcus has made the adjustment to the college implements very quickly, particularly in the 35lb weight throw,” said Halper. “Fortunately, his high school coach had introduced him to the 25lb weight while still a high school athlete.  Marcus, on occasion, had the opportunity to practice with the heavier college implements as well so that the transition was an easier one.”

Vieira had a first and third place finish in the weight throw and shot put, respectively. He qualified for Division III New England’s and ECAC’s in the weight throw with a distance of 15.70m (51-06.25). He then registered a third place finish in the shot put with a distance of 13.25m (43-05.75).

“He should continue to be a dominant thrower for us during his career at Worcester State,” stated Halper.

“Each week both Sam and Marcus have shown improvements and continue to be two of the top throwers in the conference,” commented Halper. “They both have set the tone for the throws group so far this season as the event group as a whole has been dominant in competition at the meets we have attended.”

Women’s Indoor Track & Field:

Freshman Tsara LeBlanc (Gardner, Mass.) was named the MASCAC Women’s Indoor Track & Field Rookie of the Week for her sixth place finish in the 60 meter dash at the Springfield College Maroon & White Classic.

“Tsara has been dealing with a nagging injury this past week, but that didn't hold her back,” commented head coach Andrea Ouellette. “She put in a lot of work at practice fixing little things that would help her races. Clearly it paid off with a personal record (PR) in the 60 meter dash this weekend.”

LeBlanc completed the dash with a finals time of 8.26. She also came in sixth in the 200 meter dash with a time of 27.92.

Honor Roll:

Junior center, Paul Brooks (Arlington, Mass.) averaged a double-double of 15.5 points and 11.5 rebounds while shooting 59 percent (13-22) from the field in a 1-1 week for the Lancers. He registered a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds in the 69-66 setback to Bridgewater State, and then had another of 18 points and 12 rebounds in the 70-58 victory over Framingham State.

Junior Jared Barros (Taunton, Mass.) captured first place in the 200 meter dash this past weekend at the Springfield College Maroon & White Classic with a finals time of 23.14. He was an anchor on winning the 4x200 relay with a time of 1:34.02. He also was an anchor on the team’s second place finish in the 4x400 relay.

Senior Molly Downing (Dedham, Mass.) qualified for both Division III New England and ECAC Championships in the weight throw this past weekend at the Springfield College Maroon & White Classic.  She placed fourth in the weight throw event, marking a 14.62m (47-11.75) distance. She also participated in the shot put, placing seventh with a top throw of 9.95m (32-7.75).

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