Jones Receives Nod To MASCAC Winter Sportsmanship Team

Westfield, MA --- Five Worcester State student-athletes have been selected to the MASCAC Winter Sportsmanship Team as announced by league publicist Emily Diekelmann.

The honorees include senior Kiesha Jones (Worcester, MA/Doherty), senior Alexandria McMahon (E. Longmeadow, MA), senior Teddy Ferreira (Mansfield, MA), senior Cody Osburn (Sacramento, CA) and junior Manny Cabral (Roslindale, MA/Belmont). 

The MASCAC Sportsmanship Team recognizes student-athletes and coaches who display outstanding sportsmanship on and off the field. A student-athlete from each institution is selected by their coach to be placed on the Sportsmanship team and then a sportsmanship coach of the year is voted on by their peers.

Jones wraps up a solid three-year career at Worcester State as a guard on the women's basketball team. She amassed 336 points with 42 made three pointers, a .711 career free throw percentage and Jones doled out 1.13 assists in 56 games (35 starts).

"Kiesha has tremendous respect for the game, the officials and her opponents," said head women's basketball coach Karen Tessmer. "She's overcome a lot of challenges to play college basketball and always encourages her teammates in a positive way on and off the court."

McMahon put up indoor track and field career bests in the 200 meters and the 60 meter hurdles while also helping the 4x400 meter relay team smash the school record (4:00.38) at the Open New England Championships on February 28.

"I nominated Ali for her continued commitment to our team," said head coach Andrea Ouellette. "No matter how good or bad a practice or meet is going, she is always there to support her teammates, whether it's cheering them on or providing the underclassman with guidance."

"Her sportsmanship goes beyond our team as well," Ouellette added. "Ali is continually wishing her competitors good luck and congratulates them on a job well done. She is a great role model and representative of Worcester State."

Coming off a career year at middle linebacker this past fall, Ferreira posted a personal-best time in the 60 meter hurdles at the MACAC/Alliance Championship Meet.

It wasn't a surprise to men's track and field head coach Al Halper that Ferreira was also named the representative on the All-MASCAC Sportsmanship Team during the fall season as the football squad's honoree.

"He is dedicated, extremely enthusiastic about the sport and always leads by example," said Halper. "Teddy is one of my go-to guys, whether it's something I need him to do for the team, running a relay in a pinch or any of the other events without complaint."

Osburn has been a defensive presence and an offensive threat for the Lancers in each of the last four seasons registering seven goals and 36 assists for 43 points in 96 games.

In addition to earning the assistant captain letter in three of his four years, this past year he was the only defenseman or forward in the MASCAC not whistled for a single penalty among those that played 20 or more games.

"Cody is extremely effective without taking unnecessary time in the penalty box," said associate head coach John Coughlin. "He's a great team player and works extremely hard both on and off the ice."

Cabral put up consistent numbers as the starting point guard for the men's basketball team. He was one off tying for the squad lead in assists (53) as he was second in three pointers made (24) and fifth in field goal percentage (.330).

"Manny is a first-class kid and he's the epitome of a student-athlete," said head coach Dave Lindberg. "Even if he's whistled for a bad call by an official, he just keeps playing and moves forward and playing."

Overall 29 student-athletes from eight institutions were tabbed to the MASCAC Sportsmanship Team. The 2014-15 academic year marks the first time the league has honored its coaches and student-athletes for sportsmanship at the conference level.

2014-15 MASCAC Winter Sportsmanship Team