Division III Week is a week of celebration of the great opportunities that Division III provides by allowing student-athletes to discover their potential, develop their passions and dedicating themselves to success, on and off the playing field.
April 14, 2016
Five years ago Duy Truong (Worcester, Mass.) didn’t think he would ever be able to walk again after suffering a traumatic brain injury leaving the left side of his body temporarily paralyzed. After emergency brain surgery, months of rehab, support, and determination he began to slowly regain strength. He defied all odds and found himself back on the track.
Today Truong is a Worcester State University stand out athlete. Competing on the Track team in the 60m dash, 60m hurdles, long jump, triple jump, 200m, 4x200m relay, 100m, 110m hurdles, and the 4x100m relay. He holds the long jump indoor school record at a distance of 6.94m, 4x100m relay record with a time of 41.56, and 4x200m relay record with a time of 1:28.64.
His life is forever affected by his injury; he states “It has changed the way I approach everyday things.”
Truong’s long and painful recovery is what motivates him each and every day to wake up and perform at the best of his ability in the classroom and on the track. All of the hard work and dedication that Truong put in led him to be the person he is today.
Being a Division III athlete Truong believes he gets the best of both worlds. As a communication major graduating next year he is excited to see where life will take him.
Truong led off the 4x100 and the 4x200 relays that both qualified his team for Division III New England Champions this past weekend.
“The easiest thing is to give up, continuing on shows character,” stated Truong.
Release by Jillian Witkowski | Sports Information Intern
April 13, 2016
Freshman center, Brittany Herring (W. Brookfield, Mass.) of the women’s basketball team made quite the impression on her first collegiate year at Worcester State, as she was named the 2015-16 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Women’s Basketball Rookie of the Year, after earning four weekly honors throughout the season.
The freshman helped her team to four conference victories and the sixth seed in the tournament. In her first year with the Lancers, Herring had the fourth most rebounds per game in the league with 9.0, and the sixth month points scored per game with 13.3. She ranked third in the MASCAC with 59 total blocks and a 54.1 shooting percentage.
“My first year was an experience that allowed me to grow substantially and was better than I could have imagined,” stated Herring. “It was great being able to join such a welcoming environment and develop so much as a basketball player,” stated Herring.
Former Worcester State Women’s basketball player and 1,000 point score Meaghan Burns is Herring’s aunt, role model and biggest supporter. Burns told Herring, “These next four years of basketball will be some of the most challenging years you've faced of your athletic career. You'll push yourself physically, mentally and emotionally further than you ever have before. You'll learn lessons and develop strengths like discipline, determination, and perseverance that you'll be able to use in all aspects of your life even when basketball is over.” Herring’s aunt’s advice has stuck in her mind, and she will remember it over the course of her next three years at Worcester State.
“The lifelong relationships I have built with my teammates and coaches are one of my favorite parts about being on the Worcester State Women’s Basketball team,” added Herring. “By being part of the women’s basketball team I now have a group of friends that I can relate to, grow with, learn with, and fail with.”
Not only is Herring a star on the basketball court, but she also takes pride in academics and her community as she is a part of the Phi Eta Sigma (Freshman National Honors Society), and enjoys taking part in many community service events with her teammates. Herring is majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders, and hopes to continue onto the graduate level following her undergraduate education to become a Speech-Language Pathologist.
April 12, 2016
After an outstanding first season with the men’s basketball team, freshman Alex Santos (Lawrence, Mass.) was awarded the MASCAC Rookie of the Year Award, averaging 14.1 PPG.
“It was an amazing feeling, never did I ever think I’d be Rookie of the Year,” said Santos. “I worked out every day and my hard work paid off. But I wasn’t satisfied I wanted more and will keep pursuing more.”
Santos, a gifted guard in the Lancer offense, was a major threat from three this season averaging 2.2 three’s per game and shooting 33% from behind the arc. Santos’ aggressive style and athleticism help him to slash through defenses and get to the rim; similar to the NBA star he compares himself to in Russell Westbrook.
Much like Westbrook, when Santos starts seeing the ball go in, he’s a tough player to stop. Santos’ best game of the season came January 16 against Fitchburg State, a game in which Santos scored 32 and broke the school record for three’s in a game with nine.
“I remember the light shining on me and the crowd and my teammates going crazy,” said Santos. “It was the best feeling I ever had on the court, can’t really describe the feeling, but I can say it was a dream to come true.”
As for next year the Lancers will return many of their players from this season, only losing Manny Cabral to graduation. Santos’ expectations are high for 2016-17 and that his team can play to a higher level next season.
“Manny was a great captain and leader to this team, but I expect next year for us to win everything and beat every team we are up against.”
After completing his degree in Business from Worcester State, Santos would like to own his own business and someday hopes to be coaching Division I basketball.
Release by David Rixham | Broadcast Intern
April 11, 2016
Krissy Kenney (Rehoboth, Mass.) was a major part of the Worcester State field hockey program over the last four years. The senior started all 19 games including the playoffs this season but Kenney’s story does not only take place on the field.
Kenney is a Public Health Major and has been involved all over Worcester State University including holding Vice President position of Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). While being involved with field hockey and the SAAC, she has been able to still be involved in charitable work and give back to the local community.
Kenney was a major force behind homeless day at Worcester State to raise awareness for homelessness in the city. “As an organization, the Social Justice Coalition (SJC) sat down over the summer and discussed Worcester’s most pressing issues,” commented Kenney. “Homelessness was at the top of our list. The purpose of the event was to bring the harsh realities of what it is like to be homeless to our campus.”
Kenney even found time to be the President of the SJC which focuses on the root causes of social justice and health issues. She stated that this club is what she feels most passionate about. “This club has allowed me to feel like I am making a lasting impact and has inspired me to choose a career path focused on social justice.”
Even though the senior will be graduating in May, she is still working and planning another charitable event on Worcester State’s campus. Kenney and SJC are working on the Brick-by-Brick campaign that is holding its next event on April 13th inside the May Street Auditorium.
“This is our year-long fundraiser to raise $10,000 to build a primary school in rural Ecuador through the Free the Children Foundation. Our efforts are in hopes of breaking the cycle poverty and uplifting generations.”
Kenney will not stop with her charitable work after graduation. She is looking to continue her pursuit of Public Health and Social Justice in the next few years to come.
Kenney does want to attend grad school but not for a few years, but wants to gain valuable experience in the field before doing so. “I know that within a few years, I want to go back to school to get my master’s degree. However, in the year or two immediately following graduation, I plan on finding internships that challenge me and give me valuable experience in the public health and social justice fields.”
On top of continuing school and social justice work, Kenney wants to stay involved in field hockey. After four years of college field hockey it will not end after the fall season for her. Her charitable work is very important to her, but is just as important to stay involved in the sport she loved so much growing up.
“I have been coaching at Cape Ann Field Hockey Coalition for my former coach, Chris Pothier, for the past two years and I have every intention of keeping a strong connection to the sport I love.”
Release by Connor Haynes | Sports Information Intern
April 8, 2016
Leading the baseball team with 22 hits, four stolen bases and his .349 batting average, Adam Barry (Auburn, Mass.) is a standout athlete for the Lancers.
Quiet in the classroom, yet loud in the dugout, Barry was an influential leader the past two years, and continues to produce results for the Lancers in the 2016 campaign. He shined his freshman year as key hitter in the line up to help Worcester State win the MASCAC Championship in 2014.
The blue and gold’s MASCAC Championship win in 2014 marks the fifth championship under the direction of Coach Baker. The Lancers also made an appearance in the NCAA Division III New England Baseball Regional that same year.
Barry said his most memorable moment as a Lancer thus far is when he smashed a home run over Salem State centerfielder's head at Lyon’s Stadium to score the tying run that was crucial to the Championship win.
“I have never played in championship games before I came to Worcester State. While here I have already played in two, and I am hoping for two more this season,” said Barry.
Barry adapted well to the transition to intercollegiate baseball. Barry continued to shine as he went into his sophomore year for the blue and gold, proving to be a team player with 36 RBI.
“He’s been a key hitter for three years now,” added Dr. Dirk Baker. “The kid can flat-out swing the bat.”
In addition to being a vital member of the team, Barry emerged as a leader on campus over the last year. A Business Administration major with a focus in management, Barry holds a 3.0 grade point average.
The Lancers take on Endicott on the road today (Ap. 8), and return home on Saturday (Apr. 9) when they take on Westfield in a doubleheader at, Lyons stadium. First pitch is thrown at 12 p.m.
Release by Jill Witkowski | Sports Information Intern
April 7, 2016
Courtney Salisbury (Cranston, RI), an Occupational Therapy (OT) major at Worcester State University, is a phenomenal two-sport athlete. An asset to both Worcester State’s volleyball and softball teams, Salisbury embodies the meaning of being a student-athlete.
Salisbury has earned honors athletically and academically. As an OT major, Salisbury is required to maintain a grade of 73 or above in all major prerequisite courses. Salisbury has surpassed this requirement, earning her spot on the Dean’s List for all of her semesters here at Worcester State. In her freshman year, Salisbury received the Lt. Col. Sheehan Freshman Academic Achievement Award and became a member of the Phi Eta Sigma Honors Society. More recently, Salisbury became a member of the National Athlete Honor Society. She has also been a member of the MASCAC All-Academic Team for all semesters.
During her time at Worcester State, Salisbury has participated in volunteer work and charity fundraising with both the volleyball and softball teams and Worcester State’s Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC).
“During volleyball season, we would spend Friday afternoons with the 6th grade classes at Chandler Magnet Elementary School. This year with the softball team, we are fundraising for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. With SAAC, I have volunteered with the Special Olympics during their bowling tournament in Auburn.”
In her freshman year, Salisbury earned a starting position as catcher on the softball team and was the Female Freshman Athlete of the Year. Salisbury says that her participation in sports has allowed her to learn time management skills and responsibility, which has also helped her immensely in the classroom.
“I have learned that there are times when I may need to sacrifice sleep or a social life in order to participate in the sports I love and maintain the grades I need to continue on in my program of study. School can be very stressful and demanding at times, but it helps knowing that I have an outlet in sports.”
Salisbury is only a junior right now, but is already looking ahead to further her education in the future as an Occupational Therapist. She is expecting to graduate in May 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy.
“After graduation next year, I will be attending graduate school for a couple years in order to get my Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy.”
Release by Alyssa Hill | Sports Information Graduate Assistant