Worcester, MA --- The Worcester State University athletics department officially kicked off Division III Week on Thursday, April 11 with a recognition of the outstanding accomplishments of its student-athletes on the field, in the classroom and in the local campus community.
To start off the ceremony, sophomore Terrence Gibson was recognized for being the first male Worcester State student-athlete to earn NCAA Division III individual National Championship accolades. Gibson sprinted to the ninth-best 60 meter time in Division III history (8.04) to capture this year’s crown in the event.
After watching highlights of the 60-meter hurdles race on NCAA.com, Gibson spoke to those present about his experiences leading up to the competition, before the race and the moment that culminated in Worcester State assistant coach Matt Swett officially handing him his National Championship trophy.
Also recognized were the five members of the women’s outdoor Track and Field Team who competed at the 2012 NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships last spring which include senior Briana Wise, junior Christy Deininger and sophomore teammates Alyssa Jasper and Brittany Hodgerney along with former standout Sarah Rafferty ‘12.
Other student-athletes who were recognized individually included D3football.com All-American return specialist Graham Asum, MASCAC Player of the Year Meaghan O’Keefe and 2012 Co-MASCAC Pitcher of the Year Hannah Everson.
On the academic side, six teams who posted team grade point averages above 3.0 in the Fall of 2012 were honored. They included the softball team, women’s volleyball, men’s golf, women’s cross country, women’s track and field and the field hockey team.
It was noted by Associate Athletic Director and Women’s Basketball Coach Karen Tessmer, who served as Master of Ceremonies, that a record 75 student-athletes were named to the Fall MASCAC All-Academic Team for posting a 3.2 grade point average or better.
“Overall, 218 student-athletes this past academic year had over a 3.0 grade point average out of 431 participants,” said Tessmer. “That’s over 51 percent.”
For participation in the community, the women’s tennis team was honored for helping collect nearly 400 books for The CASA Project, Inc., the field hockey team’s initiative in February’s FUNdamental Field Hockey Program at the Abby Kelley Foster Charter School and the women’s basketball squad’s in-season participation with Team IMPACT, Math Madness day and their annual Community Reading Day.
The baseball team also helped with a rehabilitation of Rockwood Park and the Student Athletics Advisory Committee (SAAC) partnered with the Special Olympics in March of 2012.
Sophomore Duy Truong’s amazing comeback from a head injury that was featured on NESN this past week closed the event. The student-athletes who were recognized and the teams with 3.0 grade point averages this past Fall were awarded with National Student-Athlete Day certificates.
Over the course of the next week, the Worcester State Athletics Department is encouraging members of the campus community to participate in Division III Week athletic events on Thursday and in the Blue & Gold Game Day Cookout on April 20, which is sponsored by SAAC and ENACTUS.
Pictured Above: Terrence Gibson with Worcester State University President Barry Maloney