Botta caps senior season with spot on ECAC All-Star team

Dec. 10, 2012

CENTERVILLE – Chelsea Botta of East Longmeadow, a member of the Marist women's soccer team was named to Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division 1 Women's Soccer All-Star team on Thursday. Botta, who recently completed her senior season, has now earned two post-season playing accolades in 2012.

A Capital One Third Team Academic All-American, the second-ever in Marist women's soccer history, Botta capped her playing career with an outstanding 2012 season.

The senior defender earned her first All-MAAC First Team honor after finishing with career-high totals in goals (4), assists (3) and in points (11). A stalwart in Marist's defensive third, she was an integral part in the 2012 Red Foxes setting a program record for the lowest goals against average with a 1.08 mark. A two-time captain, Botta and the Red Foxes also set a program record with 15 wins this past fall.

Skiffington earns Player of the Week honor

LONGMEADOW – Bay Path College junior Kayla Skiffington of East Longmeadow earned New England Collegiate Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week honors, it was announced on Dec. 3.

Skiffington led all players with 27 points, while collecting 12 rebounds in a 76-75 overtime victory over Pine Manor. The Wildcats split on the week falling to Albertus Magnus in their second bout where Skiffington again led her team with 14 point and seven rebounds. On the week, the junior forward averaged 20.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals.

Homich named Co-Player of the Week

BUZZARDS BAY – Ludlow's Elisha Homich, a senior guard for the Bridgewater State University women's basketball team, was named the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference Co-Player of the Week on Dec. 3.

Homich averaged 15 points, four rebounds and four assists while earning MVP honors at the Williams Holiday Classic in a 3-0 week for the Bears. She registered 15 points and six boards in a 69-55 opening round win over Bates and added 17 points and three helpers in a 61-60 championship triumph at 22nd-ranked Williams.

Elsir pours in 12 points in loss

SPRINGFIELD – Sophomore Musa Elsir of Springfield led the Golden Bears with 12 points, but the Western New England University (WNE) men's basketball team came out on the wrong end of an early season Commonwealth Coast Conference showdown, losing to visiting Roger Williams by a score of 72-66 on Dec. 6.

Berthiaume leads Springfield past WNE

SPRINGFIELD – Springfield's Alex Berthiaume led the Springfield College men's basketball team in scoring for the seventh-straight game as he netted 19 points on 8-of-16 shooting as the Pride had four starters score in double figures to hold off cross-town rival WNE for a 73-71 non-conference victory on Dec. 4.

Grippo has strong day at GNACs

BOSTON – James Grippo of Longmeadow placed second in the 400-yard individual medley (4:56.33) and third in the 1,650-yard freestyle (19:00.63) as the Elms College men's swimming and diving team took second at the Great Northeast Athletic Conference championships on Dec. 2.

On the women's side, senior Emalee Furtek of Ludlow took third place honors in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:46.40 as the Blazers took third overall.

Medina wins 149-pound weight class at Ted Reece Invite

GORHAM, Maine – Senior tri-captain and Springfield native Anthony Medina was leading University of Southern Maine's (USM) Peter Gilman in the 149-pound class first-place match before he won by disqualification as the WNE wrestling squad scored 80.5 points Saturday to place third at the nine-team Ted Reese Invitational hosted by USM on Dec. 2.

He defeated Nicholas Perez of Springfield Technical Community College by a 5-0 decision in the semifinals as well.

Normoyle places second at Ithaca Invitational

ITHACA, N.Y. – Springfield's Michael Normoyle had the Pride's best individual finish on the day, as he placed fourth in the 200 breast in 2:09.86 at the Ithaca Invitational on Dec. 2 as the Springfield College men's swimming and diving team finished fourth among 11 teams competing.

Titans dismantle Miss Hall's

PITTSFIELD – Despite having just four days of practice, the Wilbraham & Monson Academy (WMA) girls' basketball looked strong in its first game, thumping Miss Hall's School 50-22 on Dec. 1.

Ludlow's Steph Bramucci both scored six points, while Wilbraham's Heather Little grabbed seven rebounds.

Felchner wins first varsity races

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Both swim teams from WMA lost close meets at Kingswood Oxford Academy on Dec. 1. The girls fell 100-72, while the boys suffered a 99-70 defeat.

Wilbraham's Christina Felchner won twice in her first varsity race, touching first in the 200- and 100-yard freestyle events.

For the boys, Ludlow's Austin Fabbo won the 500- yard freestyle.

Felix asserts herself in the paint

WESTFIELD – Sophomore center Gabby Felix of Springfield led all scorers with 13 points before fouling out of the contest with three minutes remaining as the Westfield State University women's basketball team lost to Suffolk University 49-41 on Dec. 1.

Senior Briana Kelly of Hampden scored four of her six points in the game in the final 20 seconds of the contest, but it was not enough.

AIC runs past Southern Connecticut State

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Sophomore forward Krista Ferrentino of East Longmeadow totaled nine points with five rebounds as the American International College women's basketball team had six players score nine or more points in a 70-56 Northeast-10 victory at Southern Connecticut State University on Dec. 1.

Ludlow natives fare well at Springfield College Invitational

SPRINGFIELD – Ludlow's Jenn Holley placed third in the 3000-meter run with a time of 11:31.88 for the WSU women's indoor track and field team at the Springfield College Invitational on Dec. 1. The Owls placed third overall as a team.

On the men's side, Springfield College senior Zach Pietras of Ludlow was part of a 4x800-meter relay that finished second with a time of 8:28.80. The Pride finished third overall.

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