Westfield State Adds Women's Lacrosse As Varsity Sport
Westfield State College announces today the addition of women's
lacrosse as an intercollegiate varsity sport for the 2007 spring
semester.
"We are pleased and excited to be adding women"s lacrosse as an
intercollegiate sport in 2007," said Westfield State director of
athletics Richard Lenfest. "We are appreciative of the
administration"s commitment in supporting our athletics programs
and facilities. Adding women"s lacrosse will enhance participation
opportunities and allow our athletics department to continue to
meet the needs of the students."
Westfield State, which had a women"s lacrosse club program for the
past three years, now fields 18 intercollegiate teams with the
addition of women"s lacrosse. The team will play an independent
schedule during its inaugural varsity season, and in 2008 the Owls
will become members of the New England Women"s Lacrosse Alliance
(NEWLA).
"The addition of the women"s lacrosse team will enhance our
intercollegiate programs and strengthen our commitment to gender
equity," said Dr. Arthur Jackson, Westfield State College vice
president of student affairs. "Women"s lacrosse is one of the
fastest growing sports in the Northeast, and we look forward to our
participation in NEWLA in 2008."
The NEWLA will consist of 10 teams in 2008, including Westfield"s
rivals in the Massachusetts State College Athletics Conference:
Bridgewater State, Fitchburg State, and Worcester State. Other
NEWLA members are: Castleton State, Elms, Emerson, Lasell, Norwich,
and Thomas College of Maine.
Western New England College, a member of the NEWLA since 1999, will
depart the NEWLA after the 2007 season and begin play in the
Commonwealth Coast Conference as a full member in 2008.
Janna Cunningham Named Lacrosse Coach
Westfield State College announces the hiring of Janna Cunningham as
its first head coach of women"s lacrosse.
Cunningham was the head lacrosse coach at Nichols College for three
years, and an assistant coach/assistant athletics director for a
year.
She was a graduate assistant lacrosse coach for two years at
Springfield College. She played three years of lacrosse at Elmira
College in New York. She also played four years of basketball at
Elmira and participated in two NCAA Tournaments.
In addition to her women"s lacrosse coaching duties, Cunningham is
employed full-time at Westfield State as the athletics facilities
manager.
"We are extremely fortunate to have Janna as our first women"s
lacrosse coach," said Westfield State athletics director Richard
Lenfest. "As the athletics facilities manager and coach she brings
experience, energy, and enthusiasm to our athletics department."
