WESTFIELD, Mass. -- Fitchburg State College captured the Massachusetts State College Athletics Conference (MASCAC) men's cross-country championship with a close victory over Bridgewater State and Westfield State on Saturday, Oct. 25, at Stanley Park.
In one of the closest meets in the 37-year history of the MASCAC championships, Fitchburg State totaled 52 points, followed by Bridgewater State (58), and Westfield State (59). Also, it was only the second time in meet history that a team captured the crown by scoring 50 or more points.
Bridgewater nosed out Westfield for second place as its top three runners placed in the top six, led by individual champion Avery Bouchard, who continued his fine running this season by touring the five-mile course in 25:41.94.
The Bears' Brian Stewart placed third and teammate Ryan D'Arcangelo was sixth. D'Arcangelo, who was the MASCAC Rookie of the Year, was the first non-senior runner across the line. Worcester State's Forest Wilbur, last year's individual champion, finished second, trailing Bouchard by nearly 26 seconds (26:07.26).
Fitchburg State won the MASCAC title for the first time since 2003 and its fourth overall with some solid pack running. The Falcons placed six runners in the top 18, led by senior Phil McCormick's fourth-place finish.
Also earning all-conference honors for the Falcons by placing in the top 10 was sophomore Matt Spano (7th place). Kyle Schaeffer was 11th and Chris Kibler came in 14th for Fitchburg.
Mass. Maritime Academy senior Kyle Ingersoll finished fifth. Three Westfield State runners finished strong to earn all-conference honors: senior Phil Gingras (8th), junior John Connolly (9th), and freshman Jon Joyce (10th). Junior Chris Mantos placed 13th for the Owls and Greg Seery was 19th.