Westfield State football coach Pete Kowalski poses with his three captains for the 2016 season; #3 Evan Cain, #8 Devin Lekan and #40 John Ollari. (Photo courtesy of Westfield State Sports)
WESTFIELD – Westfield State football announced its team captains for the 2016 season, with Evan Cain (Hudson, Mass.), Devin Lekan (Chelmsford, Mass.) and John Ollari (Turners Falls HS/Millers Falls, Mass.) being chosen.
“We chose our captains a little differently this season,” said Owls head coach Pete Kowalski. “The players spoke in front of their teammates on why they thought they would be good captains. While the presentations all differed, they talked about many of the precepts that we endear in our leaders,” said Kowalski.
Cain, a junior wide receiver, was a top receiving threat last year before being lost for the season with an injury in the fourth game. The Owls’ deep threat caught 16 passes for 320 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including an 81-yarder.
Lekan, a senior, opened the 2015 campaign as the Owls starting tight end, but he was lost for the season on one of the first series of the year, when a player rolled up his leg while blocking for an Owls’ touchdown run. He caught one pass for 26 yards in limited duty.
Ollari, a junior, led the Owls with 107 tackles (73 solo, 34 assisted) from his linebacker position in 2015. He had 9.5 tackles for losses, 2.5 sacks, and intercepted three passes with 123 return yards. He also serves as the Owls’ punter and was a first team all-conference and a second-team all-East region selection in that capacity after averaging 40.9 yards per kick. He pinned opponents inside their 20-yard line on 11 occasions and had seven punts of 50 or more yards.
“Some of the things our captains talked about were about overcoming adversity and their demonstration of commitment to our program in the off-season,” said Kowalski.
“Those factors were validated in their teammates support for our captains,” added Kowalski. “They may be young in age, but they are seasoned in their life experiences and have a deep devotion for Westfield State University and Owls football.” – Courtesy of Westfield State Sports
