WESTFIELD – Westfield State University prides itself on having transported many students to careers in an innumerable amount of fields all across the United States. On Thursday, the University, one that has moved to the forefront of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ public university system, took the opportunity to showcase its ability to transport students to field in foreign nations, as well.
During a press conference at the Horace Mann Center on Western Avenue, University President Dr. Evan Dobelle introduced a panel of administrators, educators, students and student-athletes who have had active roles in developing and nurturing Westfield State’s meteoric rise as an institution that prepares students to live and work as citizens of a global world.
“Today we begin a dialogue that will require many voices, including those from our academic leaders on campus to our cultural and social leaders from the community,” Dobelle said. “The establishment of a dedicated institution that will make space for the kind of work that makes a difference in people’s lives by addressing, but not limiting to, areas of education, social policy, and cultural awareness.”
Among those in attendance were several players and coaches of the Westfield State Owls baseball team, who recently returned from a true trip of a lifetime.
Following President Obama’s lifting of a ban on student travel to Cuba in November of 2011, Westfield State began laying the groundwork for its baseball team, one of the most successful athletic programs at the school, to travel to Cuba to participate in a baseball exhibition tournament, where they would face some of the top amateur talent in not just Cuba, but the world.
In coordination with INDER, Cuba’s National Institute of Sport, Physical Education and Recreation, Westfield’s baseball team set off for Havana prior to the school’s spring break. They followed in the footsteps of men’s basketball and cheerleading (The Bahamas), men’s soccer (Spain), women’s field hockey (Argentina) and women’s volleyball (Brazil) teams.
“We are very excited for our student-athletes to have this opportunity to experience this level of play. Our takeaway is to be able to improve the caliber of our performance from playing teams in which baseball is so very important, as well as to provide an educational experience for our players that will last a lifetime.” said Richard Lenfest, Westfield State’s director of athletics.
Among the athletes in attendance at the presser were pitchers Curt Everett (senior, Lexington), Mike Sullivan (junior, Sandwich), Tommy Nowlan (pitcher, Williamstown), infielder Jeremy Tanguay (sophomore, Huntington), and outfielders Pat McWilliams (sophomore, Duxbury) and Tim Santilli (sophomore, Southbridge). Accompanying the student-athletes were two members of the Owl coaching staff, Matt Kelly (Westfield State ’12), a graduate assistant from Weymouth, and head coach Ray Arra (Westfield State ’65).
While Arra, the veteran skipper who has guided the Owls to multiple 20-plus winning seasons and three NCAA Tournament berths, has seen it all during his tenure with the school, even he would be the first to admit the impact the trip had on the coach and his team.
“We were impressed with their (the Cuban people’s) love of baseball, the people we met, luminaries of baseball in Cuba,” Arra said. “I was very impressed. Great trip.”
“I gained a whole new appreciation for the game of baseball,” said Sullivan. ” I didn’t see anyone without a smile on their face the whole time we were there.”
In regards to the level of competition the boys faced, Sullivan was quick to point out the skill and fluidity with which they played.
“Everything they did was so natural. They made it look real easy,” he said.
Everett, a fifth year student pursuing a master’s degree in Public Administration, noted the cultural difference as what he gained most from the trip.
“Something as small as them (Cuban players) asking us for our socks after the games,” he said. “I’d never been outside the country so I enjoyed this once in a lifetime trip.”
While the Owls are still searching to find their winning flight pattern early this season, it’s safe to say that this year will not only be remembered for how they finish the season, but how they began it – with the trip of a lifetime.
