Springfield College - Massasoit Yearbook (Springfield, MA)

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R.P.I. 31-26 L Rhode Island 25-31 W Wesleyan 19-40 W Holy Cross 34-21 L Colby 22-38 W Connecticut 27-28 W Massachusetts 42-19 L C.W. Post 34-22 L Albany Invitational Second Boston College 38-21 L New Englands IC4A's Twelfth

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CROSS-COUNTRY 1970 The 1970 Cross-Country team showed more promise of greater things to come than was indicated by their 4-5 record. There were many good performances this season in a sport that can not truly be judged by its won-lost record. It is, although a team sport, designed for the individual whose success is significantly determined by self-sacrifice and self-discipline. Cross-Country has a longer season than most realize, as fall success is based on sum- mer running. Summer is the time one must build his base of many miles, not fall. By then it is too late. This was proven in the first meet of the year when the Chiefs were upset by RPI. Although Roger Moffat did win the in- dividual title the Chiefs were lacking in depth in the early season. In the next two meets this depth improved with wins over URI and Wes- leyan. Both meets saw a strong one-two finish by Moffat and captain Brad Kron. After a tough loss to an always strong Holy Cross team on their hilly course the harriers re- turned to SC for a victory over Colby. The mules leading runner, Lou Paquin, was first in the best time on the course this year and ninth best ever with 22:53. He pulled Moffat to third on the Springfield all-time list, behind record-holder Ed Walkwitz and Coach Ken Klatka, in 23:05. In the last home meet of the year the Chiefs squeezed by U-Conn, 27-28 with another 1-2, Moffat-Kron finish. Next was the Codfish Bowl, where Codmen were second to the host Boston State team. UMass, in the next duel and C.W. Post in the next two duel meets, beat the SC squad with an outstanding first man and the much needed depth. That week-end started a string of three tough races in five days which proved to be tiring for the team. Friday was the Eastern Championships in Boston where the team was fifth, lead by Kron with a fine 23:16 time over the five mile course. This is the best Springfield time at Franklin Park. Saturday the squad traveled to Albany for their Invita- tional placing a respectable second to C.W. Post. Kron and Moffat topped the scoring with fourth and fifth place finishes. Decidedly tired, the team was back to Boston Tuesday for a duel meet with a powerful Boston Col- lege team. Fatigue showing, the Warriors were beaten in their final duel meet of a long season. With twelve of fourteen meets under their belts, the Chiefs were mentally as well as physically tired. There were too many meets and now with the two most important meets

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upcoming, the team was understandably drained. This partially accounted for the Many things were experienced and learned during this 1970 season that will not soon be forgotten by any of the members of the team. Even when losing, the cross-country team had a morale and unity that cannot be matched by many teams on this campus. This was partly due to the nature of the sport and partly to the individuals that made up this group. One of the bright spots at the end of the season was the look forward to the next year's team. 1970 has been an important grow- ing year. Graduation will take its toll of three capable seniors, captains Brad Kron and Roger Moffat and Harry Merrifield. But step- ping up will be juniors Bill Olsen, Don Kirton and Rich Davis; sophomores Paul Thistle and vastly improved Mike Cryans, along with Bill Morrow, Alan Currier, Gene Cadman and Tim Derrig. The freshman team, with a season of competing with the varsity under their belts, will add strength to next year's varsity. Hope- fulls will be co-captains Howie Herrington and Dave MacLeod, along with Mike Flaherty, Pete McGenty, Irv Potter, Noel Saunders and Tom Clear. To this, add SC record holder Ed Walkwitz and returning Mike Conte who ran well for the frosh a year ago. There is the core of a strong team. At the end of the season, crosscountry dinner, the new co-captains were elected. Bill Olsen and Don Kirton will lead the Chiefs next year. Also Mike Cryans was presented with the Captain's Trophy for the most im- proved runner on the team. Roger Moffat received the Riggie Award as the outstand- ing runner for the season. A great deal of credit must be given to coaches Vern Cox and Ken Klatka for their leadership and guidance throughout the sea- son. They spent long hours of cold afternoons waiting for the return of the team from a work-out and should be commended on their dedication to the team as well as the sport. It was a year for which no member of the team should be ashamed or discouraged as many personal goals and satisfactions were derived. It is a lonely and self-satisfying sport with many of the victories and recognition coming only from within. It is hard to reason why one would want to run cross country but harder yet to talk a dedicated runner out of it. eleventh place finish in the New England Championships and no team score in the IC4A's due to injuries and illness. Roger Moffat