WESTFIELD, Mass. – After the conclusion of the winter sports season, Westfield State University Athletics continues to hold the top spot in the 2024-25 Howard C. Smith Cup standings, awarded annually to the institution with the best overall athletics program in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference.

The Owls have totaled 97.67 of a possible 112 points, collecting 87.20% of available points. Bridgewater State currently sits in second place behind Westfield, securing 79.50% of possible points (79.5 of 100 available points). Worcester State rounds off the top three, earning 59.67 of 112 available points at 53.27%.

After a dominant fall season in which the Owls collected regular season championships in women's cross country and volleyball, along with strong finishes in men's cross country, women's soccer, men's soccer, and field hockey, the winter season continued Westfield's impressive campaign.

Men's basketball added 12 points to the Owls' total after claiming the MASCAC regular season title and eventual conference championship. Men's ice hockey contributed another 10 points with a second-place finish among MASCAC institutions, while women's basketball supplied 7.67 points after tying for second place in the conference standings.

From the ten championship-competing sports in the fall and winter seasons, the Owls have posted top three finishes in nine sports thus far (comprised of MASCAC member teams only, not affiliate teams).

Westfield will turn to the spring sports of women's lacrosse, baseball, softball, and men's and women's outdoor track and field in a closing effort to claim the Smith Cup for the fifth straight season. Women's lacrosse and softball were projected to finish first in the league standings while baseball earned a close second place in the preseason polls.

The Smith Cup is named in honor of former Massachusetts State College Trustee Howard C. Smith, who in 1970, urged the athletic directors of the eight State institutions to hold a series of meetings to discuss the possibility of forming an intercollegiate conference. In June of 1971, Smith's dream became a reality as an affirmative agreement was reached and the MASCAC was created.

Written by Tom Onorato – Sports Information Intern