Worcester, Mass. – Assumption Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Trent Baltzell is excited to announce rising seniors Emily Casella (Athol, Mass., / Athol), Jeff Chicca (Westport, Mass.,/Bishop Stang), Ryan Gill (East Granby, Conn., /East Catholic), Kevin Hack (Uxbridge, Mass., / Nipmuc Regional), Will Mardo (Cumberland, R.I., / Cumberland), Kialeigh Marston (Standish, Maine / Bonny Eagle), Nicole McMorrow (Milford, N.H., / Milford), and Alicia Polak (Lowell, Mass., / Lowell) as captains for the 2019-20 season.
"This group of eight seniors, chosen by their peers, are all perfect examples of the type of student athletes we hoped they would become," said Baltzell. "Some were destined for this leadership role from the moment they stepped on campus nearly three years ago. Others have grown and taken the necessary steps to earn their votes. At the end of the day I know each of them will do their job successfully. It's a group that leads by example. Their work ethic is strong, they are respected by their teammates and coaches alike, and are all fantastic role models. They all bring constant positive energy to practices and meets. In our efforts to become champions, we need to be the best we can be. It all starts with these eight student athletes."
Mardo and Marston are charged with captaining the distance runners. Marston earned NCAA Division II Second-Team All-America honors in the 3,000-meter steeplechase when she placed 12th in a time of 11:42.17. She was the NE10 Champion in both the 5000-meter and the 1500-meter race at the NE10 Championships. This is the second year Mardo will be serving as a team captain. He helped the team finish fifth at the NE10 Outdoor Championships, their best finish at the NE10 Championships. He finished eighth in the 5000-meter run at the NE10 Championships.
Gill and Polak will be captaining the mid-distance runners. Gill placed seventh in the 400-meter dash with a time of 55.90 at the Merrimack and helped the team place fifth at the NE10 Outdoor Championships. Polak was part of the 4x800 relay team that placed fourth in a time of 9:35.51 at the NE10 Championships and helped the team place second at the NE10 Outdoor Championships.
McMorrow and Hack will be leading the jumpers and sprinters. Hack was named to the USTFCCCA All-Region Team for high jump and decathlon. He set a personal best in the 200- meter dash with a time of 23.20 at the Black and Gold Invitational. Hack also won the decathlon with 6,292 points at the NE10 Outdoor Championships. McMorrow was part of the second-place finish in the 4x100 relay in a time of 48.83 at the Coastal Carolina Invitational, setting a new school record.
Chicca and Casella will be serving as the captains of the throwers. Chicca placed fourth in the javelin throw at the Penmen Relays with a distance of 52.97 meters. He also finished eighth at the Merrimack meet in the discus with a distance of 23.69 meters. Casella was named ot the USTFCCCA All-Region Team for shot put, javelin, and discus. She was also named Most Outstanding Field Performer at the NE10 Outdoor Championships as she set career highs in shotput, discus, hammer throw, and javelin.
For the latest on Assumption College Athletics, follow the Hounds via social media on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.