University of Massachusets Athletics
Four Teams Recognized With UMass Athlete Of The Week
May 04, 2015 | Men's Track & Field
AMHERST, Mass. - UMass Athlete of the Week will be split between representatives of four Minuteman and Minutewoman programs following a successful weekend of competition for the Maroon and White. Women's lacrosse senior Amy Tiernan, men's track and field junior Benjamin Groleau, women's track and field sophomore Heather MacLean and all nine members of the UMass rowing Varsity 8+ boat will be recognized during the upcoming UMass Sports Luncheon, set for Wednesday, May 6.
Tiernan was named the Atlantic 10 Championship Most Outstanding Player after leading UMass to its seventh consecutive league title over the weekend. The senior netted five goals and an assist in the wins over George Mason and Richmond, which helped guarantee the squad an appearance in its seventh straight NCAA Tournament.
MacLean defended her Atlantic 10 title and broke the conference record in the 800 meter run, which had stood since 2011. She took home her second career outdoor gold medal in the event, finishing first at two minutes, 7.28-seconds, a New England and ECAC-qualifying performance. It marked MacLean's second conference title of her sophomore campaign as she won the 800m at A-10's indoors, as well.
Groleau won his first A-10 title in the 1,5000 meter run and broke an Atlantic 10 record that had been untouched since 2006. He took in gold with a time of three minutes, 48.43 seconds, a New England and IC4A-qualifying run. In addition to setting a new A-10 Championship record, Groleau's finish ranks as the fifth all-time mark in the UMass record book.
The Varsity 8+ boat of Heather Pekarovich, Lauren St. Pierre, Emily Mann, Marika Kopp, Pippa Edwards, Aiste Balciunaite, Nicole Destefano, Haley York and Allanah Rubi-Mooney secured UMass its 15th Atlantic 10 Championship in school history with a decisive first place finish in its event. The boat beat out the silver medal finishers from Rhode Island by three seconds with a 6:50.23 finish. The V8+ race win - worth 27 points towards the team standings - gave the Minutewomen 53 team points and guaranteed their finish atop the day's standings while Rhode Island ended in second with 47 points.
The luncheon will be hosted in the Mullins Center's Massachusetts Room. It will begin at Noon with a $14 salad-to-dessert buffet and will also serve as the UMass Spring Scholar-Athlete Award reception. The male and female student-athletes chosen for the awards will be announced Tuesday, May 5.
