Bears of the Year

Spring ‘12, Fall ‘12, Winter ‘12-13

Male Bear of the Year: Sean Riley

 Senior, Baseball

In his first season as a Bear, Riley helped capture a MASCAC Championship with an outstanding offensive performance as he hit .373 with eight home runs and 40 runs batted it.

Other recognition: ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division III All-America Second Team, D3baseball.com All-American Honorable Mention, NEIBA Division III All-New England First Team, D3baseball.com All-New England Second Team, MASCAC Player of the Year, MASCAC All-Conference First Team

Male Honorable Mentions:

Michael McPherson

Senior, Outdoor/Indoor Track & Field

McPherson had two memorable seasons in both outdoor and indoor track and field for the Bears. McPherson captured All-American honors in the shot put in spring 2012 and made it to the National Championships this past indoor season.

Other recognition: All-ECAC Division III Shot Put, All-NEICAAA Shot Put, All-New England Division III shot put, All-MASCAC Shot Put, All-New England Alliance Shot Put. (All accomplishments in both outdoor and indoor seasons)

Stephen Wahome

Senior, Outdoor/Cross Country/Indoor Track & Field

Wahome had another stellar season for Bridgewater State leading the Bears outdoor and indoor track and field teams to MASCAC titles.

Other recognition: CoSIDA Capital One Division III Academic All-District One First Team, All-ECAC Division III 10,000-Meter Run, All-New England Division III 4 x 800-Meter Relay, All-MASCAC 5,000-Meter Run (Outdoor Track)

All-New England Alliance, MASCAC Runner of the Year, MASCAC All-Conference Team (Cross Country)

All-MASCAC 3,000-Meter Run, All-MASCAC 5,000-Meter Run, All-MASCAC 4×800-Meter Relay, All-New England Alliance 5,000-Meter Run, All-New England Alliance 3,000-Meter Run (Indoor Track)

Paul Melicharek

Senior, Football

Melicharek led the Bridgewater State football team to a 9-2 record this past season and an NCAA Tournament appearance.

Other recognition: Gridiron Club of Greater Boston 17th Annual Joe Zabilski Award, All American Bowl Participant, Aztec Bowl Participant, Beyond Sports Network DIII Football All-America Team (Honorable Mention), D3football.com All-East Region Third Team, NEFC All-Bogan Division First Team

Female Bear of the Year: Molly Rouillard

     Senior, Outdoor/Cross Country/Indoor Track & Field

Rouillard has put the Bridgewater State track program on a national level with her performances in the past year, as she will go down as one of the best runners ever at Bridgewater State.

Other Recognition: CoSIDA Capital One Division III Academic All-District One First Team, NCAA Division III Championships Qualifier 10,000-Meter Run, All-ECAC Division III 10,000-Meter Run, All-New England Division III 10,000-Meter Run, All-MASCAC 5,000-Meter Run, All-New England Alliance 5,000-Meter Run (Outdoor Track)

NCAA Division III Championships Qualifier, Cross Country Coaches Association Division III All-New England, All-New England Alliance, MASCAC Runner of the Year, MASCAC All-Conference Team (Cross Country)

USTFCCCA NCAA Division III All-American One-Mile Run, All-New England Division III 5,000-Meter Run, All-MASCAC One-Mile Run, All-New England Alliance One-Mile Run (Indoor Track)

Honorable Mentions:

Shelby Farland

Senior, Lacrosse/Field Hockey

Farland had one of the best field hockey seasons ever seen at Bridgewater State as she scored 32 goals, and had 13 assists for 17 points. Farland also had a successful lacrosse season leading the Bears to another NEWLA Championship.

Other recognition: NEWLA Defensive Player of the Year, NEWLA All-Conference First Team (Lacrosse)

ECAC Division III New England Women’s Field Hockey All-Star Team, WomensFieldHockey.com All-America Third Team, Longstreth/NFHCA Division III All-New England West Region First Team, NFHCA Division III Senior Game, Little East Conference First Team All-Star (Field Hockey)

Jenna Williamson

Junior, Tennis/Basketball

Williamson has made a name for herself on two courts this year. In her three years on the tennis team, Williamson is 24-0 in LEC play and she averaged 12.3 points per game on an NCAA Tournament Lady Bears’ basketball team this season.

Other recognition: Little East Conference Player of the Year, Little East All-Conference First Team (1st Singles), Little East All-Conference Second Team (1st Doubles), Little East Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player (Tennis) MASCAC Tournament Most Valuable Player, 2x MASCAC Player of the Week (Basketball)

Jennifer Shaw

Senior, Softball

Shaw exploded onto the Bridgewater State scene in her junior season with an impressive performance at the plate all season as she hit .402 with nine home runs and 39 runs batted in.

Other recognition: ECAC Division III New England Second Team All-Star, NFCA Division III All-New England Second Team, NEISCA Division III All-Star Second Team, MASCAC Player of the Year, MASCAC All-Conference First Team