November 18, 2011
Wentworth women's program elevated to varsity status
by PR Wire Report/
Wentworth Institute of Technology Director of Athletics Angel Ayres has announced the elevation of women's lacrosse from club status to Wentworth's 16th varsity program, effective with the 2012-2013 year.
In addition, Jess Blair has been named as the program's head coach while Julie Lancaster will serve as an assistant coach.
"We are very excited about this announcement regarding our women's lacrosse program," said Ayres. "This will give our current women at Wentworth a tremendous opportunity to be involved in a great experience and will also provide another avenue for recruiting great women to Wentworth. Women's lacrosse has been a rapidly growing collegiate sport and Wentworth is proud to be a part of this growing trend. I look forward to supporting this program and helping them to develop into a competitive program in the Commonwealth Coast Conference.”
"This is not only an exciting occasion for Wentworth Athletics but an unforgettable moment for each student athlete who is helping to build this program," said Blair. "I am so honored to have been chosen to take on this unique opportunity and very much look forward to making history here at Wentworth."
Blair has coached the Leopard club team since the fall of 2010 after spending two seasons as the head women's lacrosse coach at Pine Manor College, a program that was entering its fourth season of play when she took over. While with the Gators her team went from zero wins the year before she arrived to four wins during her inaugural season. The squad also won its first-ever conference game during the 2010 season.
A native of Middlebury, Vt., Blair is a 2005 graduate of Endicott College where she served as captain during her junior and senior campaigns.
"Jess Blair has been a tremendous addition to our athletic staff," said Ayres. "She has been working diligently to start this program and has built a solid foundation. She has the work ethic and passion for the sport and Wentworth to build this program and succeed. I truly look forward to working with Jess on her journey."
Lancaster, a Waterville, Maine, native, is no stranger to helping build women's lacrosse programs as she was a member of the first four (2004-2007) varsity teams at Southern New Hampshire University. She presently ranks sixth in program history with 53 caused turnovers and ninth with 92 ground balls.
"As a collegiate student-athlete I was lucky enough to make history at Southern New Hampshire University as part of its first varsity women's lacrosse team," said Lancaster. "I am now looking forward to becoming a part of Wentworth's history in coaching the very first varsity women's lacrosse team. Starting a new athletic program is not an easy task. It takes dedicated coaches and student-athletes along with support from the entire school community. We are thankful that the Wentworth community has been so supportive in developing of our new program."
