Skyhawks' second-year Athletic Communications Coordinator recognized for outstanding coverage of nationally-ranked cross country programs
USTFCCCA Announces Excellence in Communications Awards for Cross Country
EASTON, Mass. (December 12, 2017) – Stonehill College athletic communications coordinator Denise Archetto has earned the Excellence In Communications Award for NCAA Division II Cross Country by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Archetto, nominated by Stonehill Hall of Fame head coach Karen Boen and members of both the men's and women's cross country teams, has provided first class coverage of the Skyhawks' men's and women's cross country programs by using fresh, new ideas to promote her teams. Stonehill swept both the men's and women's Northeast-10 Conference Championships, with the men also winning the New England and NCAA Division II East Regional Championships this fall, and both programs earning their way back to the NCAA Championships in November.
"The coaching staff and I are very proud to have Denise receive this award from the USTFCCA," said Boen. "It was a very exciting year for both of our cross country teams here at Stonehill and Denise brought the excitement from the course to our entire community. The effort she has put into promoting the sport of cross country made us all feel like true champions."
Archetto (back row, center) with members of the men's and women's cross country teams at the NCAA Division II Championships in November. |
Archetto created "Game Day" graphics for social media, as well as ranking graphics for the USTFCCCA Regional Rankings and National Coaches' Polls throughout the season. She previewed Stonehill's four major championship meets in which the Skyhawks competed by creating videos that highlighted interviews with Boen and her student-athletes, as well as highlight videos upon completion of each meet. Archetto joined the teams at the New England Championships in Boston, as well as Evansville, Indiana, for the NCAA Division II Championships, providing comprehensive coverage of their accomplishments throughout the event and following.
"I am excited that the USTFCCCA has recognized Denise for her hard work promoting our championship cross country programs with this award," said Doug Monson, Assistant Director of Athletics for Communications. "To be nominated, not just by the coaching staff, but by the student-athletes from both teams, shows the impact she has on their experience and student life, illustrating how very deserving of this honor she is."
The Stonehill men's cross country program won all six of its meets this fall on their way to winning its first New England Championship in program history, capturing the NE10 title for the ninth time in program history - its first since 2013. The Skyhawks also claimed the NCAA East Regional championship for the fourth time in program history to earn their 15th-straight trip to the NCAA Division II Championships, where it placed 16th overall, marking its highest finish since 2006.
The Stonehill women's cross country program won its ninth-straight NE10 Championship, marking its 16th Conference title overall, led by senior Emily Knox (Worcester, Massachusetts/Notre Dame Academy) who won the program's third-straight NE10 individual crown. The Skyhawks qualified for the NCAA Championships for the 17th-staight year with a second place finish at the East Regional in Amherst, New York, again led by Knox who won the program's third-straight individual regional title on her way to All-America honors at the NCAA Championships.
"We realize that our athletic communications office works endlessly promoting all 21 of our athletic programs," said Boen. "Alumni, family and friends all feel a part of the excitement due to their commitment to promoting our sport in general. Recognizing Denise and their efforts with this award is so well deserved."
Archetto, a native of Cranston, Rhode Island, is in her second year as Athletic Communications Coordinator at Stonehill. In addition to men's and women's cross country, she serves as the primary contact for the Skyhawks equestrian, men's and women's soccer, volleyball, ice hockey, baseball, softball and women's indoor and outdoor track and field. Archetto has been instrumental in expanding the video and graphics coverage of the Skyhawks 21 intercollegiate sports over her short time at the College. Prior to joining the communications staff at Stonehill, the 2015 Lasell College graduate served as Athletic Communications Intern at Harvard University.
With 21 intercollegiate sports, after announcing the addition of women's golf for the 2017-18 academic year, Stonehill boasts one of the top athletic and academic programs in the country. Stonehill has finished in the top three of the NE10 Conference Presidents' Cup standings for overall athletic performance 13 straight years, following a second place finish in 2017. The Skyhawks have received the NCAA Division II Presidents' Award for Academic Achievement each of the first seven years of the program's existence of honoring institutions with an Academic Success Rate (ASR) of 90-percent or better. Stonehill has earned a 97% ASR, which considers the academic success rate of the institution based on the graduation rate of student-athletes, good for fourth among all NCAA Division II institutions, with ten Skyhawk teams receiving a perfect rating of 100%. In addition, the Skyhawks are ranked third in the National Collegiate Scouting Association (NCSA) Power Rankings for Division II used to assess the academic and athletic standards of all NCAA and NAIA athletic programs.
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