College Notebook: Rocha finding spotlight at Providence

Catarina Rocha is no stranger to the spotlight. From her days at Peabody High, where she was a two-time individual champion and led the Tanners to a cross-country state title, to now competing for a Division I program at Providence College, she has been at the top of her game.
Rocha came to Providence in 2013, and she had a great year as a freshman. She placed 10th in the 1,500 meters at the Big East Championships and fifth at the ECAC Championships in the 5,000 meters, with times of 4 minutes, 30.96 seconds and 16:25.52, respectively. She also came in second place in the 3,000 meters at the Friar Invitational in April.
Although she had such great numbers in her first season of competition, Rocha admits that it was a big adjustment from high school.
?One of the major differences is that it is extremely competitive here,” Rocha said. “Ray (Treacy, Providence?s coach) and my teammates have definitely made it easier for me and all the incoming freshman last year.”
Rocha also understands that after such a great first year, it could be easy to get complacent. But that?s not the team atmosphere in Providence.
?My teammates are a great inspiration and they help me push myself to be the best that I can,” she said.
Her new goal is to improve on her freshman year and earn All-American honors. She would like to make the NCAA tournament as an individual, but she would also like her team to make the tournament.
?A major goal would be to place high in the team standings, like top 10,” Rocha said.
But as every student-athlete knows, it?s not all about what you do in the game. It can be hard for anyone to balance school and sports, but Rocha has always been able to stay on task.
?Academics always come first,” she said. “We do a lot of schoolwork while traveling and we always get our work done and in on time.”
It has been a great start to the 2014-2015 season for Rocha. In the 6,000 meters, she placed second at the Big East Championships (20:40) and seventh at the NCAA Northeast Regional Cross Country Meet (20:23). She finished 33rd in the 6,000 at the NCAA tournament (20:28), and she placed 13th in the 5,000 meters at the Boston College Coast to Coast Invitational (17:53).
She is still focused on improving for the spring semester, and she won?t stop until she?s back in the NCAAs.
?My focus now is getting back to the NCAAs as an individual and as a team,” she said. “I really want to improve on how we finished and finish in the top 10.”
Rocha has proven time and again that she has the ability to rise to the occasion. And there shouldn?t be any doubt that the best is yet to come.
Names and notesShaquan Murray, a freshman guard for Salem State?s men?s basketball team, was named MASCAC rookie of the week after averaging 10.5 points, two rebounds and two steals in a 1-1 week for the Vikings… Mike Casale, a freshman forward on Salem State?s men?s hockey team, was named MASCAC co-player and rookie of the week after scoring three goals and an assist for four points in a 2-0 week for the Vikings. He notched a power-play goal in a 2-1 victory over Framingham State and added two goals and an assist in 7-2 win against UMass Dartmouth?Endicott College sophomore guard Max Motroni was named the Commonwealth Coast Conference player of the week. He averaged 19.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in a 2-0 week for the Gulls.