Westfield’s Mason Balch agreed to play lacrosse for Bryant University’s Division I program. He signed a national letter of intent during a Nov. 10 ceremony recognizing seven Williston students signing to play college sports at the Division I and II levels.

Mason plays attack. He’s handled a stick since kindergarten. His proudest moment on the field came last season, when he scored the game-winning goal in overtime against Canterbury to clinch the Western New England Secondary School Lacrosse Association Division II championship.

As a leader, he tries “to be mature and sometimes hard on some of my best friends while also keeping those close relationships,” he said. But that challenge also yields rewards. “Being able to lead a team full of overall good guys and being a role model to some of the younger ones will trump any winning record or trophy.”

As he prepares for his final season at Williston, he looks to a promising future in college. “I hope to make the most out of my four years at Bryant and compete with some of the best athletes in the country while representing my hometown and high school. Williston has given me the absolute best opportunity and resources to work on my craft and become the best possible student-athlete I can.”

Mason’s lacrosse coach, Christopher Dietrich, spoke to Mason’s performance: “Mason Balch is one of the most dynamic offensive players we have ever had here at Williston. He has the ability to both score goals, and assist on goals at any moment that the ball is in his stick. He is a consummate competitor,” Dietrich continued. “He can always be counted on to do whatever his team needs him to do at any time to improve their chances of success, and most important to me, as his coach, he makes everyone else on the field with him better based on the way he plays the game.”

Mason began his Williston career last year. “He genuinely has the tools to succeed at the Division I level, and we look forward to watching as he makes his splash at Bryant next year,” Dietrich said.