This story originally ran in The Standard-Times on Dec. 5, 2002.

By Nick Tavares
Standard-Times correspondent

In the first dual meet of the season, Eric Rosinha, Dartmouth's top runner and captain in cross country, came in second against New Bedford.

The feeling must not have sat well with him, because he then decided not to lose again, and in the process, picked up The Standard-Times Player of the Year honor.

Rosinha finished first in the next seven dual meets, going undefeated in the Eastern Athletic Conference, then capped his season with a win at the EAC meet for the title of conference champion.

Rosinha went on to perform well in the State Coaches meet and the Sectional meet at Franklin Park in Boston, finishing as the top area runner in Division I in both, but it was the conference victory that held a special meaning for him.

"I liked winning the EAC meet," said Rosinha. "That wasn't the biggest accomplishment, but I liked it because it was local, and when you go up to Boston, there's just a whole bunch of people and you're just kind of finishing."

Rosinha was not able to break 17 minutes as he did last year when he ran a 16:27 at Dartmouth's home course at Friend's Academy, but he did run a very impressive 17:11 at the coaches meet, beating New Bedford's Bruce Nicely by about half a second after trailing for most of the race.

Nicely had handed Rosinha the loss earlier in the year, but there really wasn't any revenge factor in mind during the race.

"I didn't even really pay attention to it," admitted Rosinha. "At the end I just saw him there and thought, 'Well, I'll go get him.'"

"I always end up doing better at the end, anyway. I go off kind of slow and pick it up after."

The season as a whole was a special one for Rosinha, too. The Dartmouth boys, made up of mostly seniors, found themselves more relaxed and enjoying themselves. Rosinha assumed the role of a quiet leader, stepping into the top spot after Keith Manchester graduated.

"This year was the best year because we worked more as a team," said Rosinha. "Where the other years people were getting mad at each other, this year we were hanging out more and just having fun.

"He really worked hard all season long," said Dartmouth head coach Hilary Souza. "He really did a great job in the captain's role."

Rosinha's running schedule is also packed through the rest of the season, as he plans on running the 1,000, one mile and two mile this coming winter, and may see action in the four-by-400 as well.

Looking ahead to the winter track season, Eric feels that Dartmouth will once again be competitive in the hunt for the EAC title, with reigning conference champ Bishop Feehan in sight.

"I think we can (compete with Feehan) this year," said Rosinha, "because they've lost a few of their guys and we have most of our guys coming back. So I think that we'll do well."

Eric also looks forward to June, when he takes his only extended break from running.

"Well I go running every once in a while, there's no set plan," said Rosinha. "That Augus,t I run before the season, and in Jul,y I run a little bi,t but June's the only time I really get off."

After this year, Eric's early plans are attending Massachusetts Maritime Academy, where he would major in marine engineering -- and, of course, run for his new school.

This story appeared on Page C1 of The Standard-Times on Dec. 5, 2002.