BOSTON – Suffolk women's cross country will have a new leadership group for the 2025 season as head coach Will Feldman has tabbed seniors Shannon Groom and Amy Pattelena and junior Sofia Moukaddem as tri-captains.
"The 2025 roster will be the biggest in the history of the program, and leadership is going to be crucial if we are going to achieve our goals," Feldman said. "I'm thrilled to have three new captains who are more than capable of continuing to drive our team culture forward in Shannon (Groom), Amy (Pattelena) and Sofia (Moukaddem)."
Feldman continued, "With 12 new women joining the team I need our captains to be role models and mentors."
Groom, Moukaddem and Pattelena will be stepping into the leadership role for the first time in their Suffolk careers. The Rams will be led by a trio of captains for the first time. It is the second-largest group to share the role behind the 2023 captain quartet of Ellie Davis, Sydney Fogg, Jocelyn Triscik and Sarah Roberts.
The triad were instrumental to Suffolk's fourth consecutive conference crown a year ago and the program's best finish at NCAA Division III East Outdoor Regionals with a fifth-place showing.
Pattelena, who has had a role in three straight league titles, has proven herself from the get-go as a consistent contributor through her collegiate long-distance career and her resume proves it. The Hollis, New Hampshire, native is a two-time U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-East honoree and earned Division III New England Association All-New England runner twice, to go along with three all-league distinctions.
"Amy was fortunate to have been mentored herself by some of the best leaders we've had come through the program," Feldman said. "She will lead by example this year and will be our rock."
Moukaddem brought her talents to Beacon Hill after a freshman campaign at CNE rival Endicott. In her first season in blue-and-gold, the Weston, Massachusetts product raced to USTFCCCA All-East and secured a spot on the conference's second team.
Feldman said, "Sofia's personality and approach to training and competition is our team culture personified. She is one of the most competitive people I've ever coached, and no one outworks her. I can count on her to push the rest of the team to match her level of intensity every day."
Groom continuously wrote and rewrote her 6k personal-best a year ago and the Abington, Massachusetts local has evolved into a natural leader.
"Shannon has proven herself to be a great teammate, and I know she will be the one to take the new runners under her wing and help them navigate the ups and downs of their first season at Suffolk," Feldman said.
With Groom, Moukaddem and Pattelena ready to guide the way, the Rams are preparing for their 2025 opener, the Suffolk Short Course Classic Saturday, Aug. 30 at Highland Park in Attleboro, Massachusetts.