Bay State Games Inducts NBA Champion, US Olympian, and Thirty Year Volunteer Coach into 2025 Hall of Fame

June 18, 2025

WOBURN – Pat Connaughton (Basketball/Baseball), Brian Harris (Basketball/Softball Coach), and

Ada Korkhin (Pistol Shooting) have been selected for induction into the 2025 Bay State Games' Hall of Fame. The inductees will receive their award at a pre-game ceremony at Fenway Park on Friday, June 27 prior to the Red Sox game against the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Bay State Games Hall of Fame was created to recognize past participants who have gone on

to prestigious and successful athletic careers, as well as former and current coaches, officials,

sports organizers, and volunteers who have made significant contributions to the organization throughout its 38-year history. Past inductees among the over 60 previous honorees include the NBA’s Dana Barros (`06), Tom Thibodeau ('17) and the late Reggie Lewis (`02); WNBA’s Rebecca Lobo (’03), the NHL’s Bill Guerin ('09) and Keith Yandle ('14); Major League Baseball’s Carlos Pena ('11) and Rich Hill ('13); Olympians Nancy Kerrigan ('07), Jim Pedro (’04) and Bill Cleary ('14) as well as US Paralympic Gold Medalist Joe Lemar (’15).

“The Hall of Fame has been a great way to recognize the many Bay State Games alumni who have gone on to prestigious athletic careers as well as those organizers and officials who have contributed to our success over the last four decades” said Kevin Cummings, the Bay State Games Executive Director. “It is an honor to recognize this year’s class that includes an NBA Champion, a US Olympic team member and a volunteer coach of over thirty years”.

PAT CONNAUGHTON - BASKETBALL/BASEBALL

Pat Connaughton was a two sport Bay State Games athlete in both Basketball and Baseball. In high school at St. John’s Prep, he earned the Massachusetts Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year Award. After an illustrious basketball and baseball career at the University of Notre Dame, Pat led the Irish to its only Men’s Basketball Conference Championship in the ACC. Pat was selected in the MLB draft in 2014 and NBA draft in 2015. In 2021 he became an NBA champion with the Milwaukee Bucks. Beyond the court, Pat is Co-Founder and CEO of real estate development company, Three Leaf Partners, headquartered in Milwaukee and he started the Pat Connaughton Foundation in 2016 based on the pillars of - courts, clinics, and character.

BRIAN HARRIS - BASKETBALL / SOFTBALL COACH

A lifelong resident of Somerville, Brian has volunteered as a Bay State Games coach in both girls basketball and softball for over thirty years. Brian is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and Harvard Law School. He spent over three decades serving at the Somerville District Court. Brian is involved with several youth organizations and serves as board president of the Somerville YMCA. Brian has built an extraordinary coaching legacy across high school basketball and softball, amassing over 500 varsity wins and earning numerous Coach of the Year honors.

ADA KORKHIN - PISTOL SHOOTING

Ada Korkhin from Brookline, competed at the Bay State Games in Pistol Shooting. She also served as a Bay State Games Ambassador at Brookline High School. At the age of 14, Ada started competing internationally with trips that included events in Buenos Aires, South Korea and Egypt. She has medaled at multiple world and US events. At the age of nineteen, Ada made her Olympic debut as a member of the US Pistol Shooting team in Paris. She is currently a member of the Ohio State University shooting team where she is studying biochemistry.

For more on the Bay State Games Hall of Fame and past inductees, click here.

https://www.baystategames.org/hall-of-fame

The 2025 Bay State Summer Games are currently underway with competitions spanning the months of June and July. For more details on the Summer Games, click here.

https://www.baystategames.org/summer-sports

About the Massachusetts Amateur Sports Foundation/Bay State Games

The Massachusetts Amateur Sports Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was

established in 1982 to host the first sanctioned state games of the Commonwealth. It operates with the mission of promoting personal development, education, physical fitness, teamwork, and sportsmanship to Massachusetts citizens of all ages and abilities. The Foundation is recognized for hosting high quality, Olympic-style events through the Bay State Summer and Winter Games, as well as educational programs, including the Future Leaders Scholarship Program, and the High School Ambassador Program.

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Bay State Games Awarded a B.A.A. Gives Back Grant

November 24, 2025

Fall edition of the B.A.A. Gives Back Grant Program awards $125,000 to local non-profit organizations

Bay State Games Announces 2025 Future Leaders Scholarship Recipients

November 18, 2025

The Bay State Games has selected six statewide scholarship recipients for the 2025 Future Leaders Scholarship Program. These student-athletes were selected from a large applicant pool after a process that included committee reviews of all applications and virtual interviews with selected applicants. These future leaders were selected based on their achievements and involvement in academics, community service, athletics, and leadership roles. The Bay State Games Future Leaders Scholarship program was established in 1989 and has since distributed nearly $400,000 in financial aid. Each of these high school seniors will receive a $1,000 scholarship for their first year of college. “Bay State Games is proud to continue the Future Leaders Scholarship program which since 1989 has provided over $400,000 in aid to support the continuing education of outstanding young leaders." said Kevin Cummings, Executive Director of the Bay State Games. “These well deserving student-athletes have excelled in the classroom, on the field and in the community, representing a variety of schools, sports and regions across Massachusetts” This year’s six scholarship recipients are Elyse Bissada, Brooke Blahut, Abigail Howie, Olivia Laaper, Sabina Mackechnie, Molly McIntyre. Elyse Bissada is a senior at Dover-Sherborn High School, where she is a four-year varsity field hockey and track & field athlete, as well as the team captain for both sports. In 2025, Elyse was a member of the Bay State Games Southeast field hockey team where she won a gold medal. Elyse is the founder of the Veterinary Medicine Club at her school and in her free time volunteers at local farms and Animal Rescue Leagues across the state. Elyse has committed to play field hockey and study biology at Hamilton College, where she plans to pursue veterinary medicine and ultimately establish an affordable low-cost clinic that serves her community. Brooke Blahut is a senior at North Quincy High School where she is a 4-year varsity member of the soccer team, and captain of the varsity ice hockey team. Brooke is also a well accomplished figure skater. She began skating at age 2 at Winterland Skating School and is now a U.S. Figure Skating Gold Medalist. Brooke has participated in Bay State Games annually since 2016, medaled 6 times, and is a 4-year Bay State Games High School Ambassador. Brooke is also the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Ambassador for NQHS. Brooke is Vice President of her class, a member of the National Honor Society and Science National Honor Society and academically ranks in the top 5% of her class with a 4.6 GPA. Brooke is a two-time team leader and participant in the FBI Teen Leadership Academy and plans to pursue her master’s in forensic science and criminology and become an FBI Special Agent. Abigail Howie is a senior at Wilmington High School, where she is on the varsity soccer team and is captain of the Winter and Spring Track teams. Abigail serves as President of Student Council and the Wildcat Service Council, where she founded the “Bridging Generations” community initiative. She is a member of the National Honor Society, DECA, and Best Buddies. Abigail coaches a Wilmington fourth-grade team and is a USSF-certified soccer referee. She has most recently created an Alzheimer's Awareness community service project for her senior year. She hopes to continue her athletic career in college while studying sports management and marketing. Olivia Laaper resides in Stow and is a senior at Fusion Academy in Burlington. Laaper has been a captain of multiple high school sports teams including Track & Field and Swimming. Olivia is captain of her archery team at Riverside Archers and has won multiple medals in archery at Bay State Games and state competitions. Beyond athletics, Olivia has gained hands-on experience in emergency medicine as a high school intern with Pro EMS and plans to take her EMT certification this fall. She gives back to her community by lifeguarding and coaching youth swimming at Goldfish Swim School, volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters and at local food banks. In college, Olivia plans to pursue a degree in nursing with a minor in emergency medicine and psychology. Sabina Mackechnie is a senior at East Longmeadow High School where she is a three sport athlete and captain in Soccer, Basketball and Lacrosse. She has earned all-league and second-team All-Western Mass honors in soccer and lacrosse. Sabina has been a By State Games Ambassador for two years and is a member of her school's Athletic Leadership Council and Pink Ribbon Club. Sabina participates in canned food drives and fundraisers for her school sports teams. Sabina will continue her lacrosse career at Springfield College while pursuing a degree in Education. Molly McIntyre is a senior at Norton High School where she is a three-sport captain in cross country, basketball, and outdoor track, earning multiple TVL All-Star honors, and MVP awards. Molly serves in key leadership roles on Student Council, DECA, Best Buddies, and five National Honor Societies. She volunteers at local youth sports programs, community events, and the MSG Gregory Trent Foundation. Molly works part-time at a donut shop and local ice cream store. She plans on attending Stonehill College where she will compete in track and study Finance and Marketing. For more information on the Future Leaders Scholarship Program, click here. For a list of past recipients and the colleges and universities they've attended, click here . About the Massachusetts Amateur Sports Foundation/Bay State Games The Massachusetts Amateur Sports Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was established in 1982 to host the first sanctioned state games of the Commonwealth. It operates with the mission of promoting personal development, education, physical fitness, teamwork, and sportsmanship to Massachusetts citizens of all ages and abilities. The Foundation is recognized for hosting high quality, Olympic-style events through the Bay State Summer and Winter Games, as well as educational programs, including the Future Leaders Scholarship Program, and the High School Ambassador Program.