Bay State Games Announces 2019 Athletes of the Year

September 12, 2019

Bay State Games athletes of the year are eligible for the National Athlete of Year, to be announced in September

Bay State Games selects an athlete of the year in four categories. The 2019 selections for Athlete of the Year are:

Female Athlete 18 & younger - Isabella Korbly

Male Athlete 18 & younger - Gabriel Matnog

Female Athlete 19 & older - Olivia Kane

Male Athlete 19 & older - Roger Pierce

Isabella Korbly is a resident of Acton, Mass. who has competed in Bay State Games swimming since 2013 and has won 17 medals, including 12 gold. She is a two-time Massachusetts State Champion in the 100 backstroke and holds the meet record for the Fall Division I Girls State Meet in the 100y backstroke. The rising junior holds two individual and one relay record at Acton-Boxboro High School. As a member of the Patriot Swim Club, she was a two-time New England Senior 200y backstroke champion. She is a USA Swimming National and Junior National qualifier and was named to the 2017-18 and 2018-19 USA Swimming Scholastic All-America team. This summer, Isabella competed at the USA Swimming Futures Championships in Geneva, Ohio and finished second in the 100m backstroke and ninth in the 200m backstroke.

Gabriel Matnog is a resident of Malden, Massachusetts. He is 15 years old and has competed in Bay State Games shooting competitions in Air Pistol, Sport Pistol and Progressive Position Pistol and won multiple gold, silver, and bronze medals. He is a high school junior and captain of the Massachusetts Junior Pistol Shooting team which he joined in 2014. He is a two-time Junior Olympian, has won medals in countless NRA sanctioned matches and holds a #1 ranking in Massachusetts for sport pistol and #3 in Air Pistol. Gabriel also plays lacrosse at Malden High School. Gabriel has achieved the rank of Eagle Scout at the young age of 14 and is a very accomplished. He is very active in school activities including the mock trial team, school newspaper, and debate team.

Olivia Kane is a resident of Weston, Mass. and has won several gold medals at Bay State Games Baton Twirling over the past few years. She recently graduated from North Carolina State University with a degree in communications. At NC State, she was a featured twirler for the Wolfpack Majorettes and served as the captain. She won the 2018 NCA Gameday Division I National Championship and was second at the NBTA Collegiate Halftime National Solo competition. She has also placed top 10 in College Miss Majorette of America more than once. In August 2019, Olivia participated in the 2019 IBTF Grand Prix in Limoges, France as a part of Team USA. She placed 14th in the solo competition and 16th in the 2-baton. Olivia began twirling at age 3 and has been competing on the national level for more than 15 years.

Roger Pierce is a resident of Rowley, Mass. who has competed in Bay State Games Masters Track every year since 1986. Roger is 74 years old and finished third in his division competing against athletes 10 years younger than him. He held the Bay State Games meet record in Men 60+ 100 Meter Dash for 4 years. Roger is a 15-time World Champion and is an 11-time World Record Holder. He has won 39 USATF National Championships and broken 17 USA records. He has been inducted into the USATF Masters Hall of Fame (2008), Northeastern University Sports Hall of Fame (2008), and Beverly High School Hall of Fame (2004).

The Bay State Games Athlete of the Year program was established to recognize individuals who excel above and beyond their athletic participation in the Bay State Games. Individuals are chosen based on overall achievements, involvement in the Bay State Games, involvement in their community, effort, sportsmanship, overcoming adversity and attitude on and off the field. Nominations were submitted by coaches, commissioners, parents, volunteers, and other players.

Individuals chosen as Bay State Games Athlete of the Year have been submitted for recognition as the National State Games Athlete of the Year. If chosen as the National State Games Athlete of the Year, recipients will receive an all-expense paid trip to receive their award at the National Congress of State Games award presentation held annually in the fall. National Athlete of the Year winners will be notified in September 2019.

For more information on the Bay State Games Athlete of the Year program and past winners, go to www.baystategames.org/AOY.

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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.