Bay State Games Announces 2023 Future Leaders Scholarship Recipients

Bay State Games • Nov 20, 2023

WOBURN (November 20, 2023) – The Bay State Games has selected six statewide scholarship recipients for the 2023 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.

“Since its inception in 1989, the Future Leaders Scholarship Program recognizes outstanding high school students that excel in the classroom, in the community and on the field of play,” said Kevin Cummings, Executive Director of the Bay State Games. “We are proud that this program has provided nearly $400,000 in aid to support the continuing education of these well deserving student-athletes that represent all regions of Massachusetts and over 25 different sports.”

This year’s six scholarship recipients are:

Avery Avila is a senior at Westport High School, where she plays field hockey and softball. Avery serves as captain for the field hockey team and played on the Coastal team in the 2022 and 2023 Field Hockey Showcase, winning the gold medal both years. Avery also competes in golf outside of school and has competed in Junior PGA tournaments. Avery is ranked #3 in her class, sporting a 4.71 GPA. She is very involved in her school community, serving as secretary of the Student Council, stage manager for her school's drama productions, a Project 351 ambassador, and a member of the medical club. Avery also volunteers at a food pantry and referees youth field hockey. Avery hopes to study biology and go into the medical field.

Ian Born is a senior at Somerville High School. He is ranked #2 in his class with a 4.87 GPA. Ian is a captain on the Highlanders baseball and basketball teams and also plays on the golf team. Ian played on the Metro team in the 2023 Baseball Showcase. He is also a black belt in Kung Fu and now works as an instructor for younger athletes. Ian also spends time as a tee-ball assistant coach and a Little League umpire. Outside of sports, Ian is the viola section leader in the orchestra and an Alpha Scholars researcher. Ian has been published in the Harvard International Review for a paper, "Success Factors for Desalination: Qualitative Case Studies of Desalination Around the World.” Ian is highly involved with the Special Olympics. He plans to study engineering and play baseball at Swarthmore College.

Hannah Bryson is a senior at Wilmington High School, where she competes in cross country, track & field, and wrestling. Hannah competed in the 2023 Bay State Games Wrestling tournament, winning silver in her weight class. Hannah also runs cross country and track and served as a team captain this past season for cross country. She is a black belt in Krav Maga martial arts and now teaches younger athletes. At school, Hannah is an MIAA ambassador and president of the book club. She is also a skilled artist and an accomplished writer, having written five full-length novels. Hannah hopes to study English literature and creative writing in college.

Morgan Fillion is a native of Westfield and attends the Groton School, where she plays soccer and basketball, serving as team captain. She played in the Bay State Games Girls Soccer Showcase on the West team for 4 years, winning two silver medals and two bronze medals. Morgan is a club head of many clubs on campus including Morgan's Message, OneLove, Super Secret Queer Club, Bell Ringing, Acolyte, and Active Minds. Morgan is also an Admissions Prefect, Counseling Center Prefect, and Peer Counselor. She also gained campus recognition for her "Chapel Talk" on financial aid in life. Morgan is also an excellent student, holding a 99 GPA. Morgan plans to study forensic psychology or criminal justice while playing on the women's soccer team at the College of St. Rose next fall.

Savannah Gao is a senior at Hudson High School sporting a 4.57 GPA. Savannah is a two-time state champion and school record holder in javelin after not starting to compete until she entered high school. She competed in the 2023 Bay State Games Track & Field meet, winning gold in the scholastic javelin throw. Savannah also plays soccer, where she is the senior captain of the Hawks varsity girls soccer team. Outside of sports, Savannah is the vice president of her school's chapter of National Honors Society, vice president of the Relay for Life club, secretary and liaison for the Environmental Club, and a member of Jr. Boosters. She also volunteers at her local library and at Newton Wellesley Hospital. Savannah is committed to go to Boston University in the fall of 2024 to compete on the track & field team. She hopes to study health sciences and pursue the premed track.

Mattia McIntyre is a native of Norton and attends Norton High School. Mattia is a three-sport athlete, competing in swimming, cross country, and track & field. She has been a captain on the swim team since sophomore year. Mattia competed in Bay State Games Swimming in 2022 and 2023, winning two silver medals in 2023 and a bronze in 2022. Mattia is the secretary of the Student Council, vice president of the Spanish Honors Society and is a member of the National, English, and History Honors Societies. Outside of school, Mattia is a barista at Honey Dew and interns at an elementary school. After graduating in May, Mattia plans to study elementary education and psychology and compete on the swim team at Roger Williams University.

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 .

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Bay State Games Partners with Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association

By Bay State Games • 02 Apr, 2024

WOBURN – Bay State Games is excited to announce a new partnership with Mass Youth Soccer. Bay State Games Boys and Girls Soccer has a long history of showcasing some of the best high school players in Massachusetts in an event well attended by college coaches from dozens of New England area schools. Many high school coaches across the state have supported Bay State Games by volunteering to serve as team coaches or providing their players with information on the competition. The partnership will help ensure that all high school players and coaches across Massachusetts are aware of the valuable opportunities available through the Bay State Games soccer competition and the outstanding programs provided by Mass Youth Soccer including District. This also allows Bay State Games and Mass Youth Soccer to coordinate their event schedules to avoid conflicts and allow players to be part of both the events. "We are pleased to collaborate with the Mass Youth Soccer Association and coordinate our tournament schedules," said Kevin Cummings, Executive Director of the Bay State Games. "We hope that this collaboration will allow Massachusetts soccer athletes to participate in and reap the benefits of competing in both the Bay State Games Soccer Showcase and Mass Youth Soccer’s Districts Program." “Mass Youth Soccer is excited to collaborate with the Bay State Games and provide opportunities for athletes across the state to participate in exciting soccer programs and events through calendar alignment and shared communication,” said Rob Holliday, Executive Director, Mass Youth Soccer. “We hope to expand the partnership with Bay State Games in future years!” Registration for the 2024 Bay State Games Boys and Girls Soccer Showcase competition is now open. The showcase tournament will take place July 11-13 at Game On in Fitchburg. Athletes can register to try out for one of six regional teams based on where they live and/or go to high school. For additional details on the competition and a link to registration, go to www.baystategames.org/girls-soccer or www.baystategames.org/boys-soccer . For additional information on the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association, go to https://mayouthsoccer.org/ .

Bay State Games Celebrates Selection as a Stop & Shop Community Bag Program Beneficiary

By Bay State Games • 01 Apr, 2024

Woburn, Mass. – Bay State Games has been selected as a beneficiary of the Stop & Shop Community Bag Program for the month of April. The Stop & Shop Community Bag Program, which launched in May 2019, is a reusable bag program that facilitates community support with the goal to make a difference in the communities where shoppers live and work. Bay State Games was selected as the February beneficiary of the program by store leadership at the Stop & Shop located at 2 Elm Street in Woburn . Bay State Games will receive a $1 donation every time the $2.50 reusable Community Bag is purchased at this location during February, unless otherwise directed by the customer through the Giving Tag attached to the bag. “Bay State Games is honored to be selected as a beneficiary of the Stop & Shop Community bag program,” said Kevin Cummings, Executive Director of the Bay State Games. “Funds raised through this program will help support the recreation, education and personal development programs annually produced by the Bay State Games that impact thousands of participants of all ages and abilities.” Bay State Games is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was established in 1982 to host the first sanctioned State Games of the Commonwealth. Bay State Games operates with the mission of promoting personal development, education, physical fitness, teamwork, and sportsmanship to Massachusetts and surrounding New England states citizens of all ages and abilities through athletic competitions and scholarship programs. Learn more about Bay State Games by visiting www.baystategames.org For more information on the Stop & Shop Community Bag Program, visit stopandshop.2givelocal.com .

Marathon Sports to Supply 2024 Bay State Games Jacket

By Bay State Games • 15 Mar, 2024

The Bay State Games Jacket returns thanks to Marathon Sports

Registration Open for 2024 Bay State Summer Games

By Bay State Games • 05 Mar, 2024

WOBURN, MA – Registration for the 42nd annual Bay State Summer Games is now open. The 2024 Summer Games will include thirty sports with competitions from May 11 – July 27 at venues throughout eastern and central Massachusetts including Game On in Fitchburg, Boston Sports Institute in Wellesley, Union Point Sports Complex in Weymouth, and North Star Ice Sports in Westborough. Bay State Games participants range in age from 5 to over age 75 and represent more than 300 Massachusetts communities as well as surrounding New England States in some sports. From grassroots participants to accomplished amateur athletes, the Bay State Games provide opportunities for the athlete in all of us. Seven high school showcase sports will take place for a variety of sports, including baseball, basketball, field hockey, ice hockey, soccer, softball, and volleyball. Athletes currently in grade 8-11 who live or go to school in Massachusetts are eligible to attend regional tryouts during the month of June. These tryouts will determine teams representing the various regions of the Commonwealth that will compete against each other in July. Check each sport page for specific eligibility requirements. The Summer Games include a wide variety of individual sports including swimming, track & field, figure skating, pickleball, wrestling, weightlifting, badminton, and more. These sports are open to a wide range of ages and skill levels from youth participants to masters-aged athletes. Adaptive sport divisions in archery, swimming, and track & field are offered, as well. Bay State Games also organizes tournaments for pre-existing teams in rugby, and 6v6 field hockey. Returning in 2024, Table Tennis will take place on June 1 at PingPod in Boston after a 5-year hiatus from the Summer Games sport lineup. New venues include Babson College , which will host the Girls Basketball Showcase, and NorthStar Ice Sports , which will host Figure Skating and the Girls Ice Hockey Showcase. Game On in Fitchburg will serve as a hub venue for eight sports. Bay State Games expects 1,500 athletes and their families to attend competitions at Game On during the second week of July. Bay State Games is pleased to announce a new partnership with Marathon Sports to provide athletes, officials, and volunteers with a special, traditional Bay State Games gift. Details will be released later in March. “We are excited to present the 2024 version of the Bay State Summer Games where Massachusetts amateur athletes of all ages and abilities can have their ‘Time to Shine,’” said Kevin Cummings, Executive Director of the Bay State Games. “This year will feature the addition of table tennis and ultimate as well as several new host venues including Babson College in Wellesley, Howard Park and Maplewood Park in Malden and NorthStar Ice Sports in Westborough. We look forward to welcoming athletes from across the Commonwealth as we celebrate the 42nd year of the Bay State Summer Games.” An additional feature in 2024 is that in over a dozen sports, athletes who win a gold, silver, or bronze medal at the 2024 Bay State Games will qualify to participate in the 2024 State Games of America in San Diego, California . The State Games of America features more than 8,000 athletes from over 25 different state games programs nationwide. To see the list of qualifying sports, please visit www.stategamesofamerica.com. In addition to sports programming, Bay State Games offer college scholarships, a sportsmanship initiative, college internship opportunities, and a High School Ambassador program. For more information on all sports in the 2024 Summer Games, links to online registration, and information on other programs, go to www.baystategames.org. For questions, email info@baystategames.org or call 781-932-6555.

Bay State Games Presents 2024 Berkshire Hero Award

By Bay State Games • 30 Jan, 2024

Pictured: Howard Herman (right) receives the Berkshire Hero award from Bay State Games Executive Director, Kevin Cummings (left) on Saturday, January 27, 2024. Photo by: Berkshire Eagle

A Recruiting Discussion with Elms Field Hockey Coach Katelynn Leclerc

By Bay State Games • 27 Dec, 2023

Katelynn Leclerc is the head field hockey coach at Elms College. She previously served as an assistant coach at American International College, where she played field hockey for 4 years.

Bay State Games Selected as Official Member of the Bank of America Boson Marathon® Charity Program

By Bay State Games • 12 Sep, 2023

WOBURN, MA – Massachusetts Amateur Sports Foundation/Bay State Games is one of the many nonprofit organizations who were accepted into the 2024 Bank of America Boston Marathon® Official Charity Program. As an Official Charity, Bay State Games is offering runners the opportunity to participate as an official entrant in the 2024 Boston Marathon®. The 128th running of the 128th Boston Marathon® presented by Bank of America will take place on Monday, April 15, 2024. The Bay State Games Charity Team gives runners the opportunity to compete in one of the world's most famous marathons and achieve their athletic goals while raising funds that go directly toward Bay State Games programming. These funds are essential to allow the Bay State Games to continue its mission of producing quality recreational, health, and educational programming for Massachusetts citizens of all ages and abilities. “For over 40 years, Bay State Games has impacted hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts athletes of all ages and abilities through its recreation, education, and personal development programs,” said Bay State Games Executive Director, Kevin Cummings. “Being selected to become a member of the Bank of America Boston Marathon® Official Charity Program will not only raise important funds that will support Bay State Games initiatives but will also provide our athletic minded constituents with an opportunity to participate in the most prestigious marathon in the world.” Team members will receive several amenities including a team singlet and Bay State Games clothing, as well as training and fundraising support. Applicants must be a minimum of age 18 and capable of running a marathon in less than six hours. Runners interested in running the marathon and raising money to support important programming, which benefits thousands of participants annually, can apply on the Bay State Games website . Bay State Games will review applications and select team members on a rolling basis. For more information on fundraising and how to join our team, go to www.baystategames.org/marathon-charity-program . For questions, email info@baystategames.org or call 781-932-6555.