Bay State Games Announces 2024 Athletes of the Year
(L-R) Mia Leveille (Baton Twirling), Alyssa Ardai (Figure Skating), Castor Kao (Fencing), Anthony "Tony" Leger (Archery)
Bay State Games is excited to announce they have selected its Athletes of the Year. This award is based on participation in the Games and other athletic achievements. The 2024 selections for Athlete of the Year are:
Female Youth Athlete – Mia Leveille
Female Adult Athlete – Alyssa Ardai
Male Youth Athlete – Castor Kao
Male Adult Athlete - Anthony "Tony" Leger
Mia Leveille, 13, resides in Berwick, ME and attends Berwick Academy. She has been competing in Bay State Games Baton Twirling for 2 years and has been twirling for 9 years overall. Mia demonstrates extraordinary dedication, relentless hard work, and outstanding achievements in baton twirling. As a national champion and Team USA qualifier, she has demonstrated exceptional skill and commitment, training tirelessly day and night in dance, twirling, and gymnastics to perfect her craft. Her discipline, perseverance, and passion for the sport are evident in her performances and competitive successes. Beyond her athletic prowess, she serves as an inspiration and role model to others, exemplifying the values of dedication, resilience, and excellence. Mia is also an excellent student and is continuously on the honor roll.
Alyssa Ardai, 24, is a native of Malden, MA. Alyssa has competed in Bay State Games Summer and Winter Figure Skating competitions and has been skating for a total of 19 years. At Bay State Games, she is a two-time Adult Bronze USFS Gold Medalist, a gold medalist in USFS Bronze Compulsory Moves, silver medalist in ISI Open Freestyle 5, and bronze medalist in ISI Artistic Silver 5. She is a two-time Theatre on Ice National Competitor, a Synchro Sectional Competitor, Colonial Open/North Shore Open Medalist, and Get Up Champion. Alyssa is also a Learn to Skate Instructor and is a member of the Maplewood Association, Urban Media Arts (local TV studio), Malden Ward 6, and Girl Scouts of Eastern, MA. Additionally, Alyssa faces the daily challenge of alopecia areata, which has caused visible hair loss, but she doesn't let that get to her. For Alyssa, skating is a sanctuary where she can embrace her true self without the constraints of her condition.
Castor Kao, 18, is a resident of Needham, MA, a graduate of Beaver County Day, and on his way to attend school at Yale University. Castor is a passionate fencer who has dedicated his time, energy, and heart to the sport of fencing. He is one of the top fencers in his cohort and has won numerous medals and awards from tournaments around the world. In 2024, he made the USA Fencing Junior Olympic team and competed in the FIE Junior World Cup in 2023. He was the 2024 MVP at his high school, Beaver Country Day, and will attend Yale University as a fencing recruit. He also consistently makes the USA Fencing All-American First Team, showing competence in both athletic and academic endeavors. Castor serves as a role model for younger fencers as he works as an assistant coach at his fencing club. The younger athletes look up to him and will often seek his coaching during their tournament matches. His students respect him as a coach and as a mentor. Castor is incredibly dedicated to the sport as a whole. Aside from competing, he spends his time working as a referee, demonstrating a knowledge of the intricacies of the sport. Aside from fencing ability and knowledge, Castor has a very kind heart, evidenced by his relationships with younger fencers who look up to him as a mentor. He is a kind friend and is generous with his time. Younger fencers at his club have been known to seek out his coaching over the coaching of their more experienced professional coaches due to his relatability, empathy, and commitment. His passions lie in the camaraderie that he has found with his fellow fencers. He plans to enter the pre-medical track at Yale in order to eventually go into sports medicine; giving back to the sport that he's loved all his life and caring for athletes like him.
Anthony "Tony" Leger, 51, is a resident of West Brookfield, MA. Tony has competed in Bay State Games Archery since 2023 and has been involved in the sport for 12 years. Tony didn’t start doing archery until he was 36 years old and quickly fell in love with the sport. He not only started competing, but also became a USA Archery instructor, and was formerly a USA Archery Judge, and took an active role as a board member for his local club when living in Michigan. In 2017, he became the NFAA National Outdoor Target Champion & record holder. In recent years, his top achievements include 2024 MA State Outdoor Champion, 2024 CT Master’s Games Champion, and 2020 Michigan Archery Association Shooter of the Year, among a long list of awards. On top of his archery achievements, Tony has overcome physical setbacks which include multiple retinal tears/detachment, vitreous detachment, and other ocular issues, making it difficult to see/focus at distance even with corrective lenses. Tony continues to push himself and encourage others while having an infectious love for archery.
For more information on the Bay State Games Athlete of the Year program and past winners, go to
www.baystategames.org/AOY.
