BSG 40 - The Bay State Games that Weren't

December 22, 2022

It's been 39 weeks since we started these posts, and you may have wondered, "hey, if Bay State Games started in 1982, wasn't the 40th anniversary in 2021?" Originally, that was the plan. Those plans started in late 2019 knowing that after the 2020 Summer Games, we would be doing a special campaign all year long leading up to the 2021 Summer Games.

In preparation, we had just redesigned the BSG website. We had just finished the 2020 Winter Games. Then, a few days later, (it was March 2020)... we all know what happened; a time in our lives we never expected or could have even imagined. We have a saying at Bay State Games that 60% of the plan won't go according to plan, so plan for it. Well what happens when 100% of the plan doesn't go according to plan? We can't ignore the unfortunate but significant part of Bay State Games history that the pandemic imposed.

As the pandemic was just beginning to unfold, we had plans finalized and were ready to hold the 39th Summer Games in just a few more months. It seemed the spring months brought on more cancellations than competitions. We even opened registration in an attempt to remain hopeful. We officially cancelled the 2020 Summer Games on May 18, 2020, just a few weeks before we planned to begin the Summer Games. That meant the plans for the 40th celebration got pushed one more year. In 2021, we did unofficially celebrate the 40th anniversary of the organization (Massachusetts Amateur Sports Foundation), but we were waiting patiently for the big celebration that would be the 40th Bay State Summer Games. Come 2021, just like the Olympics, we had to "restart." The 2020 Summer Games were happening in 2021. We had the 2020 medals, the 2020 athlete gift, and the 2020 registration platform, dates, and venues all ready to go 1.5 years in advance.

When we weren't allowed to hold live, in-person events, we had to get creative. We started virtual games for some sports, ones that allowed individual ad safe competition from the comfort of your home. Unexpectedly, Bay State Games reached athletes all over the country, and while we weren't able to hold our Summer Games, the Virtual Games helped us remember what it was like to run events and compete during a time that live sports were becoming rare.

We were lucky to come back strong in 2021 and even stronger in 2022. This past summer was one that took and extra year to get to, but once it came, we were excited to get closer back to the Bay State Games we know and love.

40 years is just the beginning. We can't wait to see what the next 40 years bring.

Check back next Thursday for the final post.

Week 38 - Sportsmanship

Week 37 - A Discussion on Bay State Games with Dave McGillivary

Week 36 - Berkshire Hero

Week 35 - BSG 35th Anniversary (2016)

Week 34 - 1996 Winter Games

Week 33 - Nancy Kerrigan

Week 32 - BSG Alumni (Winter)

Week 31 - BSG Alumni (Summer)

Week 30 - BSG 30th Anniversary (2011)

Week 29 - 1998 Winter Games

Week 28 - 2009 Top Shots

Week 27 - BSG Internship

Week 26 - BSG T-shirts

Week 25 - BSG 25th Anniversary (2006)

Week 24 - Future Leaders Scholarship

Week 23 - Athlete of the Year

Week 22 - 1988 Top Shots

Week 21 - 1998 Top Shots

Week 20 - BSG 20th Anniversary (2001)

Week 19 - 40th Top Shots

Week 18 - Rugby Joins the Games

Week 17 - Entry Books

Week 16 - Standin' in the Hall of Fame

Week 15 - Soccer Showcase

Week 14 - Time to Showcase

Week 13 - Title IX

Week 12 - BSG Summer Figure Skating

Week 11 - BSG No-No

Week 10 - BSG 10th Anniversary (1991)

Week 9 - BSG Logos

Week 8 - Bikes Only

Week 7: Seeing Double at Track & Field

Week 6 - Pat Connaughton, Baseball Star

Week 5 - 1996 Summer Games Top Shots

Week 4 - Spot the Hall of Famer

Week 3 - Let's Jump!

Week 2 - 1994 Top Shots

Week 1 - Light the Cauldron

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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.