Bay State Games Announces 2019 Athletes of the Year

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.