WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS TRACK & FIELD OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION
Maria Fareti, Chicopee HS Jeffrey LaPlante, Mahar Regional HS
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2023 Nathan Hale & Vincent Falardeau Award Winners
Each year the Western Mass Track and Field Officials Association is honored to recognize an outstanding senior male outdoor track and field athlete with the Nate Hale Award and an outstanding senior female outdoor track and field athlete with the Vincent Falardeau Award. The athletes who have been nominated for these awards not only excel on the track, but also in the classroom; however, it is their exceptional school and community service that makes each athlete worthy of the award. The awards consist of a plaque and monetary gift.
This year two athletes were nominated for the Nate Hale award:
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Winston James Lewis from Springfield International Charter School
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Matthew Mendez from Ludlow
The winner of the 2023 Nate Hale Award is Matthew Mendez from Ludlow.
Five athletes were nominated for the Vincent Falardeau Award this year:
Athena Cusson from Chicopee
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Taylor Lynch from Northampton
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Norah Reade from Northampton
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Courtnegail Rose from Amherst
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Carlie Schwartz from Ludlow
The winner of the 2023 Vincent Falardeau award is Athena Cusson from Chicopee.
Congratulations to both our award winners.
NATHAN HALE AWARD
ABOUT NATE HALE: Nate Hale taught General Science and Agriculture at Arms Academy and Mohawk Trail Regional High School. He was instrumental in starting Cross-Country in Franklin County and Western Mass. He was also one of the founders of the WMTFOA. Nate Hale stressed sportsmanship and fair play in athletics. He encouraged his athletes to act responsibly, assist their teammates, and always lead by example. Candidates for this award should also demonstrate these qualities.
​​WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Any senior male athlete who has competed in track and field for at least 2 years.
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VINCENT FALARDEAU AWARD
ABOUT Vincent Falardeau: Vincent Falardeau taught Foreign Languages at Northampton High School from 1968 to 2004. He was a track and field official for thirty four years and served as the WMTFOA President for ten years. In addition to officiating Vincent was an active participant in wheelchair sports and Paralympics and gave freely of his time to mentor track and field officials. Vincent also served as the Chairperson of the Holyoke Handicap Advisory Commission. Vincent Falardeau stressed sportsmanship and fair play in athletics. He encouraged athletes to act responsibly, assist their teammates, and always lead by example. Candidates for this award should also demonstrate these qualities.
​​WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Any senior female athlete who has competed in track and field for at least 2 years.
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WMTFOA AWARDS
Ken Caouette Service Award- ​Named for WMTFOA founding member and 1984 and 1996 Olympic official Ken Caouette, this award for LONG TIME SERVICE to the Association is considered to be our highest honor. This is not an annual award.
​​Ted Dutkiewicz Award- Named for WMTFOA founding member, 1996 Olympic offical, and long-time Springfield Central High School coach Ted Dutkiewicz, this award is given annually to recognize the Association's "Outstanding Official".
Dick Atkinson Award- Named for long-time Southwick-Tolland Regional High School coach Richard Atkinson, originator of what has become the PVIAC Indoor Track League, this award is given annually to recognize outstanding service to the PVIAC Indoor Track League. This award has been given to officials, teams, coaches and individuals to recognize long-time service, sportsmanship​, or support to the league.
Rookie-of-the-Year- As the name implies, this award is presented each year to our most outstanding first-year official. ​
PAST WMTFOA AWARD RECIPIENTS
Dick Atkinson Indoor Track Award
James Bertone-Johnson
Northampton High School
James Bertone-Johnson from Northampton High School is the recipient of the 2024 Dick Atkinson Indoor Track Award. James's behavior and sportsmanship emulates that of an outstanding track athlete. Not only by skill, but by passion, positive values, and willingness to help and support other athletes, coaches, and officials.
Coach Atkinson was the founder of the Western Mass High School indoor track league. He organized and ran the non-league indoor meets at Amherst College, UMASS and Smith College for over two decades. In the 2000-2001 school year Dick finally got the high school league officially sanctioned by the state, with the first meet held at Mt. Holyoke College. The league has now grown with over 1,000 student-athletes competing during the winter indoor track season.
WMTFOA AWARDS
2022 Student-Athlete Award Winners
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2022 Award Winners
Michael Budd inducted into the MSTCA Hall of Fame on​ September 11, 2022.
Coach Budd has experience as a track official, coach and meet director. He is
also a former Past President of WMTFOA. His knowledge for the sport has
made him an invaluable part of the Western Massachusetts track and field
community for over two decades.
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2021-2022 MIAA Official of the Year Recipients
Congratulates to WTMFOA Members Rick Lajoie and Owen Donohue for being selected to receive the 2021-2022 MIAA Official of the Year Award. Not only are these officials being recognized for their outstanding service to all student-athletes, but also for being an integral part of the Educational Athletics opportunity. We thank them for their efforts to support the highest ideals of sportsmanship, fair play and athletic achievement. The MIAA & WMTFOA would like to send their warmest congratulations to the recipients of these distinguished awards. Rick & Owen were honored at the Seventh MIAA Game Official of the Year Banquet on October 25, 2022.
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Each year the Western Mass Track and Field Officials Association is honored to recognize an outstanding senior male & female track and field athlete with the Nate Hale and Vincent Falardeau Award. The athletes who have been nominated for these awards not only excel on the track, but also in the classroom. It is, however, their exceptional school and community service that makes each athlete worthy of the award. The Awards consists of a plaque and monetary gift.
Nate Hale taught general science and agriculture at Arms Academy and Mohawk Trail. He was one of the founders of the Western Mass Track and Field Officials Association. This award is presented to an outstanding senior male who has competed in track and field for at least two years. He is being recognized for his athletic performance in track and field, sportsmanship, team leadership and service to his school and community.
This year 4 outstanding athletes were nominated for this award:
Guilian Marconi - Hampshire Regional High School
Max Gilmore - Ralph C. Mahar Regional School
Joshua O’Brien - Chicopee Comprehensive High School
Riley Cole - Northampton High School
The recipient of the 2022 Nate Hale Award is Joshua O’Brien - Chicopee Comprehensive High
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Vincent Falardeau taught foreign languages at Northampton High School. Many of us remember him as an outstanding track and field official. He was the president of the Western mass Track and Field Officials Association for 10 years. This award is presented to an outstanding senior female who has competed in track and field for at least two years. She is being recognized for her athletic performance in track and field, sportsmanship, team leadership and service to her school and community.
This year 5 outstanding athletes were nominated for this award:
Brianna Salomao - Hampshire Regional High School
Kendall Reynolds - Northampton High School
Madison Edwards - East Longmeadow High School
Quincy Biddle - Northampton High School
Sienna Moore - Ralph C. Mahar Regional School
And the recipient of the 2022 Vincent Falardeau Award is Sienna Moore from Mahar.
