WESTFIELD – Westfield native Mason Balch was recently honored as one of the Bay State Game’s “Athletes of the Year.”
Balch was chosen for being an outstanding athlete, student and person who represents his sport, school and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in an outstanding fashion.
Balch participated in the Bay State Games Lacrosse competition in 2015-17. In each of his three years, he led the West to a gold medal. He was one of top players on the field among players from across Massachusetts.
MASON BALCH
He attends the Williston-Northampton School, a private prep school in Easthampton, and is a resident of the Whip City.
Over the course of his last season, Balch was named the team MVP and Offensive Player of the year as well as the Tournament Championship MVP and an All-League selection in the New England Prep School Athletic Conference. He is also a two-year team captain. He is considered one of the top lacrosse players in Western Massachusetts and has already committed to attend Bryant University in Rhode
Island where he will play Division I lacrosse starting in the fall of 2018.
In addition, he is one of the top players on the Williston-Northampton
football team.
As a student at Williston-Northampton School, Balch is a top Honors Student and is also a member of the school’s National Honors Society. At Bryant University he will attend their outstanding business school.
Balch has a strong sense of community and is always giving back to others. He has served as a volunteer-coach for the Westfield Youth Lacrosse League, teaching young players about the game of lacrosse. He has also helped produce youth lacrosse clinics. He was selected as an athlete representative at the Bay State Games Western Massachusetts Athletes night help in the spring of 2017.
Despite many other summer opportunities, Balch committed himself to the Bay State Games for three consecutive summers and is committed to the positive experience and opportunities that state games provide. He is also a selfless individual and actually sent in a nomination for a fellow team member to be considered as athlete of the year rather than promote himself.
Mason Balch is the son of Michel Balch and Ivy Beltrandi. – Courtesy of Bay State Games
