The Jack Fay Athletic Achievement Award

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In 2020, the Jack Fay Award will be granted to a male and female student-athlete from Billerica Memorial High School. The class of 2020 has an abundance of talent three sport athletes but 2 of them have made a tremendous impact to their teammates and coaches alike. This year the 2020 Jack Fay Award is granted to Garrett Murphy and Kayleen McCormack. Both student-athletes have been selected by their teammates as 3 sports captains of their respected teams and both students received the most nominations by the coaching staff at BMHS. This is a clear tribute to their character and impact they have had to their teams. 

With that said, today is a day for Garrett to be recognized as a great teammate and athlete. Most importantly, Garrett has represented Billerica Memorial High School with the utmost integrity and sportsmanship that a school could expect. Garrett is a true scholar student athlete with a 3.6 GPA and long list of athletic accomplishments. He will attend UMASS-Lowell for his undergraduate degree and be a member of their Division I Lacrosse team. 

Over the past 4 years, Garrett has participated in at least 150 varsity games in hockey, lacrosse, and golf which has earned him “The Master of Sports Award” at BMHS. He has also earned All-Conference Awards from the Merrimack Valley Conference in hockey, golf, and lacrosse. As a senior, Garrett has been awarded with the prestigious “Barbara Hood Scholar Athlete Award.  I would like to add that he was also a captain of three teams. 

Likewise, Kayleen McCormack was a three sport captain of the soccer, basketball, and tennis teams. She has been described as a great teammate with a relentless work ethic! She takes great pride in all that she does. Kayleen has also been recognized as a Merrimack Valley All-Conference athlete in all 3 sports as well as earning the “Master of Sports Award at BMHS. Kayleen will continue her education and athletics at Fitchburg State University as a member of the girls’ soccer team. 

In today’s athletic environment, it difficult to find a 3 sport student athlete that has had such a profound impact on all 3 of the teams. It’s with great pleasure to see 2 students such as Garrett and Kayleen be awarded with the honor of the Jack Fay Award. 

I would like to end with a few quotes from their coaches;

Kayleen: 

Her competitiveness and unselfishness make her the perfect teammate and an incredibly reliable member of a team. Never once, did Kayleen put herself first and she always had the knack of embracing the toughest of situations and pulling all those around her through them. 

Kayleen is an exemplary student-athlete who challenges herself every day and motivates those around with her incomparable energy and effort. Her commitment and dedication are second to none and she is never satisfied with what she has achieved, but only interested in how she can improve and help her team.  

Garrett

Garrett exhibits the relentless drive and commitment that is necessary to becoming a great student-athlete, a reliable teammate and more importantly a great well-rounded person.  He has always applied a hard work-ethic in the classroom, on the ice, playing golf and on the lacrosse fields.  All while finding the time to set the example in the weight room and in the community. 

In my mind he is a first class kid who embodies the true sense of Billerica P.R.I.D.E!!

The Coaches Decision:

It has been our honor at Billerica Memorial High School to have DJ Fantasia as a student athlete over the past 4 years. Although individual awards, such as the Jack Fay Award typically honor one student athlete, it’s important for everyone to know that the most common statements to describe him was “He put the team first” He was selfless! He was known for mentoring the younger players. 

With that said, today is a day for DJ to be recognized as a great teammate and athlete. Most importantly, DJ has represented Billerica Memorial High School with the utmost integrity and sportsmanship that a school could expect. DJ is a true scholar student athlete with a 3.82 GPA and long list of athletic accomplishments. He will attend Bentley University for his undergraduate degree. 

Over the past 4 years, DJ has participated in at least 150 varsity games in hockey, baseball, and golf which has earned him “The Master of Sports Award” at BMHS. He has also earned All-Conference Awards from the Merrimack Valley Conference in hockey and golf. As a senior, DJ has been awarded with the prestigious “Barbara Hood Scholar Athlete Award”. In today’s athletic environment, it difficult to find a 3 sport student athlete that has had such a profound impact on all 3 of the teams. I would like to add that he was also a captain of the hockey and golf teams. To put his final touch on BMHS, DJ and a group of seniors started the team up for a cause campaign which utilized teams and sporting events to team up and raise money for non-profit organizations. DJ and his classmates have raised over $30,000 this past school year! Just remarkable!

I would like to end with a few quotes from his coaches;

It has been a pleasure to see him blossom as a player, student, and character builder for the teams he has been associated with.

DJ’s strongest attribute is that he always told me like it was, even if he knew I wouldn’t like the answer. To me that is true leadership and character!

He is self-aware & confident - He will come and discuss with you issues in a positive manner.

Dan is very helpful - assisting underclassman and always doing what’s best for the team

The Coaches Decision:

It has been our honor at Billerica Memorial High School to have Jenna Balboni as a student athlete over the past 4 years. Although individual awards, such as the Jack Fay Award typically honor one student athlete, it’s important for everyone to know that the most common “characteristic” that the coaches used to describe Jenna was “A Great Teammate” She put the team first! She is known for sacrificing her body to the extreme with a phenomenal work ethic even if a possible injury was the end result. She wanted the team to excel and was willing to give the team 100% of herself. With that said, today is a day for Jenna to be recognized as a great teammate, player on the field and court, and most importantly as a student of Billerica Memorial High School. Jenna is a true scholar student athlete with a 3.3 GPA and long list of athletic accomplishments. 

Over the past 4 years, Jenna has participated in at least 148 varsity games in Soccer, Basketball, and Lacrosse which has earned her “The Master of Sports Award” at BMHS. She has also earned All-Conference Awards from the Merrimack Valley Conference in Basketball and Lacrosse. As a senior, Jenna has been awarded with the prestigious Barbara Hood Scholar Athlete Award. In today’s athletic environment, it difficult to find a 3 sport student athlete that has had such a profound impact on all 3 of the teams. I would like to add that she was also a captain of the soccer, basketball, and lacrosse teams. Although she is a well-rounded athlete, Jenna has excelled in lacrosse scoring more than 200 points over the past 4 years and earning a Scholarship to Saint Anselm College where she will continue to play collegiate lacrosse. 

I would like to end with a few quotes from her coaches.

Great teammate, constant competitor, most importantly a great kid who exemplified what you would want your program to be about.

Jenna has overcome several injuries over the past several season’s and was determined to support her teammates and played through the pain. Most players would have sat out with type of injuries that Jenna had, but she played through them especially when the team was not winning.

I wish all my players had Jenna’s confidence and determination.