County Athletes Revved Up For Bay State Summer Games
![]() Jen Delasco
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She's been there, done that.
Delasco, 15, of Lenox broke her right leg during a junior varsity soccer game in September 2007. The injury was caused primarily because of a benign cyst she had on her tibia bone. After a bone-graph operation in January 2008 and several months of physical therapy, she was back on the soccer pitch that spring.
Delasco said her journey back to playing soccer was "overwhelming."
"When I found out I needed surgery, I was scared," she said. "I was worried I wasn't going to play soccer again."
She debuted with the Lenox Memorial High School varsity team last fall, splitting time between midfield and forward, and she contributed to the Millionaires' trip to the Western Massachusetts Division III semifinals.
On Thursday, July 8, she'll be the lone Berkshire County soccer player on the "West" team at the annual Bay State Summer Games. She was one of about 30 girls who tried out for the regional team and, as one of the younger girls trying out, she had her doubts.
"I didn't know what to expect going into it," she said. "I was kind of nervous. I was second-guessing myself, and I didn't know if I was going to make it."
Delasco attended all four tryout sessions in Westfield, and her hard work paid off when she was chosen for the team. Since being selected, she's been practicing twice a week with the West squad, which will play one game on July 8, two on July 9 and two on July 10. If the girls perform well enough, they'll advance into the medal rounds on July 11. All the contests will be played at Waltham High School in Waltham, Mass.
The Summer Games is organized by the Massachusetts Amateur Sports Foundation (MASF), and it provides Olympic-style athletic competitions and developmental programs for amateur athletes of all ages and abilities. The Summer Games started 29 years ago with four sports and 300 athletes, and has since grown into an event featuring more than 8,000 athletes in 29 different sports.
Delasco is honored to be representing Western Mass. on a grand stage, and she's excited to spend a full weekend playing soccer, especially after being sidelined from the sport two years ago.
"It was painful," she said of her rehabilitation process. "I had to do exercises at my house, and when I went in for rehab I had to build up strength in my leg and work on my balance.
"I really wanted to get back and play soccer again."
![]() Eli Coniglio, wrestling on the Mount Greylock co-op team, takes control of an opponent during a match this past winter. |
Coniglio was one of the top wrestlers on the Mount Greylock co-op team this past winter, winning a Western Mass. individual title and finishing fourth at the State Tournament.
He'll be attending University of Vermont this fall, and while the Catamounts don't have a wrestling squad, that's not keeping Coniglio off the mats. He'll be competing in the 156-pound weight division in the Open Tournament (18-years and older) on Saturday, July 10, on the UMass-Boston campus.
Coniglio advanced into the 152-pound championship match last year at the Summer Games, and said it was a no-brainer to sign up for the event again this year.
He said his preparation for the Games is far different than the work he expended during the high-school season.
"I've been doing mostly endurance training and some off-season weight lifting," he said. "So I'm just going to show up and give what I've got at the time.
"During the [high-school] season, you're doing everything you can to win and to help the team win. This is a one-day tournament. It's fairly semi-formal. They're not super strict about most things. It's more of a friendly competition."
What makes this year's experience quite different than last year for Coniglio is his age-division. In the Open Tournament, Coniglio may square off against collegiate wrestlers and could theoretically face a grappler of any age over 18.
"I'm sure I'll see some good wrestlers and some not-so-good wrestlers," he said. "I'm just looking to have fun."
Other Berkshire County participants in the 29th Bay State Summer Games are:
Mike Geannelis (Williamstown, Baseball)
Robert Morin III, (Lee, Basketball)
Tara Dooley, Tara (Lee, Basketball)
Katie Eckert (Lee, Basketball)
Sarah Mills (Great Barrington, Basketball)
Lavante Wiggins (Pittsfield, Basketball)
Whitney Sitzer (Lee, Lacrosse)
Jamie Budaj, Jamie (Windsor, Lacrosse)
Jessica Budaj, Jessica (Windsor, Lacrosse)
Emma Wilber, Emma (Great Barrington, Swimming)
Maeve Wilber, Maeve (Great Barrington, Swimming)
Tanner DeVarennes (Lee, Tennis)
Kelly Babich, Kelly (Lenox Dale, Tennis)
Alexandra Levinsky (Williamstown, Volleyball)
Mitch Graves (Adams, Wrestling)
Zach Larabee (Cheshire, Wrestling)
Dylan Hilchey (Cheshire, Wrestling)
David Senecal (North Adams, Ice Hockey)
Megan Gaul (Lee, Lacrosse)
Taverick Roberson (Pittsfield, Basketball)
Mike McMahon, Mike (Pittsfield, Basketball)
Robbie Burke (Cheshire, Basketball)
Note: If we're leaving any local athletes off of this please, please e-mail info@iBerkshires.com with the athlete's name, hometown and the sport he/she is participating in.


