SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Lenox Memorial High School was the winner on Saturday of the 60th season of "As Schools Match Wits" in the championship match against Belchertown High School.

 

Four teams participated in the semifinal rounds, which were broadcast on New England Public Media on May 15. Lenox Memorial was pitted against Amherst Regional and Belchertown High faced Smith Academy. Belchertown High and Lenox Memorial advanced to the championship final on Saturday.

 

Victory was particularly sweet for Lenox Memorial, given the cancellation of last season's playoff and championship rounds. The 59th season was cut short by COVID-19, but with new safety guidelines and carefully designed protocols, the 60th season proceeded with the participation of 20 local high schools.

 

"Lenox Memorial and Belchertown were truly the two best teams this season and worthy of winning the Collamore cup," said Mark St. Jean, Westfield State University executive producer for "As Schools Match Wits." "But it was really good to see Lenox win a hard-fought championship match because after the 2019-2020 season's qualifying round, they were the No. 1 seed heading into the playoffs. 

 

"Unfortunately, those playoffs never happened due to the pandemic. So, it was nice they had a chance to come back and win it this season."

 

The program pits teams of western New England high schoolers against each other in a fun but competitive game of academic performance. The competition is open to both public and private high schools throughout western New England.

 

Faculty advisers play an important role in the process and many jumped at the opportunity to sign up their school's teams this year. 

 

"It has been an honor and a privilege to work with our team this year," said Stephen Vigneux, Belchertown High School's ASMW faculty advisor. "They are terrific students and wonderful people. As seniors, I know they have missed out on many opportunities due to the pandemic, so being able to compete and distinguish themselves on ASMW this season by making a run to the championship match has been such a gift. Kudos to everyone who made this incredible season of ASMW possible and my deepest gratitude to my team members for representing themselves and our Belchertown High School community so well."

 

But, in the end, it all comes down to the students. 

 

"This season of ASMW has been most gratifying for us — that there was an opportunity for the students to compete," said Charles Mattina and Matthew Gottfried, Lenox Memorial's advisers. "We've been extremely fortunate to have an extraordinary group of four kids, pared down to three for each match, and they worked their butts off to get to the finals under the most challenging of circumstances. They are thrilled and the two of us are thrilled."

 

Host Beth Ward said this season's championship match was one of the most exciting to date despite so many logistical challenges posed by the pandemic.

 

"Tony Dunne, NEPM's executive producer for "As Schools Match Wits," concurred.

 

"Pandemic protocols didn't stop this year's championship match – the culmination of our historic 60th season – from being one of the most memorable matches we've held in recent memory," he said. "Both Belchertown and Lenox are incredibly accomplished and competitive teams, and their battle for the Collamore Cup is one for the ages."

 

He and the staff of NEPM thanked the schools that competed amidst the uncertain circumstances and extended his personal thanks to Mark St. Jean, Alex Simisky and the program's partners at Westfield State University "for creating the incredibly safe and secure environment that allowed us to proceed with the 60th anniversary season."

 

The championship match and all matches of the 60th season can be streamed at video.nepm.org.