PEABODY — Michael Mastrocola of Peabody was honored with the second annual Youth Spirit Award earlier this month. Mastocola is a senior football captain at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School (PVMHS), but could not play this season because he was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia over the summer.
The Youth Spirit award was created by Peabody businesses and Mayor Edward Bettencourt last year. The first award was given to Olivia Bormann.
“We got together to talk about ways to honor the youth in our community, who through their spirit and through their determination have overcome some difficulties and have really inspired the community,” said Edward Bettencourt.
Edward Bettencourt presented this year’s award to Mastrocola at a ceremony on Dec. 15 that his teammates, government officials and family attended. Selecting Mastrocola to receive this year’s award was an “easy choice,” he said.
“I’ve gotten to know Michael a little bit, his wonderful family, hear about his story, see the way he’s connected with the community through the football team and through our school, and it’s really just something that inspired me, inspired so many people in our city,” Edward Bettencourt said.
At the ceremony, PVMHS football coach Mark Bettencourt said a few words about his player, whom he has known for years.
When he heard the news that Mastrocola couldn’t play football for his last high school season, his “heart broke” for him. He wanted to “do something to make things better for him,” so he dedicated the season to him.
He said Mastrocola had a huge impact on the team throughout the season. The players saw how he lives his life working hard and being responsible and they tried to do the same.
“We were able to win ten of 11 games and have the best season in 30 years … it’s not a mistake that the reason behind this was because the kids and the coaches wanted to play for Mike because Mike couldn’t play for himself,” Mark Bettencourt said.
He made sure to point out that Mastrocola would rather be recognized for his “work on the football field.”
“Mike, you deserve every bit of this because if [not being able to play] didn’t happen, that is exactly the recognition you would be getting, the big sacks and the big games … that put us on the scoreboard, being the leader that we all knew you are,” Mark Bettencourt said.
State Representative of 13th Essex District Sally Kerans attended the ceremony to present a statement from the Massachusetts House of Representatives to Mastrocola.
“Be it hereby known to all that the Massachusetts House of Representatives offers its sincerest congratulations to Michael Mastrocola in recognition of receiving the City of Peabody Youth Spirit Award for your leadership, courage, and resolve both on and off the field,” the statement said.
Kerans was honored to be invited to speak at the ceremony, she said in an interview.
“Michael has shown incredible courage,” Kerans said. “It was a wonderful night for Peabody and the way that this city wraps its arms around people in times of adversity says so much about Peabody.”
Bettencourt said “it meant a great deal” to him to receive the award and is “appreciative for all of the incredible support” he has gotten since “this all started.”
