Hall’s Evan St. Amand Chosen as 2023 Michael H. Savage Spirit of Sport Award Honoree
Cheshire, Conn. – Evan St. Amand, a Hall High School (West Hartford) senior and member of the Hall Boys Golf team, has been chosen as the 2023 Michael H. Savage Spirit of Sport Award honoree. He becomes the 14th recipient of the distinguished yearly award, and as Connecticut’s honoree he will go forward as a nominee for the National Federation of State High School Associations’ (NFHS) Section and National Spirit of Sport Awards.
The Michael H. Savage Spirit of Sport Award seeks to recognize individuals who exemplify the ideals of the positive spirit of sport that represent the core mission of education-based athletics. The award may be given in recognition of a specific act or an activity of longer duration.
St. Amand lives with mitochondrial disease. His mitochondria cannot efficiently turn sugar and oxygen into enough energy for his body to function. He is hooked up to an IV 17 hours a day and cannot eat solid food. Hot weather is particularly challenging for him.
Hall Golf Captain Kevin Brown says, “I’ve known since middle school that he has had some challenges, but he hasn’t really let it affect him or let it affect how other people view him.”
St. Amand joined the Hall Boys Golf Team this fall, the first high school sports team he has been a part of. St. Amand shares, “The thing about sports I think that really sets it apart from anything else is the amount of camaraderie and brotherhood that there is. Sports in my high school is huge. So, I felt like if I can tap into that just a little bit, I felt that I could be a part of that brotherhood and that experience.”
Hall Boys Golf Head Coach Chuck Claffey says, “For someone that understands what his limitations are, he’s so outgoing. No inhibitions at all, he just has fun. He’s been a joy to have. He’s the type of kid golf is for.”
St. Amand will be formally honored at the CIAC’s Annual Scholar-Athlete Banquet in May.
Watch the CIAC’s video profile of Evan St. Amand here.
