BAY STATE GAMES INDUCTS ITS LATEST HALL OF FAME CLASS

BOSTON HERALD

Minnesota Timberwolves Head Coach Tom Thibodeau, veteran track and field volunteer Christopher Lane, and longstanding fencing committee member David Blake were honored for their recent induction into the Bay State Games’ Hall of Fame during the Red Sox-Twins pre-game ceremonies at Fenway Park on Monday, June 26.

The Bay State Games Hall of Fame was created to recognize past participants who have gone on to prestigious and successful athletic careers, as well as former and current coaches, officials, sports organizers, and volunteers who have made significant contributions to the organization throughout its 36-year history.   Past inductees among the over 50 previous honorees include the NBA’s Dana Barros (`06) and the late Reggie Lewis (`02); the NHL’s Bill Guerin (`09); Major League Baseball’s Carlos Pena (`11) and Rich Hill (`13); and Winter Olympians Nancy Kerrigan (`07), and Bill Cleary (`14).

“Volunteers are the life blood of the Bay State Games, and our three, 2017 inductees are prime example of selflessness and an undying commitment to amateur athletics,” said Phil Gloudemans, board chair of the Massachusetts Amateur Sports Foundation, which produces the annual summer and winter Bay State Games.  “We deeply appreciate the time and effort that each person has expended on behalf of the organization and our participants.”

Thibodeau was named president of Basketball Operations and head coach of the Timberwolves in April 2016.  Before joining the NBA’s coaching ranks, Thibodeau coached at Salem State University (1981-85) and Harvard (1985-89).  While at SSU, he also served as a volunteer head coach of the Bay State Games Northeast Region Men’s Open Basketball team for two years.

He began his NBA career as an assistant coach with the Timberwolves (1989-91); San Antonio Spurs (1992-94); Philadelphia 76ers (1994-96); New York Knicks (1996-2003); and Houston Rockets (2003-07).  Thibodeau served as associate head coach of the Boston Celtics (2007-10), and before returning to Minnesota, the New Britain, Conn. native was head coach of the Chicago Bulls (2010-15).  He also served as an assistant coach for the USA Basketball Men’s National Team that won the gold medal at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, and the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. He earned bachelors and master’s degrees in Counseling from Salem State University where he was a four-year letter winner in basketball.

Christopher Lane has logged more than 50 years as a track and field official and event manager at the local, regional, national and international levels. He has been involved with the Bay State Games Track program for over three decades as an official and event coordinator.  He was a high school track All American and coached for 25 years at Boston College, Brandeis and M.I.T.  He has served as president of the Massachusetts Track and Field Officials Association and was inducted into the Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2011. Lane was a teacher and administrator in the Boston Public Schools for 43 years. His expertise and passion for secondary education led to his additional and ongoing volunteer involvement as a Bay State Games Scholarship program selection committee member for over 20 years. Lane remains active in athletic event administration as a member of the Boston Marathon Organizing Committee, and with DMSE Sports.

David Blake has served as a key member of the Bay State Games Fencing Committee for nearly 20 years.  The founder and owner of the Prise de Fer Fencing Club in North Billerica, he annually hosts the Bay State Games’ fencing competition.  Blake captured two gold medals in the Games’ first fencing event.

He is an active member of the U. S. Fencing Association (USFA), serving as a member of the board of directors from 2008 to 2016, and as chair of the USFA New England Division, as well as the organization’s North Atlantic Section.  Additionally, he is an internationally rated referee and a referee trainer. Blake has been involved with many local, regional, national and international fencing competitions, including the National Collegiate Championships, the Pan American Games, and the Olympic Games. He’s coached the Concord Carlisle High School Fencing Team since 1999.