Martin Hyppolite Named Most Outstanding Player
Wakefield Warrior running back Martin Hyppolite has been named the most
outstanding player for his performance and contribution to his team in the
annual Melrose-Wakefield Thanksgiving football game. Martin ran 232 yards on 27 carries which
resulted in 4 touchdowns and a 2 point conversion to account for 26 of
Wakefield’s 34 points. He also played
defense at the linebacker position as Wakefield eventually won the contest
34-27 in a tense, evenly matched game at Landrigan Field.
The trophy is now sponsored by The Melrose Weekly News and The Wakefield Daily Item. It is a revival of the Shawmut Award which was given for 19 years to the outstanding Melrose or Wakefield football player and started back in 1968 game and lasted through the 1986 season. Representatives of the Melrose and Wakefield football communites chose the winner.
The Shawmut Award
The most revered and
sought after individual award, which only Wakefield and Melrose football
players were eligible to receive, was the Shawmut Thanksgiving Trophy. For 19 years it was given to the outstanding
player in the annual Thanksgiving day game and awarded by a committee assigned
to evaluate the players in the game. The
Trophy was originally funded by the now defunct Melrose-Wakefield Trust Company
in 1968 and continued even after Shawmut assumed control of the bank.
The first recipient of the Shawmut Award
in 1968 was Melrose player Steve Skane and the last recipients in 1986 were
Wakefield players Tito Raymond and David Healey. That final shared award in 1986 marked the
one and only time there was a tie in votes for the award. It was the second year in a row Tito Raymond
won the award which put him in the same elite category as Melrose player Kevin McCormack as the only
players to have the distinction of winning this coveted trophy twice.
Melrose players received the award 11 times with 8 going to Wakefield.
It is not general knowledge why the
Shawmut award was discontinued.
Shawmut’s name and logo were eventually retired in 1995 as a result of
the merger of Shawmut National Corporation and Fleet Financial Group but that
was nine years after the award ceased to exist.
The Shawmut Award Winners
|
|
|
|
2008 |
Martin Hyppolite |
|
1986 |
Tito Raymond-Dave
Healey |
|
|
1985 |
Tito Raymond |
|
1984 |
Bob Czaniawski |
|
1983 |
Doug Conroy |
|
|
1982 |
Chris Hickey |
|
1981 |
Ken Linehan |
|
1980 |
William Mara |
|
|
1979 |
|
|
1978 |
Matt Bennet |
|
1977 |
Kevin McCormack |
|
|
1976 |
Kevin McCormack |
|
1975 |
Chet Davis |
|
1974 |
Joe D’Antona |
|
|
1973 |
Ralph Pasquariella |
|
1972 |
John Hickey |
|
1971 |
Craig Ceretani |
|
|
1970 |
John Rafferty |
|
1969 |
Ken Melanson |
|
1968 |
Steve Skane |
|
Wakefield
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