By Shelby Zeigler
Stockbridge HS
1st Place
Division 3, Yearbook
Sports Feature Writing
Senior Matthew Bellestri pushes through an opposing defender at the Olivet football game. Bellestri was able to earn 60 receiving yards out of his 690 season total yards.
Many would agree that Bellestri did not receive the recognition he deserves for his accomplishments as both an offensive and defensive player on the football field.
“We have had many tremendous athletes play ball at Stockbridge over the years, and Matt can certainly add his name to that list,” head coach Jeremy Killinger said. “He will be missed for sure, but someone will have to step up and replace him. That is the nature of the cycle.”
Killinger also noted the qualities that Bellestri possessed on and o the football field made him a good candidate for one of the most valuable players.
“Matt is a tremendous athlete who works as hard as he possibly can when on the field,” Killinger added. “I think that work ethic makes him the most valuable.”
Bellestri’s well noted qualities on the field helped him to be recognized as a First Team All Conference Linebacker within the league. Within the team, Bellestri was also named the team’s most valuable player of the season.
While many players wish they could go out on the field one last time to do it over again, Bellestri thought he had a fulfilling senior season.
“It was definitely bittersweet with it being my last season playing and all, but it is also a refreshing feeling knowing I am all done,” Bellestri said. “I will definitely miss it, but I feel like I fulfilled my goals for the year. I think I performed to the best of my ability and left everything I had in me on the field.”
Teammate and good friend, Kolby Canfield 12, said, “I would always call him “Swiss Army knife” because he could do everything. Whatever we needed him to do on the field, he could always do it for us.”