Health Challenges Can't Stop This West Hartford HS Golfer

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Life isn't easy for West Hartford high schooler Evan St. Amand.

The Hall High School senior, after all, has some serious, personal health challenges he's dealing with.

Afflicted with a mitochondrial disease, St. Amand can't convert sugar and oxygen in sufficient amounts to function. As a result, he's on an IV 17 hours a day. He can't eat solid food. And warm weather is very difficult for him.

But he loves golf and this year, his final year at Hall, St. Amand mustered the courage to play for the Hall High School golf team this past fall.

And for overcoming his limitations and engaging in his passion, St. Amand was recently honored as a 2023 Michael H. Savage Spirit of Sport Award honoree.

The Michael H. Savage Spirit of Sport Award seeks to recognize individuals who exemplify the ideals of positive spirit, the core mission of education-based athletics, according to the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletics Association (CIAC).

According to the CIAC, the award may be given in recognition of a specific act or an activity of longer duration.

St. Amand joined the Hall Boys Golf Team this fall, the first high school sports team he has been a part of.

He said as much as he enjoys the game, the relationships made on the journey are just as important and rewarding.

“The thing about sports I think that really sets it apart from anything else is the amount of camaraderie and brotherhood that there is," St. Amand told the CIAC.

"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.”

St. Amand is the 14th recipient of the 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.

Those who know and play with St. Amand say they're inspired by him.

“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,” said HHS golf captain Kevin Brown.

Hall Boys Golf Head Coach Chuck Claffey agreed.

“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,” Claffey said.

St. Amand will be formally honored at the CIAC’s Annual Scholar-Athlete Banquet in May.

For more information Hall High School athletics, click on this link.