CHICAGO (June 29, 2023) - In its 38th year of honoring the nation's best high school athletes, Gatorade today announced Matt Charpentier of York High School is the 2022-23 Gatorade Maine Boys Track & Field Player of the Year. Charpentier is the first Gatorade Maine Boys Track & Field Player of the Year to be chosen from York High School.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Charpentier as Maine'sbest high school boys track & field athlete. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Track & FieldPlayer of the Year award to be announced in July, Charpentier joins an elite alumni association of state award-winners in 12 sports, including Nico Young (2019-20, Newbury Park High School, Calif.), Michael Norman (2015-16 &2014-15, Vista Murrieta High School, Calif.), Grant Fisher (2014-15 & 2013-14, Grand Blanc High School, Mich.) and Robert Griffin III (2006-07, Copperas Cove High School, Texas).
The 6-foot-1, 255-pound senior swept the throwing events at both the Class B state meet and the New England Outdoor Championships this past season. Charpentier put the shot a personal-best 60 feet, 11.25 inches to break the meet record at states. That effort ranked No. 59 among prep competitors in 2023. He also recorded the top discus throw in the state this spring, topped by a personal-best 178-5 at the Western Maine Championships.
Charpentier has volunteered locally as part of community beautification projects and at the York Auto Show. He has also donated his time with the Special Olympics. "Matt Charpentier was a model of excellence during the outdoor track and field campaign, finishing unbeaten against in-state competition in both the shot put and discus throw while winning competitions in both by large margins," said Rich Gonzalez, editor of PrepCalTrack.com."Matt's pinnacle performance this past season came at the state meet, as his towering shot put effort of nearly 61 feet smashed the Class B state record.
Charpentier has maintained a 4.0 GPA in the classroom. He will attend Bates College this fall, where he will compete in track and field.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls' volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media, and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the state winners in each sport.
Charpentier joins recent Gatorade Maine Boys Track & Field Players of the Year Andrew Farr (2021-22, GorhamHigh School), Tyler Patterson (2020-21, Brunswick High School), Jarett Flaker (2019-20, Scarborough High School), and Cayden Spencer-Thompson (2018-19, Mattanawcook Academy), among the state's list of former award winners.
Being a Gatorade Player of the Year means paying it forward for the next generation. Through Gatorade's Play itForward initiative, every Player of the Year receives a grant to give to one of Gatorade's social impact partners, supporting Gatorade's ambition to fuel the future of sport. To date, Gatorade Player of the Year winners' grants have totaled more than $3.5 million across more than 1,300 organizations.
For nearly 40 years, Gatorade has honored high school athletes at the top of their game as teammates, supporting their communities and achieving academic success. From CEOs and coaches to star athletes and community leaders, Gatorade Player of the Year winners showcase the power of sport.
To learn more about the Gatorade Player of the Year program, check out past winners or to nominate student-athletes, visit playeroftheyear.gatorade.com or follow us on social media on Facebook atfacebook.com/GatoradePOY, Instagram at instagram.com/Gatorade and Twitter at twitter.com/Gatorade.###
