Yukica Profile: Mason Belsky

By rbrown
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Updated: April 30, 2020

NOTE: The 2020 Joe Yukica New Hampshire Chapter of the National Football Foundation Scholar/Athlete banquet was cancelled this year because of COVID-19. Each Scholar/Athlete will be recognized with a commemorative program, a plaque and a personal profile that will appear in the program, on the New Hampshire Football Report, the Joe Yukica/New Hampshire Chapter web site (joeyukicafootballfoundation.org) and the Joe Yukica/New Hampshire Chapter Facebook page. This is one in a series of 39 profiles. Once published, each profile can be accessed by clicking on the athlete’s name at the bottom of the page.

MASON BELSKY
Windham High School

Five-year-old Luke Byrne’s favorite football coach? It might not be his father, Windham High School varsity coach Jack Byrne. Mason Belsky, a two-way lineman for Windham who coached Luke in a youth football camp, may be at the top of Luke’s list.

Jack Byrne said Belsky made quite an impression on his son.

“We still have his picture on our fridge,” Jack said. “Our son asks about him all the time. For Mason to have a 5-year-old remember him for a year says a lot about him, too. He’ll remember him for a long time.”

Belsky, who was one of four Windham captains last season, has a lengthy list of scholastic honors and extracurricular activities, including completing 530 hours of community service. That mix of athletics, strong academics and community service helped him earn the 2020 Scholar/Athlete Award from the Joe Yukica New Hampshire Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.

“Mason was absolutely a motivational leader,” Jack Byrne said. “He led by action and his voice held a lot in the locker room. He showed it through example and he treated people right, so when he did his leadership thing kids were on board. It was easy to follow him because he treated people so good. When the heat of the battle came, he was definitely someone you wanted to follow.

“As far as offensive and defensive line, he was super dependable. Tough. Could win one-on-one matchups. Loved being in the trenches battling things out and doing the right things so other people could succeed.”

Belsky, who played lacrosse for Windham since his freshman year, was also selected to play for the East in this year’s CHaD New Hampshire East/West All-Star game. Jack Byrne will be an assistant coach on the East staff.

Mason is the third member of his family to win the Scholar/Athlete Award, joining older brothers Royce and Parker, both of whom also played for Windham.

“He makes (academic success) come easy because hard work is normal for him,” Jack Byrne said. “He likes being at his best and he likes making the right choices — he takes pride in those things. He’s established those habits since he was a middle school kid.

“I knew his grades were good already, then when you hear what his teachers say about him he’s top notch. He’s an excellent student and an excellent athlete. We’ll miss him for sure. I could see him being a future coach.”

Q and A with Mason Belsky

Q: Please describe the most memorable moment of your high school football career.

A: The most memorable moment from my high school football career is scoring the game-winning touchdown in my senior year blackout cancer football game in front of my community.

Q: Tell us about someone who has had a significant influence on your life.

A: My two older brothers, both previous winners of this award, are a huge reason why I am the man I am today. They set a great example for me and showed me the path to success that I otherwise don’t think I would have found.

Q: What is your favorite subject in school and why?

A: My favorite subject in school is history. I find the stories to be fascinating and help me understand why the world is the way it is today. You can also take away from history the mistakes and successes and apply them to your own life.

Q: What life-lessons have you learned from football?

A: I have learned how to conduct myself during adversity when something doesn’t go my way. It is a huge part of life, and how a person acts when dealing with adversity says a lot about them. You can either quit or fight through your problems.

Q: What is your dream job?

A: My dream job is to join the US Army 75th Ranger Regiment as an infantryman after I finish undergrad at Bryant University.

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2020 Scholar/Athletes: Keith Albergo (Winnacunnet), Thatcher Allen (Exeter), Cole Ames (Lebanon), Mason Belsky (Windham), Patrick Brust (Bishop Brady), Jaedon Cliche (Exeter), Riley Desmarais (Windham), Bobby DiCicco (Windham), Jared Dyer (Merrimack), Casey Gladu (Portsmouth), Owen Gormley (Salem), Jack Grogan (Bedford), Steven Guerette (Bow), Evan Haskins (Pelham), Samson Hodges (Milford), Ethan Holt (Bishop Guertin), Jack Jones (Bedford), Charlie Kneissl-Williams (Bedford), Hunter Lassard (St. Thomas), Joseph Lupo (Bishop Guertin), Jake MacInnis (Pinkerton), Braden McDonnell (Nashua South), Will MacLean (St. Thomas), Hayden Moses (Bishop Guertin), Riley Mulvey (Salem), Kyle O’Connor (Nashua South), Nolan Pafford (Portsmouth), Wade Rainey (Lebanon), Ismael Rivera (Bishop Brady), Oceanne Skoog (Newfound), Caleb Smith (Lebanon), Rolando Sylvain-Stott (Newfound), John Thibault (Trinity), Zach Twardosky (Merrimack), Gavin Urda (Milford), Carter Vedrani (Campbell), Jacob Wenger (Trinity), Jon Willeman (Lebanon) and Devin Wood (Merrimack).