Right before February break, the entirety of the Timberlane Football program was rewarded with the New Hampshire Football Officials Association (NHFOA) Sportsmanship Award for the 2025-2026 season.
The New Hampshire Football Officials Association Sportsmanship Award is a great achievement and a wonderful recognition. This award represents the ideal status of Sportsmanship. The NHFOA seeks a team that checks all of the boxes: leadership, accountability, respect, teamwork, and of course, good character.
This year at Timberlane Regional High School, Athletic Director Angelo Fantasia has repeatedly stressed the way his athletes at Timberlane conduct themselves and represent the Owls. The Football organization is a great example of what Timberlane Athletics are.
“I am looking for people to be the best that we can be on the athletic front and the classroom. To me, I want us to be the best that WE can be in all areas. We can only control how we can respond to things and that goes a long way, yet at the end of the day we can always control our attitude,” proudly explains Mr. Fantasia.
One person who knows what is expected of him and captures the Timberlane “attitude” is Senior Captain, Michael Santosuosso. Santosuosso has been an influential member of the Timberlane Football Organization. He has been the face of Timberlane Football for the past couple seasons and leads his team in such a positive light. Santosuosso said, “At the end of the day, regardless of a win or loss it’s important for the team to feel like a unit. When a team is led the right way it’s easy to go out and play together, and that’s why we had the season we did.”
The New Hampshire Football Officials Association generously gave a $2,000 scholarship to one member of the team that they believe is someone who demonstrates good sportsmanship and leads the team to success; this award was given to Santosuosso. “I think Mikey was a great choice, he embodies all we want to be. He conducts himself in a positive way on the field as well as off of the field. He is a great representative of what Timberlane athletics can be and should be,” adds Fantasia.
For the past 18 seasons, the Owls have been led by Kevin Fitzgerald as well as his immensely dedicated coaching staff. Not only is it the players who make a difference to the NHIAA, it’s who the players learn from, the coaches.
“Our assistant coaches are outstanding. We have had the same core of the staff for a bunch of years. The stability and consistency they provide to the program is invaluable. The positive relationships they develop with our players are noticeable…they model an outstanding work ethic for our players,” said Fitzgerald.
These dedicated and highly motivated coaches care about this program and the kids involved so deeply. They give everything they have to this program: time, effort, and their passion for teaching kids football. “Without these coaches Timberlane football would not be what it is now. I’ve been able to spend a lot of time around all of them fortunately, and I credit them for everything I was able to accomplish in my four years here.” say Santosuosso.
The Owls are looking forward to next season as they continue to prepare this off-season. The coaching staff never settles down and are always wanting to do their best for the reputation of the program and the players who fuel it.
