Matt Yvon ’04 was a record-setting wide receiver for Westfield State’s championship football teams in the early 2000s.
 
Yvon holds the New England Division III record for career receiving yards (3,413) and ranks second on New England’s all-time charts with 217 catches. At the time of his graduation, the big-play receiver held 13 school records and still holds school career records for catches per game (5.6), touchdown catches (34), receiving yards per game (87.5), and points scored (241).
 
The talented Yvon achieved national acclaim and legendary status in a 30-27 victory over Fitchburg State in 2003 as he kicked the game-winning 31-yard field goal with 13 seconds remaining and caught 11 passes for a school record 257 yards to earn New England’s prestigious Gold Helmet Award. Yvon also scored 18 points and totaled 304 all-purpose yards vs. Fitchburg as he returned three punts for 47 yards. Furthermore, he played defensive back on several red-zone situations.
 
And in the biggest victory in school history, Yvon set a then single-game school record with 13 pass receptions and caught the game-winning touchdown with 59 seconds remaining in Westfield’s thrilling 35-31 over Worcester State in a battle of unbeaten teams in the 2001 regular season finale.
 
Yvon was a first-team all-conference selection in 2001, 2002 and 2003 in the 14-team New England Football Conference (NEFC) when the Owls posted an aggregate record of 25-7, captured three NEFC Bogan Division and MASCAC championships, and won the 2001 NEFC championship to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. He was an All-East Region second team selection and ECAC All-New England honoree in 2002 and 2003.
 
The East Longmeadow resident, who was inducted into the Springfield Cathedral High School Hall of Fame three years ago, capped his outstanding collegiate career by playing for the NCAA Division III All-Stars against Mexico in the Aztec Bowl in Cancun, Mexico, in December 2003.
 
Yvon also displayed his talents on the basketball court for Westfield State. He played during his junior year and helped to lead the Owls to a school-record 13 consecutive victories.
 
Yvon is a regional sales manager for Essilor of America (Perferx Optical), a leader in the optical industry. Currently in his eighth year at Perferx, he was a President’s Club Award recipient in 2011.
 
Yvon and his wife, Katy, reside in East Longmeadow with their newborn son Christopher.