Marc Wysocki, Head Athletic Trainer at Berkshire and a captain in the Sheffield Volunteer Fire Department, recently earned first place in the 2025 Fire Service Thought Leadership Essay Competition for his powerful essay titled “Behind the Mask: Uncovering the Root Causes of Mental Health Challenges in the Fire Service.”

Selected from more than 80 submissions nationwide, Wysocki’s essay was praised for its thought-provoking examination of how identity, emotional suppression, and occupational stress impact firefighter mental health. The competition was hosted by Darley and TEEX (Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service) and comes with a $3,000 prize.

Wysocki’s essay highlights how the firefighting profession often discourages emotional vulnerability, contributing to a culture where asking for help is seen as weakness. He writes about the psychological toll of repeated trauma, the physiological consequences of disrupted sleep and recovery, and the risks of identity fusion—when one’s sense of self becomes inseparably tied to the job. Instead of offering surface-level solutions, Wysocki calls for systemic change: leadership training, peer support structures, and cultural shifts that make mental health a shared responsibility.

“As firefighters, we often wear emotional armor that’s heavier than our turnout gear,” Wysocki writes. “We need to start asking not just what’s happening, but why.”

In addition to his service with the local fire department, Wysocki has worked at Berkshire since 2001. He oversees the school’s athletics training program and recently joined the School's campus safety department. He has been instrumental in initiatives such as implementing automated external defibrillators (AEDs), Berkshire's crisis planning, and the recent installation of a weather monitoring service on campus. In 2015, he was named “Most Valuable Athletic Trainer” by Training & Conditioning magazine.

Though best known at Berkshire for his leadership in athletics and student safety, Wysocki’s award-winning essay sheds light on his broader commitment to care—both physical and emotional. His dual roles as educator and first responder uniquely position him to speak on the intersection of wellness, resilience, and service.

The full essay is published in the 2025 Darley Thought Leadership Essay Booklet, available at darley.com.