The girls’ lacrosse team has returned this year as a co-curricular sport. Despite the fact that Northwood’s spring sports may not be as competitive as some of the larger ones, they promise to be equally enjoyable. This year’s group is a testament to resilience, consisting mainly of skiers, hockey players, and kids who have never played lacrosse before. Many of the girls had never played lacrosse before, yet they bravely stepped outside of their comfort zone, showing unity by playing on a team with classmates with whom they did not spend much of the school year.

Photos: Instagram/nw.girlslax

During practice, they concentrated mainly on passing, catching, and ground ball drills, which helped everyone improve. As game day approaches, they’ve been scrimmaging more to gain a sense of game situations. Their most difficult challenge has been understanding the rules. Even though the coaches are unfamiliar with them, the players take it upon themselves to learn. Gracie Hurlbut ‘25, in particular, took the lead using a classroom to teach offsides and penalties to everyone, showcasing their dedication and initiative.

Kristen Kiggen ’24, Caroline Purcell ’24, Anya Robinson, Gracie Hurlbut ’25, and the goalkeepers Brac Kelley ’24 and Morgan Smith ’24 help and encourage the other players. In addition, despite their little experience, coaches Rosie and Rachel have demonstrated continuous support for the team’s progress.

The girls’ lacrosse team has three games scheduled and seeks to schedule more as the season continues.

The Black Rock FC | Northwood spring showcase, a triumphant event for our under-seventeen and nineteen teams, was held at Northwood School the last weekend in April. This was the first home weekend in a while and the last for the year. The weekend was a resounding success, with both teams bringing home a trophy and winning the whole showcase for their respective age groups—a stellar end to the soccer season.

The Under 17s played four games and went 4-0. The first game on Friday night was against rival Hoosac School. The 17s scored first and ended the game 5-1, with striker Said El Eyssami ‘26 grabbing a hat trick. Saturday rolled around, and the 17s had games against Kings United and Athletico Samborondon, respectively. They pulled away to an early lead, with Said and Hamish Riddell ‘26 getting a goal each to seal the game 2-0. With a 4-hour wait ahead, they prepared themselves for a tough game against Ecuadorian team Atheltico Samorondon, which they comfortably won 4-1 with goals from Said, Diogo Charraz ‘25, Diego Green ‘25, and Jace Donawa ‘25. On Sunday, the 17s were up against the hardest competition of the weekend, the Boston Bolts from Massachusetts. Bolts scored an early goal first, but that did not phase the Northwood squad. They came back to win it 4-1, with Said getting another hat trick. The 17s had a very successful 4-0 record on the weekend to round off their season.

The U19 team with their trophy. Photo provided.

The 19s also faced a four-game weekend, yet they had a rest day on Friday. They faced two opponents on Saturday. The Boston Bolts fell to the Huskies with an 8-0 scoreline. Mitchell Baker ‘24 had three, Sachiel Ming ‘24 and Jordan Shullenberger ‘24 each tallied two. The next game came around against South Bronz United, and the Huskies crushed them five goals to one. Mitchell had another four goals. Sunday came, and the 19s faced Boston Bolt’s other team, which managed to scrape away with a draw of 3-3. In the last game, and for the trophy, the team faced a local squad, Plattsburgh FC. Plattsburgh got beat 4-0 with a first goal for Cederic Lemaire ‘24.

The U19 team with their trophy. Photo provided.

The weekend was a tremendous success, and the teams are immensely grateful to all the fans who came out and showed their support. Your presence and cheers made a significant difference. We look forward to an even better season, with the memory of this victorious weekend to inspire us.

Northwood students at the driving range. Photo: Lea Lambert ’24.

Golf, a beloved co-curricular at Northwood, has seen an unprecedented surge in participation this year, surpassing all previous records. A staggering forty-two students have enrolled, a number equivalent to the combined strength of both Northwood Soccer teams.  This overwhelming response has presented a unique challenge of transportation, requiring two buses for the driving range, a situation we have not encountered before.

The Northwood golfer’s expertise level varies. There are the people who play every day in the summer and compete in some friendly competitions and others who want to enjoy being outside and learn the fundamentals of golf.

The golf season typically commences in mid-April, right after the students return from their spring break. However, the weather often plays a decisive role in determining whether the golfers can practice or not. This time of the year, the weather is not always cooperative, posing a challenge. Until the golf course opens, students utilize the driving range for practice.

Meet Jacob Brunton, a student from the class of ’24, who is a passionate golfer. For him, the opportunity to practice golf at school is a true privilege. During the summer, he indulges in the sport with his friends almost every day. At Northwood, he primarily plays for enjoyment but also strives to enhance his technique to give his friends tough competition back home.

Charles Leduc ’25, on the other hand, is one of the few players for whom this whole thing is new. Charles wanted to try something different than usual. He was always intrigued by the sport but never had the chance to play it regularly. After going to the driving range several times, he is glad he chose this co-curricular and is excited to learn some technical skills.

Cole Van Etten ‘25 plays golf every week in the summer. Since he is a local from Lake Placid, the golf co-curricular gives him a chance to start his season earlier and get more practice. He enjoys golf because it’s a nice way to spend time outside with his friends, relax, and enjoy the weather. He mentioned springtime here goes by so fast, so he wants to appreciate every moment with his friends on the golf course.

The opening of the golf course is Friday, April 26^th. Northwood golfers are excited to spend every afternoon of the week playing golf. Having the chance to have a golf course where students can just walk to it is such a good opportunity for everyone to just go and have fun.