Hong Kong is a lot more than just a random global city. Hong Kong is home to a surprising number of Northwood past and present students, creating a nice connection between a small school in Lake Placid and one of the most developed cities in the world. Jeremy Tsang ’23, Turner Jackson ’23, Noah Leddel ’23, Liam Doyle ’22, Leo Doyle ’25, Jett Jewett ’26, Mitchell Baker ’24, Hamish Ridell ’26, and James Martin ’26 are some of the names of people who have resided in Hong Kong before joining Northwood School.
Recently, I was lucky enough to fly back to Hong Kong and stay for a couple of days before traveling with the U20 Hong Kong National team for an overseas training camp. These few days in Hong Kong were very nostalgic for me. Having not visited Hong Kong in an exceedingly long time, this trip allowed me to see the stunning city while also reliving old memories. The breathtaking skyline, the culture, and the food all felt so personal to me and were honestly just wonderful.
Photos provided by Josh Baker ’28.
The overseas training camp was a highly professional environment with top players from all over the world. It was an honor to represent the national team, and it also reminded me how good the standard was. This explained why there are so many Northwood soccer players who grew up playing soccer in Hong Kong. Northwood Alumnus Jeremy Tsang is a fitting example of an exceptionally talented footballer from Hong Kong. He is now playing at the University of Vermont and has represented the Hong Kong National team many times. A major appearance he had was against the Manchester United Senior team, where he played against players like Bruno Fernandes and more. Similarly, Northwood’s former student, Leo Doyle, is joining UPenn next year; Hamish Ridell has committed to Bucknell University, and Mitchell Baker has been drafted to the MLS. All these stories highlight the impact these Hong Kong-raised Northwood Alumni have had.
Clockwise from top left: Jeremy Tsang ’23. Leo Doyle ’25, Hamish Riddell ’26, and Mitchell Baker ’24. Photos provided.
Besides Hong Kong’s soccer and relationship with Northwood School, Hong Kong itself is such a special place. There is world-class infrastructure, a unique culture, and incredible views. Hong Kong is a place for Northwood Students to consider visiting, as the culture and infrastructure would be unique to them, and it would allow them to witness the environment some of their classmates grew up in.
Looking back, the trip was a lot more than just a training camp. The trip acted as a reminder of how connected Hong Kong and Northwood School are. As I mentioned before, Hong Kong is a wonderful place for Northwood students to visit if they want to step out of their comfort zone and experience one of the world’s best cities.
