Northwood Life – The Mirror

Humans of Northwood: Lucas Campion ‘25

May 5, 2025 by Pete Moore

“I came to Northwood because it was a great opportunity for me to further my skills academically and in the sport I love. It has always been my dream to play hockey in America, as the competition is much better. And through Northwood, that was possible.

“I’m very glad I came to Northwood for the last two years of my high school. I met a lot of great people, and I learned to become independent. But also, I learned how to deal with setbacks and how to overcome them, whether that was in the classroom or on the ice.

“Next year, I will go to college back home in the UK and continue to play hockey. Over the summer, I am going to be a lifeguard as I have for the last three years, and I am going to make the most of being back home.

“My favorite thing about Northwood has been being in an environment where I can do many different things that I’m not able to do in England. Such as skiing, hiking, and climbing. I have also enjoyed waking up every day and playing the sport I love with people who share that same love as I do. And of course, I love living with some of my best buddies. I enjoyed many competitions, such as the Northwood Basketball League and the World Cup soccer games.

“I’m very happy that I was able to call Northwood home for the last two years, and I’m thankful for how it has set me up for future success.”

As told to Pete Moore ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

The Senior Skip Day Tradition

May 2, 2025 by Natalie Gaeckle

Every year, seniors at Northwood, along with many others in schools across the nation, hold a “senior skip day.” Senior skip day is normally planned on a sunny day, where seniors can enjoy the weather and take a break before the end-of-year finals and AP exams. This year, the Head’s Council proposed senior skip day to be on Friday, May 2^nd. While most schools across the country have seniors simply skipping a day of school and splitting off into separate groups to go to the beach, city, or any other fun function, Northwood students have a bit more planned for the day.

Before a week of STEM and Humanities symposiums, AP exams, finals, rehearsals, and garbage clean-up efforts for Earth Day stacked up on the week of May 4th, seniors pray for warm weather on the Friday before to enjoy a nice, relaxing day. On Friday, the breakfast will be chocolate chip pancakes, a nice treat to start off the day. Then, starting around 10 am, there will be a slip n slide on a small hill near Berg dorms. There was also be spike ball with music playing all around, a perfect environment to just have fun with friends. Nearing the end of the day, most seniors in co-cos can skip and take a hike up the Cobble Hill Trail to enjoy a senior sunset. The hike will be an especially memorable one as Cobble Hill is a staple in the Northwood community. It is used for many purposes, from leisurely hikes with friends to training and pre-season workouts. It has also been used in the past in STEM projects for students monitoring wildlife in the Adirondacks. It is a very special place with many memories, and now that the snow has finally melted, it is a perfect time for the senior class to take advantage of the nature around them and take one of their last hikes up it.

Senior skip day is a tradition in many schools, but at Northwood, it’s an opportunity to bond with fellow seniors and reminisce about their time here. It lets students reflect on Northwood’s special and personal community. While it doesn’t officially mark the end of the year, it does mark the beginning of the end-of-year senior festivities. Two weeks after this, there will be a senior dinner, the commencement ceremony, and the final celebration with families and close friends.

Filed Under: Northwood Life

Prom Preview

April 17, 2025 by Natalie Gaeckle

As spring comes up, spirits are rising, and students begin to prepare for the many end-of-year activities. For seniors, this time of year is also one of the most important, as their final prom and formal approach, along with senior dinner and graduation. All of these events require planning ahead of time, especially prom, which is being held earlier in the year on Saturday, April 26^th, instead of May after finals, as it has been since 2021.

Ms. Donatello, who runs student activities, along with Ms. Riffle, are the two main faculty members who have been planning the event. Alongside them, there are students Jesse Schoch ‘25 and Sophia DeAnzeris ’25 helping with the planning and possibly adding events for the night. They can aid in bringing different perspectives and ideas. Instead of in front of the school under a tent, the prom festivities will be in the Lussi Ballroom at the Convention Center. This is an area in the Lake Placid Olympic Center, which adds a cool historical connection to the prom location. Additionally, an off-campus accommodation had to be found this year, due to the muddy conditions that would be dealt with had it been in front of the school again during the middle of spring, and the options were limited as venues do not hold events anymore and were too costly.

One difference in the planning this year compared to last, according to Ms. Donatello, is that they are working with a catering service that is able to offer more. Hopefully, the food options will be more accommodating with all different kinds of diets, as well as being more diverse altogether for people to have healthy and tasty options. The food service is also becoming much more “streamlined,” so instead of pulling together different courses from different caterers, it all comes from one and is a lot more organized.

2025 Prom is expected to go well, with many new things happening. Some students are disappointed that the dance will not be right outside of the school as is traditional, but because of all the early work that is being put into planning, it is bound to be a fun night. Many students can be expected to wear spring colors and flowy dresses, as most have already purchased their outfits.

Filed Under: Northwood Life

Team Uncoordinated Repeats in NBL

April 15, 2025 by Michael Peluso

Schneid (left) and Peluso. Photo provided.

As March winds down, the 2025 Northwood Basketball League has officially come to an end, but there was no shortage of madness in this year’s tournament. The tournament had no shortage of entertainment with plenty of highlight buckets, amazing defense, and, of course, lots of bloopers.

This past week was the final four games and the championship. The first final four game was the defending champs, Mike and Will, known as Team Uncoordinated vs Maxim St. Pierre and Lucas Campion, who were preseason ranked as the 13^th best team out of 16. The St. Pierre and Campion Cinderella run was like one never seen in the NBL before, as they won two huge games where they were projected to get blown out. Unfortunately, the run came to an end, and Team Uncoordinated advanced to their second straight NBL championship.

The second semi-final game was Shane Tronoski and Ty Simonet vs Pete Moore and Henry Kress. This was an electric game from start to finish. Moore and Kress took an early lead and looked unstoppable. However, Tronoski and Simonet scored 8 in a row to punch their ticket to the finals.

The championship was a highly anticipated game, as expected. There were many fans in attendance, and a large following watching through the Instagram live stream. The game was back and forth, with Tronoski and Simonet leading 6-5 at the half. Schneid took over the game offensively, and Team Uncoordinated went on a 6-0 run to win the game and go Back-to-Back for the first time in NBL history. Schneid made a strong case for MVP with a 10-point performance to cap off his NBL career.

With the season over, it is now time for the awards, which are voted on by the fans through the NBL Instagram. The first award voted on was MVP. Will Schneid, Ty Simonet, and Maxim St. Pierre were the three candidates. The Defensive Player of the Year nominees were Lucas Campion, Pete Moore, and Mike Peluso. Most Sportsman-like was decided between Nick Palmer, Shane Tronoski, and Henry Kress. Fan of the year was between Gracie Hurlbut, Gus Garvey, and an anonymous fan who runs the NorthwoodBallFanPage on Instagram. The last award is the best dressed team award, which is between Schneid and Peluso, Campion and St. Pierre, and Palmer and Brunton.

The winners of the awards are as follows: for MVP, Maxim St. Pierre. “I want to thank everyone who voted for me, and everyone involved in making the league possible. People look forward to this every year, and I am very grateful I was able to be part of the legendary league for a year,” St. Pierre said when asked about NBL and his season. DPOY was Lucas Campion. “That is very well deserved, he was the hardest player to play against in my opinion,” Will Schneid mentioned when asked about Lucas winning DPOY. Most sportsmanlike was Nick Palmer in a very close vote. Fan of the year was Gracie Hurlbut, who even performed at the halftime show of the championship game. The best-dressed team was voted St. Pierre and Campion, wearing the Saints Golf merchandise, created by St. Pierre.

This concludes the third season of the NBL. Thank you to everyone who made this season and previous seasons such a success. The NBL looks forward to continuing the highly competitive league and crowning a new champion next year.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Sports

The Power of Separation

April 15, 2025 by Sophia DeAnzeris

The 2024– 2025 school year is coming to a close. Relationships have bonded so tightly over the past months and years that these people that we didn’t know would have such an impact on our lives are now considered family. Similar to the family feeling of our peers, Northwood is now a home, not just while we live here now, but for years after we graduate. We will always be able to call these people family, and this place home.

Spring break is beginning this week, and it’s the last time we will all be separated until the final time after graduation in mid-May. As I’ve walked around campus these last few days leading up to break, the buzz around the school is not just about all the tests and assignments that have filled the students calendars, or the departure day plans, but most importantly, all the talk about leaving Northwood and the people behind for two weeks with less than a month from graduation.

That is Northwood. This place is a school, but it is much deeper than that.

“I think separation from anyone, or anything, gives you the chance to miss it. But I know for all of those who won’t be returning to Northwood next year, separation feels like dread right now because of how little time we have left,” Eliza Quackenbush, ‘25.

Students here experience it firsthand, you don’t realize what you have until you don’t. So, as we go on break, cherish the time spent with your loved ones and the greatness of being able to miss something and some place so special like Northwood. And as we return, knowing that the last few weeks of the year are upon us, remember that feeling of being away and fall in love with this place all over again before we say goodbye on May 17th.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Opinion

Senior Privileges Return for Class of 2025

April 15, 2025 by Sydney Kuder

This past Friday, the senior class privileges began, and the seniors at Northwood had special privileges awarded for their good behavior throughout the year. The Head’s Council wrote up a proposal for these privileges, and all of them were approved by the faculty. The privileges are as follows:

All seniors in academic and disciplinary good standing are assigned to Self-Directed Study Hall
Seniors are not required to check in at 9:30 p.m.
Seniors can sign out to town during Study Hall on school nights, and must return to campus by 9:30 p.m.
Seniors can use the fitness center from 8-9:30 p.m. during study hall.
Seniors can sign out to visit other Seniors’ rooms of the opposite gender.

These privileges resemble a typical college’s rules, which is why they were awarded to the Northwood Seniors. “Since we can go to the gym later at night, we can do our homework before and go to bed sooner instead of after Study Hall at 9:30. I like this privilege a lot because I like going to bed as soon as possible,” said Elleanore Pelletier ‘25.

“I like having no 9:30 check-in on the weekend, so I can go to town later and spend a longer time there. Also, I like being in the self-directed study hall,” added Ty Simonet ‘25.

All in all, the Northwood Senior class is very grateful for the privileges they have earned. I’m sure they will take advantage of these new freedoms in the last few weeks of the school year.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Top Story

Peak Pathway Profile: Gym Influencer

April 8, 2025 by Yosef Spear

Clayton Fuller ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Clayton Fuller ‘25 has been working on a gym influencing Peak Pathway project through his Instagram page. He just scored a big sponsorship with Crusaders Fitness, which has hundreds of thousands of followers. The work he has been putting in throughout the year has started to really pay off. His first sponsorship was considerably smaller than Crusaders.

Clay is working towards his goal of competing over the summer in powerlifting. His goal for the summer includes these lifts: 280 kg deadlift, 114kg for bench, and 185kg for squat. Lifting has been a passion of Clay’s for a long time. He has been a bodybuilder and power lifter for four years now.

Clay has learned that he needs to rigorously plan his meals to support his muscle growth. He has been bulking since November and plans to cut in April. He has gained 25 pounds since November, and it is only March. This is his third time doing this process.

Clay says, “My best days in the gym are the ones when I absolutely do not want to go. My legs will be sore; I’ll be physically and mentally drained from school and skiing. But I’ll still push through because those are the days that separate those who are good from others.”

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

One Slice Pizza Review: Main Street Pizza

April 3, 2025 by Pete Moore

On this week’s segment of “One Slice Pizza Reviews,” Pete and Charles headed downtown to Main Street Pizza to try a cheese slice.

The editors always try to get only one slice, but Main Street Pizza only sells full pizzas. So, the total cost of one small cheese pizza was $17.00.

Main Street Pizza is one of the more popular pizza joints in town, where Northwood students go after a hockey game or sporting event when teams need a late dinner.

Main Street Pizza is right next to the Mobile gas station and across the street from the speed skating oval and the Olympic Center. This is a great spot to be because everyone leaving hockey games drives by and will most likely want to try their pizza.

Let’s see what Charles has to say about his slice of cheese:

Woah… A 7?! The grease and oil on the pizza were too much to handle. There were puddles of it just sitting on top of the cheese. Nonetheless, the pizza tasted fine, and the man working inside was very nice. We wish the score had been higher, but the aftereffects of the oil were too much.

Filed Under: Northwood Life Tagged With: OneSlicePizza

One Slice Pizza Review: Bazzi’s Pizza

March 23, 2025 by Pete Moore

On this week’s edition of “One Slice Pizza Reviews,” the editors headed over to Bazzi’s Pizza on Main Street to try out their signature cheese pizza.

Bazzi’s is one of the most popular pizza spots in town. Bazzi’s is open from 12-9 every day of the week, and they serve pizza along with appetizers such as wings and mozzarella sticks. A full-size cheese pizza costs $19.00, and one slice costs $3.00.

Bazzi’s is located right across the street from Generations and is a quick walk away from the Olympic Center to the right, and the rest of the town to the left.

Let’s see what Charles Pigeon thought of his slice:

Wow an 8.3! That’s a new high score! The bar is set high for Mr. Mikes, who will be next week!

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Top Story Tagged With: OneSlicePizza

NBL Round 1 Recap

March 20, 2025 by Michael Peluso

Brunton (left) and Campion. Photo provided.

The Northwood Basketball League kicked off the 2025 season on March 3^rd, and one week later, the first round is coming to an end, and the Elite Eight is right around the corner. The first eight games of the season were no disappointment to any of the fans. Every game has been tight, physical, and energetic. There have been some unbelievable upsets, crazy shots, and hilarious bloopers, and it has only been one week of the season. “This season is off to an insane start. I can’t wait to see how it plays out and if this intensity stays at this level,” Superfan of the league, Sophia DeAnzeris said when asked for her thoughts on round one.

The opening game on March 3^rd featured the defending champions, Will Schneid and Mike Peluso, against two rookies, Chase Brock and Liam Connelly. The energy and nerves were high for this game, being the first of the season. Chase and Liam took the lead early and were only down 6-5 at halftime, but ultimately fell 11-5 in a game that was much tighter than the score indicated. The second game on opening night was Gavin Carr and Parker Thompson, a team projected to make the final four, vs Lucas Campion and Max St. Pierre. Max and Lucas fought extremely hard throughout the game and were able to pull off one of the craziest upsets in NBL history with an 11-7 win, advancing them to the Elite Eight.

On night two, Justin Macleod and Matthew White took on Kevin Betsch and Devin Smith. This game was another defensive battle where baskets didn’t come easily. In the end, there was another upset, as Macleod scored 9 of the 11 points to take down the game’s favorite. Justin has put himself into the MVP conversation early. After this game, Pete Moore and Henry Kress vs Jake Shingles and Cody Betsch. The final score of this game was 11-2, in favor of Pete and Henry, but the score doesn’t tell the whole story. The game was 0-0 for 7 minutes, until Pete took over and didn’t look back. Pete is also in the MVP conversation again as he feels he was snubbed last year.

The next game was Jacob Brunton and Nick Palmer vs Drew Donatello and Charles Pigeon. This game is being titled “the most entertaining game of the first round” by fans all around the league. The game was extremely physical and fast-paced, with both teams putting their bodies on the line throughout. Charles and Drew went up 9-3, but Brunton and Palmer never backed down. They scored 9 in a row to win 12-9. Jacob Brunton brought tons of passion to the court and has quickly become a crowd favorite due to his physicality and his celebrations. This team will be great to watch down the stretch.

The highly anticipated Shane Tronoski and Ty Simonet made their debut on Monday night against Trey Zeren and Ryan Demers, filling in for Henrik Hinse. There has been lots of cocky talk coming from Tronoski’s team and they had the chance to back it up, and they did. They won 11- and easily advanced to the next round. Before the game, Simonet said, “This game should be quick. Just another warmup for us”. The second game was Cash Lawrence and Owen Maclean vs another top 5 seed, Nathaniel Poole and Peter Morris. This game was a nail-biter. The game was back and forth for the entire game. Cash and Nathaniel were trading buckets all day; the game was never more than one score apart, but Poole and Morris pulled away with an 11-9 win in the end.

The final game of the first round was Anton Malyshev and Anton Stackow vs Casey Morrisey and Ryan Racine. This matchup has been dubbed a rivalry game, as Ryan was expected to sign with Malyshev, but plans changed, and these two teams met early in the tournament. The game was heated and physical, as expected, and ended in an 11-8 final, with Team Anton advancing. As the tournament is just getting started, stay tuned, as the games will only get more interesting!

The Elite Eight Matchups are as follows:

Schneid Peluso vs Brunton Palmer

St. Pierre Campion vs Poole Morris

Macleod White vs Moore Kress

Tronoski Simonet vs Malyshev Stackow