“Spain felt like an entirely different world from what I was used to. I’d been out of the country before, but never to a place like nor for the time I spent in Spain. Initially, I was sad to leave my friends behind but was excited about what was to come. As I settled in, I became more comfortable being alone with myself and my thoughts. Nobody spoke English, so I had few people to talk to. It was a truly formative experience and one that changed me for life. I went from not knowing a lick of Spanish to understanding most conversations and conversing in ways I didn’t know possible. It showed me what independence and hard work can get you when coupled together, but also what a lack of truth can do. The owners insisted I go the professional route, but I never wanted that.

“Living on my own at such a young age was tough, especially with only one other English speaker nearby. The experience forced me to grow in ways I hadn’t expected. When I realized the professional route wasn’t for me, I contacted countless coaches back home, searching for a new opportunity. Knowing that college coaches needed to see me play in person, I emailed every MLS academy, prep school, and most club teams in the Delaware area to maximize my options. Coach Moodey was one of the first to respond. He explained a spot opening at Northwood in January—a center-back position, just like mine.

“My parents were initially completely against me returning from Spain, let alone coming to Northwood. It took a lot of convincing, and eventually, I took financial responsibility for the cost of Northwood. My parents gave me a loan, and it’s safe to say I took it and ran. I’m always one to bet on myself, and this is no exception.

“Academically, Spain and the U.S. are vastly different. Education overseas is more relaxed and geared toward teaching rudimentary skills rather than complicated material, which is often reserved for university. The contrast between a small-town university and an institution like the University of Madrid is massive.

“On the soccer side, every player is born with a ball at their feet. Little kids in the street are as good as teenagers here. All of them have a concrete technical basis and soft first touch. The first 30 minutes of practice would be technical warmups, and tactics would follow. However, they lack physicality and fitness. When I arrived, I was recovering from a significant knee injury but was still the fittest and most potent on the team. It could be an anomaly, but nobody on the team was on the same level.

“Coming to Northwood was an unconventional path, but I couldn’t be happier with my decision. From my first week, I felt part of a family. During my visit, I remember thinking about how cozy the campus felt. Now, I can confidently say that the community is as well. Everyone here genuinely cares about your well-being, pushes you to be your best, and supports you in ways that make Northwood feel where I belong.”

As told to Li Feng ’25. Photo provided.

“This is my first year at Northwood, and so far, so good. I came here for freestyle skiing. It is so amazing to be able to ski every morning with my awesome team. I live in Quebec, Canada where there is minimal skiing, so Whiteface has been a blessing.

“At home, I enjoy spending time with my family, friends, and girlfriend. I also love hockey, as I used to play AAA back home before coming here. I have two cats, one dog, and one turtle at home. I cherish my cats over the other two pets. My family adopted a turtle into our home about 6 years ago. He helps bring the family together. We have a schedule for who must change the tank water each month.

“My brother Victor came to Northwood with me this year, and we oddly do not spend much time together. It is interesting how even though we are twin siblings, we have our different friend groups. I like to watch hockey games here in Lake Placid. It reminds me of my AAA days. The food here is tasty and always hits hard after a good workout or training session at the mountain.

“Northwood really puts academics before sports, which I am a fan of. My favorite class is U.S. History, taught by my favorite teacher, Mr. Shergold.”

As told to Yosef Spear ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“Three words my friends would use to describe me are intelligent, determined, and creative.

“I’m from Saratoga, NY. My favorite memory growing up was my family’s trip to Scotland for the British Open. I had the chance to see super old castles. I also visited amazing museums, and that’s when I started to love history.

“Songs l often play are ‘Sugar for the Ill’ by Slowdive and ‘Comin’ Back to Me’ by Jefferson Airplane. I love to listen to them when I drive. They just calm me down and allow me to think better.

“My advice is to not judge anyone too harshly, including yourself, because you never know what someone might be going through.

“What I like the most about Northwood is my friends. I feel like they are there for me, and I wouldn’t have met them if it wasn’t for this place.

“After graduation, I plan to work at the McGregor golf course in Saratoga, then go to college in the fall. I am still unsure where to go, but I’m thinking about Queens University in Canada and Ohio State.”

As told to Jenny Tran ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“I thought I knew what a snowy winter was until I moved up to Lake Placid. The beauty in Lake Placid never gets old, and you only grow to appreciate it even more seeing it every day. I’m from Baldwinsville, New York. With it only a few hours away, it has been great since my family is still able to make the trip up for games. My dad grew up playing hockey, and he was the one who passed along the love for the sport to my younger brother and me.

“I chose Northwood because of the countless opportunities it offers its student athletes. Northwood is a community filled with support from everyone around you that pushes you to your limits. It allows you to strive on and off the ice, with help from your teammates, coaches, teachers, and classmates.

“My favorite part about Northwood is the tight-knit community. You rely on those around you, especially when adjusting to a new team and school. Across teams and sports, we all get to know each other and build friendships that last a lifetime. Living with your best friends is something we often take for granted. Some of my favorite memories are visiting town for dinner with friends and taking in all Lake Placid has to offer.

“It matters most when no one’s watching. I try to live by that because it pushes me to do my best every day. It is what you do when things get difficult, and no one’s looking, that your true character shows. This saying forces you to stay true to yourself and the person you want to become, especially when moving away from home and being accountable for your actions.

“Next year, I am planning to attend St. Lawrence University. I am beyond excited to take my game to the next level on the ice and see how far I can grow in the next four years. I am looking forward to moving on to the next stage of my life, but it is a bittersweet feeling to think about leaving behind my memories at Northwood.”

As told to Sophia DeAnzeris ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“I came to Northwood for excellence in hockey and to finish my high school career. I knew that hockey at Northwood was excellent, and I am close friends with Shane Tronoski, a two-year senior at Northwood, and he told me great things about Northwood. I came from a private school in New Jersey, where I was a state champion two years in a row, but the level of hockey couldn’t compare to Northwood.

“My favorite thing about Northwood is how close everyone is. From the day I stepped foot on campus, I knew I had met people I would stay close with forever. No matter where they’re from or what sport they play, everyone talks to each other and gets along nicely.

“Northwood has made me more consistent. Because the schedule is the same daily, I can build a routine to form my day. This has made me more consistent in everything I do. This has made me a better hockey player and a consistent student.

“After Northwood, I want to continue my hockey career as long as possible, but the next step is playing juniors. I’m not sure where I will be playing yet, but I know I will be playing juniors before moving on to college hockey.

“If I could change one thing about Northwood, it would be the check-in times. I’m not sure how I would change them if I had the ability to, but I feel like they could be adjusted in a way that would work for students and staff.”

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

Will Schneid ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“I think something that helped shape me growing up was just constant competition between my siblings. I have five siblings and am the third oldest, so I’m right in the middle. We would always play football, knee hockey, or basketball or be on the rink in the backyard, which molded me into a competitor and has stuck with me since I was young.

“Coach Mallaro and Coach Lynch have both been huge in my development since I first stepped foot on campus here at Northwood. They both truly want the best for me and have developed me into a much better on-ice player, leader, and person off ice. They set high expectations for us around school, which has forced me to become more mature and respectful. Another person I look up to at this school is Ms. Walker. I have had her for both years and always enjoy her classes. STEM research is my favorite class this year. The learning and research process is delightful, and I am excited to produce a poster with our results at the end of the year.

“As of right now, my plan for next year is to play with the Barrie Colts in the Ontario Hockey League. I signed with them last week and plan to spend a few weeks there once the season at Northwood is complete. After a year in Barrie, I am committed to studying and playing hockey at the University of Connecticut. Hopefully, after that, I can play professional hockey, which has always been a lifetime goal of mine.

“If I could, I would tell my freshman self the same thing most people would, and that’s just to take it all in because it goes by fast and just keep working hard because it all pays off in the end. I also would tell myself to observe as much as possible. Listen whenever you can and make it your goal to learn something new every day.”

As told to Michael Peluso ’25. Photos provided (baby) and by Mr. Michael Aldridge.