Northwood Life – The Mirror

NBL Preview

April 20, 2026 by Parker Thompson

As we head into the final stretch of the school year, you usually look toward graduation. Still, when you hit March, here at Northwood, we look to the NBL (Northwood Basketball League): a 16-team, single-elimination basketball tournament with teams of two players. Unfortunately, due to travel, the League is starting a little late this year and may end after spring break ends in April. Regardless, it is going to be a very competitive, high-emotion, and, as always, a very physical tournament. This tournament brings together all hockey players from the Prep, Varsity, and 16U teams, so there will be a ton of friendly yet hard and fierce competition this year.

For the first time in two years, we will have a new champion, not the power duo of Michael Peluso ’25 and William Schneid ’25, who won the League back-to-back. “I am looking forward to the League this year, I love the passion the players play with, and I’m excited about who will be the new top dogs this year,” Schneid ’25 said.

Here is the official bracket of the 2026 NBL season. Personally, with my experience in this League, I don’t think we will see many good games until we reach the elite eight. Many of these first-round games may be cake walks, but again, anything can happen. It’s March. One thing is for sure: it is going to be exciting, and if you are a student or faculty member, we encourage you to come down and support the teams competing for what is the hardest trophy to win in all of sports.

The first games will kick off Thursday night (March 12^th, 2026) in the fitness center’s shooting room.

Former League commissioner and widely known at Northwood, Jack Kent ’23, had a few words to say about the NBL this year. “It’s going to be a fun stretch of games, you don’t truly know how much the League means until you play a game, when you play your first game, you know the NBL is one of the top basketball Leagues in the world.” I also asked him for his pick as a champion this year. He said, “this is a bit off a tough one because I’ve been out of the school for a few years and there’s always the one player you don’t expect to come out of the water but right now I got parker and stacks against miles and henry in the finals, this game could go either way and a game you will not want to miss if you are at school.”

It is going to be a joyful March. One of the greatest times of the school year has finally arrived. We look forward to all the games, and we wish every team the best of luck. Make sure to follow the Instagram page “northwood_ball” to see every update and clip of the games. Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy this year’s NBL Season!

Happy March!

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Sports

Catching up with Jace Donawa ’25

April 17, 2026 by Noah Moodey

SportsCenter top 10s, National team call up, and a summer abroad are only the tip of the Iceberg since Jace Donawa graduated from Northwood.

Despite being committed to the University of North Carolina for soccer, Jace Donawa ’25 was at a crossroads with what to do when he graduated from Northwood last spring. “I wasn’t really sure what I was going to do; people were telling me to come back to Northwood for the semester, people were telling me to enjoy my time at home, and pretty much everything else in between.” Donawa committed to UNC Soccer’s class of 2026 and decided to go a semester early, meaning he would arrive in January of 2026. This left him with a semester to burn, which he ultimately spent training with a pro team in England. He spent his days caring for his niece and training with top players. For 6 months, he honed his craft, and it paid off with him earning his first Bermuda Senior Men’s National Team call-up in late November. Despite a tough loss on the night, Donawa was the brightest star on the field, making numerous darting plays down the wing and being a headache for the opposition all night.

Donawa wearing the Bermuda Senior team Jersey for the first time/ Photo Creds: Bermuda News

This was just the beginning of what would be a chaotic couple of months for the former Husky. In early January, he made his entrance to UNC Chapel Hill, which was a change of pace from the Northwood life he was used to. “To be honest, I was amazed. Everything was so much bigger here than at Northwood, and I felt like I was constantly seeing new people, which was a major switch-up coming from Northwood. On top of that, I’ve had 8 months off school, so reintegrating into classes has been a bit of a challenge.” That being said, it wasn’t long before Donawa was back in top form, enjoying team training, social events, classes, and, of course, the heated blue-blood rivalry that is the Tar Heels vs. Duke Blue Devils.

Most recently, Donawa found himself in the national news after his game-tying free kick from miles out vs. Costa Rica landed him at number 6 on the SportsCenter Top 10. He scored two goals and had an amazing campaign with Bermuda’s U-20 team before continuing that form upon his return to UNC. In his first spring game for the Tar Heels, Donawa took his chance and slammed a volley home into the top corner of the net, putting all the ACC on notice that he was here to stay.

Donawa is congratulated by his teammates following his debut goal vs UNC Wilmington/Photo Creds: UNC Men’s Soccer.

This summer, Donawa is signed to Black Rock FC’s USL2 team and looks to be an exciting component of a strong young team. He will look to continue this form into the USL2 season and lead the team to a first-place finish for the first time since 2018. When asked about a potential return to the Wood, Donawa said,” To be honest, I’m hoping to make a return for graduation before the season starts. I miss my friends and just everything about the place.” It’s safe to say everyone at Northwood will keep their eyes peeled for more headlines and hopefully a visit at graduation!

Watch Jace’s SportsCenter Top 10 Goal vs Costa Rica’s U20 team:

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People, Sports

Dorm Room Tour: Cooper Plotts ’26

April 17, 2026 by Justin MacLeod

Welcome to the room of Cooper Plotts ’26, and Cooper said, “It’s a place to remember and a place to call home.” Cooper is a 2-year senior and is a forward on the Prep hockey team. Cooper lives on Third East in one of the best single rooms on the floor, and it’s where he feels the most comfortable.

Cooper’s single room is one of the best rooms in Main, and it is kept at a high standard of cleanliness. He makes sure nothing is lying around the room. People stop by Cooper’s room to say hi and notice how good a room it is.

Photo by Justin MacLean ’26.

Cooper really brought home to Northwood. Besides playing hockey, Cooper enjoys golf, especially in Lake Placid. He said, “Golf here on sunny days is amazing with mountains in the background, with a nice breeze blowing around, I couldn’t ask for any better.”

Cooper’s room has many things in it, like a hockey banner, photos, jerseys, a TV, a nice big bean bag in the middle of the room, hockey sticks pressed against the wall, and a nice shelf to keep all his daily needs. Everyone treats Cooper’s room with respect when visiting.

Photo by Justin MacLean ’26.

This is Cooper’s desk, which is always organized and neat. “This is the desk where I do my homework, and it’s where I am most focused, allowing me to stay on top of my assignments. I also eat some food that I enjoy here,” Cooper said. Cooper has his day-to-day stuff like school supplies, toiletries, water bottles, jewelry, and hockey supplies on his desk.

Photo by Justin MacLean ’26.

Next is Cooper’s bed. His bed is nice and neat; it’s always made in the morning. “My bed is always made in the morning; it’s the start of my day that gets me awake, so it’s become a routine,” Cooper said. He believes that his bed is the most comfortable on the Third floor because he has two mattress toppers for extra comfort, and under the bed, Cooper has his golf clubs and containers filled with snacks, drinks, and extra things.

Photo by Justin MacLean ’26.

Next is Cooper’s closet, which is organized with his sweatshirts, shirts, jackets, and suits hanging with shoes filling the closet floor because Cooper is a shoe guy. Cooper’s top closet shelf holds his extra bedding and hockey undergear when he needs it.” My closet is filled with all the stuff I need for the rest of my school year,” Cooper added.

Overall, Cooper Plott ’26 has a great single room filled with many things from back home, making it feel truly like home.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

ADK Science Visits Fish Hatchery

March 26, 2026 by Owen MacLean

On March 13, students from Ms. Fagan’s Adirondack Science classes had a field trip to the Adirondack Fish Hatchery for a firsthand learning experience on conservation. The hatchery is located just outside Saranac Lake and is operated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

A small tank of juvenile salmon. Photo: Owen MacLean ‘26.

A tank of mature landlocked salmon. Photo: Owen MacLean ‘26.

During the visit, students were given an inside look at how fish are bred, raised, and released to support local ecosystems. The hatchery specializes in landlocked Atlantic salmon, producing 30,000 pounds of fish per year. The salmon are released into lakes and rivers across New York State to maintain ecological balance and support recreational fishing.

Students explored the facility, observing large tanks filled with salmon at various stages of development. This included learning about the lifecycle of fish, from tiny eggs and newly hatched fry to larger juvenile fish. The hatchery uses a constant flow of cold water from nearby ponds and wells to raise the fish. This ensures fish are growing up healthy before they are released back into the wild. “I enjoyed it a lot. The hatchery was something I found really interesting and taught me a lot about how these fish are raised. It was also cool seeing just the number of fish they had there.” Cooper Plotts ’26 stated. This was a good opportunity to learn about the life cycle of fish and the importance of maintaining freshwater biodiversity.

A highlight of the visit was viewing the large broodstock fish. These are carefully selected adult fish used in hatcheries to breed the next generation. “Yeah, it was really cool how big some of the older salmon were. They are a lot bigger than I thought, and then seeing the fish in the display was even crazier. The trout they had in there were massive.” Plotts said. It takes a lot of work and care to keep our fish populations healthy and thriving year after year.

Ms. Fagan noted, “This field trip is important as it is an opportunity to learn firsthand how fish hatcheries function. Especially because we are raising our own salmon in the class on a small scale. And we’re working with a hatchery to release these fish in the spring.”

The visit to the Adirondack Fish Hatchery offered students a memorable day outside the classroom and a look at how local government supports the health and sustainability of the ecosystems in our community.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Real World

NBL: First Round Recap

March 26, 2026 by Parker Thompson

Two NBL competitors last season under the familiar yellow glow of the court/hockey shooting area. Photo provided.

As the first round of the 2026 NBL tournament concludes, there is a lot of catching up to do, as some of your possible picks who you may have gone far in the tournament may be out already.

The first two games of the season were pretty good ones to watch, with high-level competition and a lot of skill displayed by Riley Doyle ’27 and Zach Klaich ’26, who came out with the 11-8 win after completing a huge comeback to punch their ticket into the elite 8, defeating Adam Sherman ’26 and Williem McArthur ’27.

With our second game of the opening night, we had the dynamic duo of Casey Morrissey ’27 who is one of the players to watch this tournament – possessing unique work ethic and skill – alongside his teammate Chase Brock ’27, with a controlling 11-6 win over Owen Maclean ’26 and Max Stracar ’26, Morrissey ’27 had this to say after the game “this was an easy game for me, I went out on the court and did what I am good at, I expect to go far in this tournament”

Night two had the matchups of Devin Smith ’26 and Luke Lalonde ’26 taking a dominant 11-4 win over Cody Betsch ’26 and Patrick McCormick ’26; the latter duo gave absolutely minimal effort in this game, which was very sad to see.

Game two of the night had Justin Macleod ’26 and Charles Pigeon ’26 winning a very close game, winning 11-10 over Cooper Plotts ’26 and Brennan Poole ’27, knocking them out of the tournament for good. This duo has really high hopes for this tournament, and I can see them doing damage down the stretch, as both players are skilled. They move on to the Elite 8.

Night three displayed some decent games with Drew Tulloch ’26 and Ethan Fitzpatrick ’27 moving on with a solid win over CJ Ericson ’27 and Kelly Matozzo ’28. This was a cake walk game for Drew and Ethan, and they now advance.

Also, in the last game of the night, Henry Kress ’26, with his teammate Miles van Mullen ’27, dominated the game over Ryan Demers ’27 and Elliot Murch ’26. They advanced to the elite 8 and could very well be the favorite to win this year’s tournament.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Sports

Students Share Spring Break Plans

March 26, 2026 by Rylie Griffiths

As the calendar inches closer to the end of March, students are shocked to find snow still in Lake Placid. It should be no surprise, as it is what we signed up for when we committed to coming to school in the north country, but not even the locals expected this long a winter. People have had enough, and this week’s snow and windstorms have done nothing to help. Additionally, with the conclusion of hockey at Northwood, a large portion of the student body feels especially gloomy. Luckily, students are giving their final push before a well-deserved break. Spring break is only one week away, and students can’t stop talking about going home or on vacation. I thought it would be a great idea to capture this excitement by asking some of the students about their spring break plans.

Sara Martin ’26, Anna Monette ’26, and Oceanne Tiffault Michelle ’26 will be heading on a fun group trip to the Dominican Republic. These girls have been talking about it for several months as they can’t wait to escape the snow.

“I am most excited to tan on the beach all day with my friends. The food is another big thing. Being able to eat fresh fruit will be the best,” said Sara.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to spend quality time with my best friends as the school year winds down and we get closer to graduation,” Anna added.

Willow Zhao ’26 will be heading on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Red Rocks with the school, led by Bobby. She said, “I’m very excited because it’s going to be a big group of people I would like to get to know before I graduate. I’m also looking forward to the hot weather and nice climb on the west coast.” This is such a unique experience for her and all the students attending, and we can’t wait to hear their stories when they get back.

Sometimes, spring break can be equally as enjoyable to spend in the sun as it is spent at home. Andrew Sherland ’26 can’t wait to get home in Ridgewood, New Jersey. He said, “It’s going to be super fun to see my family and hang out with them.” I don’t blame him; I believe all the students are counting down the days until they get a home-cooked meal or sleep in their own beds.

Whether it’s adventure-seeking or spending time with the family, spring break remains on everyone’s mind. As the much-needed break creeps closer, students must make sure that they are soaking in every moment here at school. There aren’t many school days left, and time flies by even faster after a break.

I have a simple message for students: Be present and embrace the Northwood experience with the time you have left. It will be greatly missed once it’s gone.

Filed Under: Northwood Life

Humans of Northwood: Hunter Bridges ’26

March 26, 2026 by Kevin Betsch

“Northwood has just really been special. It has broken through the expectations I had for the year, and I am thankful for the year I’ve had. I’ve made strong relationships with faculty and students. I would never have met any of these people if I had not come to Northwood. Seeing my friends every day and always having my friends around, it’s nice always to have someone around to talk to or mess around with. I will also miss having every meal with my buddies and doing the little things like playing soccer on the turf or having great conversations.

“I am planning to take a postgraduate year at Northwood next year. Taking a PG year is the best option for my hockey career and my academics. The hockey here is amazing, and I have all the opportunities here with the faculty to get into a great college in the future.

“Adam [Sherman] and I grew up together. Pretty much every hockey team I played on, he did as well. I met Max [Stracar] two years ago when I went to play for the New Jersey Avalanche. He has become one of my best friends over the past two years. It was very nice coming here with them; it is just nice to know that if all else failed, I still had them no matter what. It was like an extra layer of comfort in a way. Also, watching them take risks and become friends with everyone helped me come out of my shell a little bit and put myself out there to meet new people. They have had a really positive impact on my life.

“I picked Northwood because it just felt right. I grew up in Saratoga, New York. We played a ton of hockey in Lake Placid when I was younger, and I had vacationed here before. Before coming to Northwood, I was already pretty familiar with the Lake Placid area and Northwood. It was just the perfect spot for me. It’s not too far from home, and the education you get here is just great. The hockey is also amazing and was the right fit for me.”

As told to Keven Betsch ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Humans of Northwood: Jack Kroll ’26

March 26, 2026 by Sasha Luhur

“One of my favorite years at Northwood was my first year at Northwood, 2022-23, since we had almost a month and a half off from school in the middle of the year for FISU Games. Also, we didn’t have school on Fridays that year, which is really nice.

“Over my four years at Northwood, I’m super proud of the program that we’ve built here. I was the only ski jumper in my first year here. In my second year, we got one more, Mitchell Penning ’25, from Canada. And the next year, we expanded to Mitchell, Henry, Eli, Max, and me. This year, we added Islay, Duncan, and Cadel. So, from one to seven.

“Some highlights of my time at Northwood ski jumping are probably last year, winning Junior nationals for ski jumping, and getting second for Nordic Combined. That’s one of the main reasons I decided to defer my enrollment at Bates College and come back for a PG year.

“I was a Nordic Combiner, which combines cross country skiing and ski jumping for most of my career, and then after winning nationals for ski jumping last year, I decided to focus all my efforts on ski jumping and see how far I could take it. I came back to qualify for the Junior World ski championships this year, and I almost did. On another day, maybe I would have been on that team. But that’s part of the sport. Anyone can have a good day, and anyone can have a bad day. I worked hard, making up a lot of ground and getting myself to the level I needed to be at. On another day, it could have been me, and that’s what I am going to take away from this and be proud of. Now it’s back to work.

“As of now, I intend to move to Lillehammer, Norway, next year with Henry Loher ’26 as well as a few other US athletes to train and compete there. The US team is based there, and it also cuts down on travel, since most of our competitions are in Europe.

“I’m going to miss the people. Although most of my friends graduated last year, Northwood still feels like home. I’ll often catch myself saying I’m going home when I’m talking about Northwood. It goes to show that if you spend enough time with people, they become like family.

“Shout out Ben LeBlanc, great teacher. In junior year, I was probably two units behind for most of the year after extensive back-to-back travel, and he helped me catch up. Also, he drives us every day to ski jumping practice.

“Also, Marge. Marge used to be a Nordic coach, so we talk a lot and spend a lot of time together. She is super nice, and I’m going to miss talking to her every day.”

As told to Sasha Luhur ’27. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

March Madness Preview

March 20, 2026 by Andrew Sherland

The calendar has flipped to March, and with it came the most chaotic, unpredictable, and flat-out entertaining event in American sports. The 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is officially underway. And if the first round is any indication, this year’s bracket is already a mess in the best possible way. 68 teams entered with dreams of cutting down the nets. Only one will be left standing. Click here for the official bracket!

The madness wasted no time. Thursday’s opening slate delivered exactly what fans have come to expect from the Big Dance: upsets, near-misses, and moments that had fans either jumping off their couches or throwing their brackets in the trash.

First Day Recap

The most stunning result of the day came from the Midwest, where High Point knocked off the Wisconsin Badgers 83-82. The Panthers, a double-digit seed from the Big South Conference, beat a Power Four program by a single point in a finish that had the arena going crazy. If your bracket had Wisconsin going deep, today was a rough day.

VCU also made plenty of noise, taking down the North Carolina Tar Heels 82-78, overcoming a 19-point deficit in the second half. The Rams, a program with a history of tournament runs, reminded everyone that the ACC brand name means nothing once the ball tips in March.

On the favorites side, there was no shortage of convincing wins. Illinois cruised past Penn 105-70, Michigan waxed Howard 101-80, Michigan State handled North Dakota State 92-67, and Arkansas made quick work of Hawaii 97-78. Houston, a perennial contender, showed why they are dangerous, sending Idaho packing 78-47 without breaking much of a sweat.

Duke survived a scare from 16-seed Siena, escaping 71-65, while Texas upset BYU 79-71 after beating NC State in the First Four. Gonzaga ended the first day with a tight win over Kennesaw State, 73-64. Texas A&M pulled off a notable win over Saint Mary’s 63-50, and Saint Louis was among the more surprising victors, knocking off Georgia 102-77.

Day 2 Preview

Arizona vs. LIU: Your pick to win it all tips off today. The Wildcats enter the tournament as one of its top seeds and are heavy favorites over the LIU Sharks. Arizona will want to make a statement and build early momentum heading into the weekend. However, LIU has taken the nation by storm with their “Fins Up” chant. “A win for LIU would mean the world to me! I do not know much about basketball, but Fins Up!” said Autumn Kelly ’26. Kelly is committed to playing NCAA D1 hockey next year at LIU.

Kentucky vs. Santa Clara: The Wildcats are always a storyline in March. Santa Clara is scrappy and well-coached, but Kentucky has the athleticism to impose its will. Kentucky has suffered recently in the tournament, but many believe it will bounce back this year.

Tennessee vs. Miami (OH): The Volunteers have been one of the most consistent programs in the country this season. Miami (OH) is no pushover, as they have captured America’s attention, going 31-0 in the regular season and beating SMU in the First Four. This game will be one for the ages. “Those Miami (OH) squids are frauds, and Tennessee is going to show them what real basketball looks like. I have been tricked too many times by these mid-majors with outstanding records, and I am not falling for it this year,” said Jackson Marchione ’27.

Real Championship Contenders

This tournament has no shortage of legitimate championship contenders.

Arizona comes in as arguably the best team in the country, boasting elite scoring, depth, and the experience to handle pressure situations. If they are clicking on all cylinders, they are the team to beat. Duke already survived a first-round scare, which could either wake them up or signal cracks in the foundation. A healthy Blue Devils squad is always a Final Four threat. Houston looked dominant on Thursday. The Cougars do not beat you with flash; they suffocate you defensively and grind out wins. In a tournament where chaos is inevitable, a gritty, disciplined team like Houston can go far. Illinois put up 105 points in Round 1. Enough said. When the Illini are shooting the ball well, they are one of the most dangerous offensive teams in America. Auburn is a name to watch as the weekend progresses. The Tigers have the firepower to make a deep run.

“I have Arizona going all the way in my bracket pool this year. Their depth is unmatched, and I think they will wax every team. Everyone wants LIU and their Fins Up, but Arizona is going to send them packing 10 minutes in,” said Devin Smith ’26.

Cinderella Watch

Every March Madness has its Cinderella: that one mid-major or low seed that captures the country’s imagination, wins games they have no business winning, and makes everyone feel like anything is possible. This year’s early candidate? High Point. The Panthers have already knocked off Wisconsin and are very much alive. A program that most casual fans had never heard of 48 hours ago is suddenly a national story. In the next round, they face Arkansas, a tough but beatable opponent. Keep an eye on VCU as well. The Rams beat UNC and play the relentless, attacking basketball that gives any opponent nightmares.

Final Thoughts

March Madness is bigger than basketball. It is the shared experience of watching a 19-year-old hit a buzzer-beater for a school with 2,000 students. It is the bracket in your group chat that somehow gets correctly predicted by someone’s little sibling who picked teams based on mascots. It is the sound of a horn blaring at midnight and an entire locker room erupting in confetti. The madness is here. Your bracket is probably already wrong. And that is exactly what makes this the greatest three weeks in sports.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Sports

Teqball Tournament Returns

March 20, 2026 by Gavin Kruger

A Teqball match in the spring of 2025. Photo provided.

After a successful inaugural season in 2025, the Northwood Teqball tournament is back for a second year, this time, bigger and better. Teqball is a rapidly growing sport combining soccer and table tennis, played on a specially curved table (TEQ™ table).

The sole, but significant, change from last year’s tournament is that it will now truly be a schoolwide event. In 2025, the bracket was comprised only of soccer players; fast forward to this year, and the event is open to everyone. This was something that current commissioners Hamish Riddell ’26 and Ashton Khory ’26 felt was important: “For me and Fry (Ashton), making the event open to anyone was the biggest thing we wanted to improve on when we took over the operation from Ryan [Farr ‘25],” said Riddell.

Not only will Hamish and Ashton oversee the competition’s operations, but they will also play in them. Ashton had a very blunt answer when I asked him what he’s looking forward to changing as league commissioner: “To change my finalist run to champ.” It seems that he is just as excited to play as to organize the event.

There is no official start date yet, but the word is that it will begin sometime this week. I was told that the NBL’s scheduling complicates things, as players are participating in both tournaments, and spectators will likely decrease in both events due to the conflicting times. So, nothing confirmed yet, but it will have to happen at some point, sooner rather than later. My hunch is that we will get an announcement sometime this week as to when the first round will take place.