Northwood Life – The Mirror

“Return to Auschwitz” Filmmaker Speaks to Students

February 19, 2023 by Cedric Lemaire

Vladimir Munk with filmmaker Julie Canepa. (Photo from “Return to Auschwitz: The Survival of Vladimir Munk”)

At a recent Monday Seminar, Northwood School experienced an enlightening talk by Julie Canepa on Vladimir Munk and his incredible story. The intention of this seminar was to inform and answer any questions that Northwood students and faculty had on Munk’s life story. To provide context for the seminar, students previously spent class time watching Return to Auschwitz: The Survival of Vladimir Munk in their respective history classes. This documentary is about Holocaust survivor Vladimir Munk, who returns to the infamous Auschwitz concentration camp 75 years later.

The film follows Munk as he shares his story and experiences in the Holocaust. Throughout the documentary, Munk reflects on the horrors he witnessed and how they have impacted his life since. He also speaks about the luck involved in his road to freedom and how he found love amidst the turmoil. Most importantly, he talks about the life he lived beyond his time spent in the concentration camps. It gives a refreshing look into the adaptation of the human spirit. The documentary is a powerful reminder of the human casualty of the Holocaust and the importance of preserving its memory.

Julie Canepa lives and works in Plattsburgh, about an hour north of Northwood School. Humanities department chair Ms. Heather Odell noted that Canepa’s proximity made it possible for the filmmaker to visit Northwood and “provide us with a first-hand look at what surviving the Holocaust really meant,” Odell said.

“Return to Auschwitz: The Survival of Vladimir Munk” was shown on PBS and is available for rent on Amazon Prime.

Julie Canepa met Vladimir Munk at Meadowbrook Healthcare, a skilled nursing care facility in Plattsburgh where Mr. Munk lives. Ms. Canepa performed a mini concert there, and afterward, she learned that Mr. Munk was a survivor of the Holocaust. Ms. Canepa then revisited Mr. Munk to talk about his story, which soon became a regular occurrence. She began to learn more about Mr. Munk and formed a powerful bond with him. Fast forward, Mr. Munk received an invitation to Auschwitz for the 75^th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz, along with a guest of choice. Mr. Munk was hesitant to make the long journey but agreed and invited Ms. Canepa to accompany him. She shared this emotional trip with Mr. Munk. She filmed it along the way, incorporating multiple informational points of view through the concentration camps with knowledge known to only Mr. Munk.

Ms. Odell and Academic Dean Ms. Noel Carmichael were the leading force behind making this possible. They believed in the necessity to bring light to this survivor’s story and continue the memory of those who survived the Holocaust and those who fought trying. Ms. Odell said the goal for bringing in Julie Canepa to speak about the documentary “was for students to be able to form a personal connection to the memory of the Holocaust. When historical events occur before students are old enough to derive meaning from their significance, these connections are paramount in keeping history alive.” Mrs. Odell talked about how her classes were affected by this experience and said, “Students have written Mr. Munk letters, inquiring about his favorite football club to what it was like to relive Auschwitz. The Northwood community has kept our conversation alive by engaging in conversations about what life was like during WWII and the Holocaust. Students have also commented on Mr. Munk’s energetic nature and what it takes to turn 98, which he will do at the end of the month.” Not only did Munk’s story alter some of the students’ previous perspectives, but it also affected Ms. Odell herself. “Mr. Munk’s story gave me an opportunity to revisit this impactful time in history. His life journey is astounding, and we have so much to learn from his courage. I’m in awe of his resilience, bravery, and intellect. There are no words to capture what Mr. Munk has endured. Listening to his narrative is a privilege.”

The events and specifics of Munk’s story were striking to many students. “It affected me quite a lot. I saw what he had to go through, and I empathized for him,” Mitchell Baker ’25 said. Baker also thought that Canepa coming to speak added value to the learning experience. “It made it more personal…her actually being there and telling the story made it feel like it was real, rather than watching it on just a TV or reading out of a textbook. It helped me engage more.”

Multiple other students also agreed that the inclusion of Ms. Canepa in the seminar added a realness to them. “It was a very eye-opening experience,” A.J. Etumnu, Jr. ’25 said.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Real World, Top Story

Promising New Athletes Help Grow Nordic Ski Team

February 18, 2023 by Mitchell Baker

While the Northwood Soccer and Hockey teams have been getting a lot of attention, the Northwood Ski program has also been building and accomplishing great feats. After all, our school is in Lake Placid, home of two Winter Olympics!

Led by the Director of Skiing, Tommy Biesemeyer, Northwood’s ski team of 26 students comprises 11 girls and 10 boys in the Alpine and 5 students in the Nordic ski teams.

Nordic skiers Daven Linck ’25, Sophia Kelting ’23, Bella Wissler ’23, and Abigail Van Dorn ’25. (Photo: Northwood NYSEF/Instagram).

Alpine skiing is the standard type of skiing with steep slopes, skis with metal edges to cut and carve into the slopes and the rigid boots fully locked into the ski. Nordic skiing is often referred to as cross-country skiing, where the terrain is not as steep, the skis are narrow, and the bindings allow the heel to remain free.

Coach Biesemeyer (or “BZ”) joined Northwood, having been a professional racer for 12 years and represented the USA at the 2018 Olympics. Northwood School also has a longstanding relationship with the New York Ski Education Foundation (NYSEF), and all the student-athletes are members of this body. NYSEF is the only Gold Certified club in New York State and provides support and opportunities for athletes to further their snow sports careers. The Northwood Ski program has grown since its origin in 1950, and the latest crop of talent has added greater depth to the team. In particular, the Nordic team welcomed 3 new students this year—Daven Linck, Abigail (Abby) Van Dorn and Jack Kroll, all sophomores.

“The Nordic program here at Northwood is growing; it has changed over the past 2 years. Last year it was just Sophia Kelting and me, and we were kind of forerunning how the program would look for a bigger team. Now that the team is growing, it is running smoothly and helping us to be stronger skiers,” says Bella Wissler ‘23. “With Daven, we now have a male skier on the Northwood Nordic team. He is a strong skier and has been doing extremely well this year. Abby joining the team this year added depth and she is a biathlete (skis and shoots) which is pretty cool! So, we have two biathletes which is the most Northwood has ever had,” Wissler notes with passion.

Kelting adds, “We are also hoping to kind of advertise and get some interest for more kids to join the program here and the team at Junior Nationals this year in Alaska. We are hoping for some good results this year to help promote the school. We have been skiing with Daven and Abby for a very long time. They are also from Lake Placid and Saranac Lake so it’s not a huge change for us. It’s been very good having them here.”

The team’s strength was on show at the recent Empire State Winter Games, held in the region on 2-5^thFebruary. It is the largest Olympic-style winter event in the Northeast and Northwood School was ably represented in the Nordic events by Sophia Kelting, Abby Van Dorn, Daven Linck and Bella Wissler. Over 3 days, athletes of all ages competed in 23 winter sports, including sliding sports, figure skating, sled hockey, winter biking, Alpine and Nordic skiing.

The cross-country skiing was held at Mt. Van Hoevenberg and the Nordic team competed in 2 events. Again, for the non-skiers, there are two methods used in cross-country skiing. The first is the classic method, a technique in which the athlete’s skies move back and forth in a parallel motion inside parallel grooves of snow. The freestyle technique is the fastest of the two methods, where the skier moves their feet from side to side in a manner resembling ice skating more so than classic-style cross-country skiing.

In the 10km Freestyle mass start (everyone starts at the same time) event, Kelting won the U20 Women’s comfortably in a time of 32:41 minutes. Van Dorn placed 3^rd in the U18 Women’s and Linck placed 4^th in the U18 Men’s event.

In the 7.5km Classic Pursuit (skiers start according to results in previous races), Kelting won the U20 Women’s, Van Dorn placed 2^nd in the U18, a mere 4 seconds from Gold, and Linck placed 3^rd in the U18 Men’s event.

Many would say that cross-country skiing is more difficult than Alpine skiing because moving forward on level terrain or up steep-hill ski trails needs considerably more power, endurance, and speed, making this one of the most grueling cardio events invented. The team trains extremely hard!

“This Nordic season has been pretty good; we have completed all of our mid-Atlantic National qualifying races for the season. We have one more New England Eastern Cup left before we leave for Nationals in Firbank, Alaska. The season has been going very well!” exclaims Wissler.

Kelting states “I’d have to agree, we have a pretty strong team, NYSEF and Northwood are in a great place. The program is definitely growing and is a lot stronger than last year due to our newcomers.

Junior Nationals is the next big thing for the Nordic program at Northwood. We leave March 10^th and then after that we are done for the season. Hopefully next year, after Sophia and I graduate, there are more Nordic skiers at Northwood. There has been some talk about more ski jumpers coming to the Nordic Northwood team.”

The Northwood Nordic team is excited about the future and Sophia and Bella should be proud of the legacy they will leave. The Mirror looks forward to watching this team at the Nationals and wishes them the best of luck!

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Sports

Kilimanjaro LEAP a “Once in a Lifetime Experience”

February 18, 2023 by Gus Garvey

Photos from the second day of the LEAP Kilimanjaro NOC hike in January 2023. (Eric Adsit adsitmediaworks.com)

This past January, the FISU Games were held in Lake Placid. Northwood was used as a venue to house the participating athletes, meaning students would have to be off campus for a month. During this time, LEAP programs, which would usually take place in May, were offered in January. These January LEAP courses were heavily subsidized by the revenue from FISU, making them more affordable than usual. One of these trips was the Kilimanjaro LEAP trip. On this trip, ten students traveled to Tanzania with three faculty, a former Navy medic, and a professional photographer, and successfully made it up to the highest summit in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro. This article will tell the story in depth, day-by-day, not only of the Kili expedition but also of the other experiences that made this a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

The preparation for this trip started over the summer. Around mid-July, the loose details of the trip were shared with six returning Northwood students who had experience in the Northwood Outing Club from the previous year. All six expressed interest in the trip, and the majority selected January as the preferred date for holding the expedition. Come September, when more of the details were ironed out, LEAP Director Ms. Marcy Fagan invited other students who wouldn’t have athletic obligations during the January break. Ten students signed up, including myself.

Then training began, consisting of an initial run up Cobble Hill, behind the school, and progressed to hikes up various High Peaks, and later in the season, ski tours in the surrounding glades and up the Whiteface Toll Road. The final logistical issues, including required vaccinations, were settled in December. After a final briefing on the gear required, the students went off to break. The actual trip began on the morning of January 14^th. Two flights beginning at JFK, with a layover in Nairobi, Kenya, before arriving in Tanzania at Kilimanjaro, made for an almost 30-hour travel day. Upon landing, the group traveled to the hotel, where we got a much-needed good night’s sleep.

On our first full day in the country, we had our final briefings on how the trip would go, provided by our guides with Boma, the company organizing our stay in Tanzania. We explored the neighboring town of Arusha, ate lunch at a local restaurant, and went to the Masai Market, where we gained some experience bartering for souvenirs. Afterward, we returned to the hotel, where the Boma guides did final gear checks to determine what the group would need to rent.

This is a good time for me to introduce the guides. Prosper, the head guide, had grown up on the mountain, starting as a gear porter, and gradually worked his way up the ranks, going to school and becoming one of the most knowledgeable guides on the mountain. Joining him were guides Tim, Chris, Joyce, and my favorite, Safara, who carried around a speaker from which he would play music throughout the trip. After being introduced to the guides, we went to bed, preparing for an early departure to the trailhead gate.

The following day, we finished packing up our gear and had roughly a 3-hour bus ride to the Londorossi Gate, the trailhead of the Lemosho Route, which we would take up Kilimanjaro. On Kilimanjaro, there are a variety of routes to reach the summit. The easiest route, the Marangu route, known as the Coca-Cola route for its popularity, approaches from the east and takes eight days; it is the only camp where fixed shelters house clients. The second-most popular, the Machame Route, takes five days and approaches from the Southwest. The Rongai Route is the only one that approaches from the North and uses separate camps from the rest. The Umbwe and Mweka routes come from the South and have the steepest verticals of the trails on the mountain. Finally, our route, the Lemosho Route, takes seven days, approaches from the West, and is the longest and most gradual of the routes. Lemosho also allows for the best body acclimatization to the high altitude, which is why our group chose this way.

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After arriving at the gate, we ate lunch and then hiked a short 2 hours up to the “Tall Trees Camp,” gaining 2,000 feet of elevation in the process. This was the only one of our camps located underneath a tall canopy, and we saw groups of white monkeys jumping around in the trees above us as we arrived at camp. After eating dinner, we climbed into our tents and slept.

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After an early breakfast the following day, what would end up being the longest hike of the trip commenced. On that day, we hiked 10 miles, gained 4,000 feet of elevation, and went to Shira 2 camp at 12,750 feet. We ate lunch at 11,000 feet along the way and crossed part of the East African Rift. We reached camp around 5:00 p.m. and got our first view of the summit soon afterward. This was also the first time we could see below the mountain at night; the lights in Moshi shone up to the camp as it was a clear night.

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The next morning, we began the most challenging day up to that point. That day, we were to hike from Shira 2 camp to Barranco Camp, at roughly the same elevation. However, the route to get there would take us up to 15,000 feet, where we would eat lunch at the same elevation as the summit base camp, Barafu. This “climb high, sleep low” tactic helps the body acclimatize to the altitude. The route to the lunch spot, known as the Lava Tower, was almost straight uphill and took us about 5 hours to complete. On our final approach to Lava Tower, it began to rain, and by the time we reached our mess tent, it had changed to hail. The hail stopped as we finished lunch, and we were smoothly on our way down to Barranco by around 1:30 p.m. Our hike to Barranco took about 2 hours and involved a scramble down a waterfall and then a 2,200-foot descent to camp. We got in around 4:00 p.m. As we got to camp, we had a view down the valley and of the Barranco Wall, which would comprise a large part of the next day’s hike. We also got an even better view of the summit, including a vast avalanche crown (which also shows up on satellite maps).

At this point, one of our group members, Mrs. Carmichael’s husband, Chis, got sick, and our guides determined they could not continue. However, to leave the mountain, they would have to go up to the next camp, where they could access the descent trail.

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The next day, we hiked from Barranco to Karanga camp, the last leg before Summit Base Camp. The hike began up the infamous “Barranco Wall,” the most technical part of the climb. “I thought it was very fun and tested our strengths since it was a couple of days in. It was one of my favorite parts of the entire hike. It was interesting how the porters and our group had to work around each other, but it was impressive how they could climb the wall with all the stuff on their back,” said Avery Novia ’24, one of the students who summited. The wall took about an hour to scramble up and over. The porters made it look easy; some did it without holding onto anything. It was a nerve-wracking part of the climb but also surreal to experience.

Once we made it to the top, it was a series of ups and downs in the pouring rain, culminating in a 600-foot scramble up to camp. We got in around 1:00 p.m. when the sun finally came out. We spent the afternoon lounging outside, taking photos in front of the sign at the camp, and playing cards. We even built a rudimentary bench (which consisted of two piles of rocks and a 2×4) at the camp.

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On the final day before the summit push, we completed a short hike from Karanga to Barafu, the summit base camp. We gained 2,000 feet of elevation, which put us at 15,100 feet to start the final ascent. We lounged around that afternoon, and the sun came out again. Many people brought their sleeping pads out of their tents, lying on the flat areas near the campsite. That night, we ate an early dinner and had our final summit briefing from our guides. We went to sleep around 6 p.m. and got some rest.

Later that night, we were woken up around 11:00 p.m. and proceeded to the Mess Tent for tea and biscuits before our final push. We organized our gear and then began our push close to midnight. We started the slow climb up 5,000 vertical feet to the summit. Hour after hour, switchback after switchback, the wind picked up, and the dust swirled, illuminating in our headlamps. We reached Stella Point, outside the crater and on the same ridge as the summit, as the sun rose around 6:15. After a quick stop at the point, we continued to the summit.

The elevation gain from Stella Point to the summit is only about 200 feet, but it was the most mentally challenging part of the trip for me. Any uphill, even if it was a slight incline, felt horrible. Moving barely faster than a crawl, we reached the peak. Immediately, packs came off, and cameras came out. We took pictures on our own, then with the guides, and finally, a whole group picture with help from another group.

The mood at the top was not one of jubilation but of exhausted relief. Most of us were just happy that it was all over. As we began our descent, it still didn’t dawn on us what we had just accomplished. We got back to Barafu around 10:30, where we slept. We were awakened at 11:15 a.m. and got moving toward the descent trail. Like most other itineraries on the mountain, our descent trail was via the Mweka route. We would pass by Millenium Camp, at 12,000 feet, en route to the sprawling Mweka Hut Camp, where we would eat our next three meals, along with our last night on the mountain. When we arrived at Mweka Hut, everyone was beaten to a pulp. Some of the group’s older members, including NOC director Bobby O’Connor’s uncle, had their knees take a beating on the descent. We hung out at the camp until dusk and then slept at 10,000 feet.

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The following day, we awoke, had a quick breakfast, and immediately got on the trail. Once again, we descended back into the canopy. After walking steadily downhill for around 3 hours, we reached the Mweka Gate, and our hike was finally over. We collected our certificates, proceeded to a souvenir shop, where we got lunch, and then moved to the hotel. We arrived there around 5:30 and chilled out for the rest of the night.

After a relaxing rest day at the hotel, it was back on the move two days later. This time, it was west, to the town of Mto Wa Mbu, where we would camp for the final night before leaving the country. When we got there, we did a day-long safari in the Ngorongoro Crater, where we saw 4 of the “big five” (Lions, leopards, water buffalo, rhinos, and elephants). We also saw other animals like Gazelles, Wildebeest, Hippos, Zebras, and Warthogs. Afterward, we went to our camp and set up for the night. The camp was a hotel in all but name and accommodation; we slept in tents, but all equipment, including food, was provided. There was running water and electricity in all the common areas, which included a bar, restaurant, and an infinity pool.

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The following morning we left for the airport after lounging till around 11:00 a.m. Before leaving, though, we made one last stop at a souvenir shop and then made the 3½ hour drive to Kilimanjaro International Airport, back in Arusha. We flew out around 8:30, made a tight connection in Nairobi, had a 15-hour flight, and were stateside around 6 in the morning. After clearing customs, Mr. Weaver was waiting with a bus, and we were at school, moving into our rooms around 2 p.m.

All in all, it was an incredible trip. It was historic in terms of the magnitude attempted. All 10 students and 15 of the 17 in our group made it to the summit.

Those who summited in our group were, by seniority:

Captain Bill O’Connor, U.S. Navy veteran
Marcy Fagan, director of LEAP at Northwood and biology teacher
Tait Wardlaw, former Alaskan mountain guide and current Northwood parent
Bobby O’Connor, director of the Northwood Outing Club (NOC)
Eric Adsit, professional photographer and owner of Adsit Media Works
Finley Donahue ’23
Avery Novia ’24
Wyatt Wardlaw ’24
Ashley Guevara ’24
Brian Brady ’24
Gus Garvey ’25
Colton Cushman ‘25
Alex Randall ’25
Sophia Sherman ’25
Uma Laguna-Curtis ’26

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Top Story

U19 Soccer Team Repeats at Far Post Showcase

February 18, 2023 by Aly El Mofty

The U17 and U19 Boys’ soccer team recently made their way across Lake Champlain to Burlington, Vermont for the Far Post Showcase. Coming off a great start to the season in Puerto Rico, the boys were excited for their first showcase back. The Northwood Soccer team split into three teams for this 8-per-side showcase, 2 x U17 teams and one U19 team.

On Day 1 of the showcase, the U17-1s were set to face High Mowing U17 and Far Post U17, the U17-2s were set to face Far Post U17 and High Mowing U17, and the 19s were set to face High Mowing U19 and Far Post FC U19. The 17-1s went 2-0 to start the showcase. They beat High Mowing U17 5-0 with an energetic performance and did not slow down as they beat Far Post FC U17 6-1. The U17-2s also beat High Mowing U17 with a final score of 5-2 and drew 2-2 to Far Post U17 in a tight game. The U19s went 2-0 with a very tough 4-3 win over High Mowing U19 and cruised to a 3-0 win against Far Post FC U19 in a very comfortable win.

After a successful first day of the showcase, all three teams were pumped and excited for Day 2. The teams had their last group stage matches before seeing who would advance to the final game of the showcase. The U17-1 squad had a much-anticipated game against the U17-2 team to see who will top the table and advance to the final game. The U17-2 team came out strong and energetic with a 2-0 lead, wanting to prove themselves against their older teammates. The U17-1 team was putting relentless pressure on the U17-2s, looking for any angle to shoot from, but the U17-2 team held off and maintained their excellent organization and defensive grit for most of the game. As the end of the game approached, the U17-2 team finally broke the barrier with a second goal following soon after.

Coach Moodey referred to the U17-2 team as “Hungry and willing to do a lot to prove everyone wrong and beat the U17-1s”. Coach Martinez also commented on the game: “It was good to see both teams competing with each other and showing fight.” After the well-fought battle came to an end, the U17-1 team was named winners of their group as they only needed a draw to maintain that top position. The U19s suited up against Sea Coast U19 and needed a win to top their group, as they were down by a goal difference. After a very tight first 25 minutes of constant defending from Sea Coast, the U19s finally broke the deadlock, slotting one past Sea Coast. Following their first goal, the U19s went on to put 4 more past the Sea Coast defense.

As both the U17-1 team and the U19s topped their groups, they would go on to meet in the final game to decide the winner of the Far Post Showcase. The U17-1s vs. the U19s was a much-anticipated game; it was present vs future, and the U19s felt they needed to put their younger teammates in their place. The U19s did just that, with the final score being 5-0. The U19s ended the showcase with Andres Viteri ’23 being the top scorer with 5 goals, Junior Happi ‘23 in second with 4 goals, and Ean Malay ‘23 with 2. Given the U17-1 team had to play the final straight after the tough match against their U17-2 teammates, it was clear there was fatigue in the younger group.

The U19s were crowned champions of the Far Post Showcase, making the Northwood- Black Rock U19s three-time champions. Both U17s teams played great and had a successful weekend but ultimately fell short. Coach Moodey was happy with the weekend’s performances and how the team kept momentum from Puerto Rico. For the teams, the focus now shifts to next weekend.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Sports

Humans of Northwood: Daniel Buchbinder ‘23

February 18, 2023 by Aidan Lasky

I came to Northwood to grow as a person and challenge myself academically and athletically. I hope to leave here closer to the goals I have set out to achieve. Over the past few years, I have had the opportunity to learn from Coach Cassidy, Coach Morris, and Coach Mallaro. The lessons they have taught me will expand beyond the ice, and I am grateful to have had those opportunities. I am still undecided about what I want to study in college, but I am leaning toward business. I will also be playing junior hockey next year before going to college. I will forever cherish the bonds I have created and memories that will last a lifetime, and the boys will be one of the things I miss the most.

As told to Aidan Lasky ’23. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Ski Team Has Productive January Break

February 18, 2023 by Ahmed Elganainy

The Northwood Ski team was active over the break with many different events. The FISU World University games provided an excellent opportunity for student-athletes to see the highest level of college ski racing at an International level. The Ski Team comprises many types of skiing, like Cross-Country Skiing, Ski Jumping, Freestyle, and Alpine ski racing. The Northwood team of 32 student-athletes had the chance to train, forerun, and watch these top-level athletes prepare and compete.

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“The goal of integrating our program within the FISU games proves to be a catalyst to dream big because each of the FISU competitors was previously in the shoes of our student-athletes, and if our athletes stay focused on their goals, they will be able to compete on this International stage,” Director of Skiing Tommy Biesemeyer said when asked what the goal of this program was during the FISU games.

Northwood’s athletes participated in many events and further developed their skiing over this long break. The FIS men and women traveled to Sun Valley, ID, from January 5th – January 16th to have proper training when the training space was limited at Whiteface. The team had full-length GS and SL training sessions along with four FIS races at the end of their camp, where they had Olivia Levesque ’24 score her best FIS result to date, 60 pts. When they returned from Sun Valley, our team foreran the FISU Giant Slalom and Slalom races and had the chance to hand out medals during the medal ceremony.

The U16 group is Northwood’s largest group of snowsports athletes, and these student-athletes were located in Lake Placid during the FISU games, where they stayed with Carrie Wardlaw and NYSEF’s Winter Term. Their training consisted of six weekly training days, where they trained alongside FISU athletes. In addition, some athletes foreran and got additional training runs on the FISU Super G track, where they witnessed some of the iciest conditions we have ever seen at Whiteface. The whole experience provided a large volume of training, challenging situations, and exposure to World Cup conditions, which will pay off for their long-term development.

Northwood’s five cross-country and ski jumping athletes put in long days at Mt. Van Hoevenberg and the ski jumps, where they also foreran each day and trained alongside the world’s best collegiate athletes. The course preparation was immaculate and allowed these student-athletes to benefit from top-level conditions. These opportunities helped Northwood’s nordic athletes develop their fitness and skills.

We had one freestyle athlete travel to Gore Mountain each day with his NYSEF coach, and he also had the chance to forerun each competition, hitting the biggest jumps of his life. This opened his eyes to the next level and inspired him to focus on what he needed to learn to compete at this level. “Seeing him come back each day with a smile on his face inspired our staff to push our kids to set big goals,” Biesemeyer said.

So we are all wondering now what is next for the Alpine ski team. The U18 teams are currently participating in the U18 National qualifiers in Vermont. The U16 Team is training at home and preparing for U16 New York State Championships on March 3-5. The Nordic team is getting ready for Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, AK, and the Freestyle team is training at Whiteface and competing each weekend at Titus Mountain.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Sports

The Northwood Invitational is Here!

February 10, 2023 by Aidan Lasky

It is an exciting week here at Northwood School because this weekend marks the 43^rd Annual Northwood Invitational hockey tournament. The tourney was pushed back this year due to the FISU Games use of the Olympic Center, but it is happening. All three hockey teams will be competing this weekend, and don’t worry, the schedule is posted below.

In the tournament, athletes will compete Friday through Sunday to have a chance to hoist the trophies. Teams from all over come to see if they can come out on top. Besides exciting hockey, alumni, friends, and student’s families come to watch and visit beautiful Lake Placid. An important side note is that the Prep Team will have their senior night on Friday, so show the graduating players support in that matchup.

This tournament would not be happening if it wasn’t for the fantastic work of Coach and Athletic Director Trevor Gilligan. He works extremely hard each week to put out the school co-curricular schedule, and he has done the same for this tournament. Coach Gilligan said, “The Northwood tournament is always marked on the calendar as an exciting weekend. Not only do all three teams have the opportunity to compete at home for a trophy, but the weekend provides a great getaway for families and alumni to enjoy Lake Placid in the heart of winter!”

As you can see, the school takes a lot of pride in being able to host this amazing tournament. It means a great deal to the players and the school that people come to support the teams, so if you are free, you will not be disappointed in the competition this weekend. We wish the Huskies luck in ending the weekend with their respective trophies. We can’t wait to see you all there. Go Huskies!

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Filed Under: Northwood Life, Sports, Top Story

Prep Team Logs Many Miles – and Wins – in January

February 6, 2023 by Aidan Lasky

Billy Batten ’23 (Photo: Mr. Michael Aldridge)

With the FISU games occupying Northwood, the Prep Hockey team stayed on the road to get the scheduled competition in. The boys traveled from Salem, NH, to Merrimack College and Detroit and made a few stops in Buffalo. Here is what happened in January.

The boys came off winter break eager to participate in the True Prep Cup at Merrimack College, a tournament where the team came in second place the previous year. The Huskies had gotten a bit too comfortable on break because the first game back was difficult to watch. Despite the disappointing performance of the first game, the team achieved a notable victory against Mount Saint Charles. The Huskies had yet to come close to beating them this season. That win marked a highlight of the weekend, but an honorable mention must go to the excellent college hockey the group witnessed while attending a Yale vs. Merrimack game. The boys were grateful for these opportunities and made the most of the weekends.

The team also took this time off to catch up on their college applications and participate in a team reading of The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle. This read allowed the team to learn about the importance of culture in the environments of winning teams, such as the U.S. Navy Seals and the Quinnipiac Men’s Ice Hockey team. The book focused on how culture is ever so important for sports teams and all teams. A group of boys will soon present what they learned from the book, and we will get more insight into how helpful the book can be.

Next on the schedule was spending a week in Buffalo to prepare for the Detroit Prep Hockey Conference Event. During this week, the boys got great skating opportunities at Niagara and Canisius while meeting key members of both programs’ coaching staff. Along with the practices, they also witnessed both college teams practice to see what it looks like at the next level. After the preparation, the team traveled to Detroit to play at the Detroit Red Wings practice facility before the PHC event. The weekend started with a heartbreaking loss against St. Andrews College. The second game went a little better for the first two periods, where the Huskies were up 3-0 on the #1 team in the country, Shattuck St. Mary’s. That changed in the third period when sadly, Shattuck was able to complete the comeback. In the third game, the boys were fired-up by the previous losses and were able to knock off Culver, marking a 1-2 record on the weekend.

To wrap up the month of January, the boys had the annual Macpherson Tournament at St. Andrews College in Canada. This was by far the team’s best performance of the month. The Huskies beat Culver and St. Andrews, both PHC rivals. It showed how the Huskies could perform when they were giving their all. The boys won a stunning four games straight, earning them a spot in the championship game against the GOJHL All-Stars. Sadly, the game resulted in a Northwood loss, but it should not undermine the boys’ performance over the weekend.

It was a hectic month in January, and I wanted to get a player’s opinion on what it felt like to play all this hockey without worrying about being in school. “It was an awesome experience to spend all that time with the team and take advantage of the places we traveled to,” James Schneid ’19 said, “but I am happy to be back at Northwood to finish the season.”

As Schneid mentioned, the team had a blast being on the road, but it was also great to see them doing other things, such as watching college games and reading a book for the team’s benefit. If you see any of the team around, feel free to ask them about their experience. As always, I wish the team good luck as they move toward the season’s final games.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Sports

Humans of Northwood: Mr. Santos Chaparro III

February 6, 2023 by Hung Nguyen

With the coming of the second semester of the 2022-23 school year, Northwood School welcomes a new member into its community, Mr. Santos Chaparro III, the new Director of Food Service. Originally from New Jersey, Santos moved to the Adirondacks 24 years ago when he attended Paul Smith’s College for Culinary Arts. He currently resides in Lake Placid with his wife and son. The Mirror sat down with Santos to learn about his life and journey to Northwood.

When I was younger, I had asthma and allergies, so I spent a lot of time home with my mother. We would pass the time watching cooking shows, and I would try to help her in the kitchen. As years went on, I grew out of being ill, especially when I moved up here to go to Paul Smith’s College. Initially, I was going to school for medical technology in North Jersey.

When I first started at Paul Smith’s, I fell in love with the area because I saw the towering snowbanks—they were taller than I was. You would hear a guy blowing snow all over the place, and you couldn’t even see over them. It felt like this little tunnel you were going through, except it was all snow. It was gorgeous. ‘Oh my God, this is where I need to be,’ and I have loved it ever since.

Before I came here, I worked at the Crowne Plaza many years ago when it was called the Holiday Inn. After that, I went to Lisa G’s and spent seven years there. I then moved on to the Lake Placid Conference Center for eight years.

Working at a school is the same idea. It’s still food service; I know the business. I built rapport with customers, clients, and vendors, which has made it a clean transition thus far.

My favorite food is fall cooking, such as stews and casseroles. The smell of decaying leaves makes me happiest, especially when cooking, and the windows are always open. My hobbies are fishing when springtime-summer hits, cleaning the house and doing laundry, which sounds odd. I grew up always making my bed and ensuring the room was picked up and tidied. Other than that, I enjoy working out, reading, and watching the news.

I always saw my passion [in cooking] as a hobby because it’s easy, and everything else is just duty, like management and payroll. It feels simple: I can make soup and cook food whenever. It’s more about focusing on attention, verbal interactions, and networking. That’s always the best part—I’m no longer being bogged down in the kitchen or office.

As told to Hung Nguyen ’25. Photo provided.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

“Good Vibes” and Wins for Soccer in Puerto Rico

February 6, 2023 by Aly El Mofty

Over the break, the Northwood Soccer team had the pleasure of staying in Puerto Rico from the 23rd to the 29th of January for its spring semester preseason. The boys were involved in intense training sessions and several games and also participated in multiple activities, eating traditional Puerto Rican food and bonding with teammates.

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The trip began in the 8th largest city in Puerto Rico, Mayaguez. On day one of the trip, the boys had the opportunity to practice at the University of Puerto Rico. The soccer team enjoyed the training session under the scorching sun before heading to Rincon Beach after breakfast at the University of Puerto Rico. During their tanning sessions, the boys enjoyed the cool water, fresh coconuts, and warm sun.

Liam Burk ’24, the U19 goalkeeper, described the coconut milk as “the best thing I’ve ever tried” and even took a couple of coconuts with him back to the hotel. The boys then enjoyed a short walk into the city of Mayaguez and selected several local places to eat dinner. They enjoyed burgers, poke bowls, and some traditional spicy rice and chicken. They also walked around a local market, where many purchased handmade bracelets.

On day two, the preseason campaign began with the U19 and U17s playing the Edu Soccer Academy of Mayaguez. The U19s secured a 3-0 victory, while the U17s dominated and secured a 6-1 win. After a successful preseason start and a long practice under the sun, they headed to the beach at Playa Buyé. Many boys played beach soccer, explored the coast, paddle-boarded, and once again collected coconuts and enjoyed the natural sweetness. Cedric Lemaire ’24, a defender for the U19s, explored the coastline and even got close up to a bull! A couple of the boys enjoyed the waves and surfed for a few hours. The boys then walked into town for a traditional Puerto Rican dinner consisting of beans, rice, chicken, and plantain. Traditional Puerto Rican food was a success with the soccer boys, to say the least: they requested that meal many times after that night.

The soccer team then made their way up to the capital of Puerto Rico, San Juan, for the third day of the trip. After the two-hour drive, the team made its way to “Coto Beach,” which used to be under Spanish rule. The beach had a lot of old structures from the American/Spanish war and had beautiful views. After exploring the beach and climbing rocks, the boys looked at the items the locals were selling. Many bought custom Puerto Rican bracelets, hats, and coconuts. After a long morning, they headed to the hotel and rested for a bit before heading to dinner. Later in the evening, the team split up into groups, went around the local mall for dinner, and explored the stores and surrounding areas.

The soccer team then had to work on their presentations about each chapter of Atomic Habits book by James Clear. The U17 and U19s were split into groups of 8, and each group was assigned a chapter and given two days to present the main concepts of their chapter.

On day four, the team headed to the San Juan National Historic Site near “Old San Juan.” The group explored the 16th-century historical site for about an hour, learning about why the Del Morro Citadel was important and what was significant about all the old structures built by Spanish power. Later that day, the lads went for lunch in preparation for their game against Bayamon FC. They enjoyed some healthy chicken, pork, beans, and rice. After the boys rested at the hotel for a while, they made their way over to the Bayamon facilities for their games. The U17s played the Bayamon U17s and ended up with a 1-1 draw after a hard-fought match. The U19s dominated their game against the Bayamon U20s with a final score of 2-0. Goals coming from Leo Doyle ’25 (17s), Junior Happi ’23 (19s), and Noah Leddel ’23 (19s).

On day five, the boys spent their morning with some recovery work consisting of ice baths, pool time, and some much-needed napping before the U19s game vs. Quintana later in the day. Before the game, the boys ate authentic Puerto Rican food, followed by game-day snacks. The boys suited up against the Quintana pro team, one of the most challenging opponents they have faced this season. The U19s had one of their best performances against Quintana and ended the game with a 2-0 victory. Goals were from Sachiel Ming ’24 and Junior Happi ’23. The level of physicality and mature play was hard to play against at first, but the boys adapted well and played their style of football which were too much for Quintana. Coach John Moodey claimed, “this was the best game I’ve seen you lads play so far this year, and it is a sign of good things to come!” The victory was a clear step in the right direction for the U19s, preparing them for the tough season.

After an excellent recovery session under the sun, the lads headed to a local Puerto Rican golf course on the sixth day. They enjoyed beef ribs, fried chicken, pork, beans, and rice. Later that day, they were given some time to explore the hotel’s surrounding areas and rest up before heading out to dinner at one of the highest-rated authentic restaurants in San Juan. The soccer team enjoyed breaded beef, grilled chicken, plantain burgers, and rice mixed with vegetables.

On the seventh day, the boys presented their Atomic Habits questions in their respective groups. Each group had to act out a skit explaining the themes of their chapter. Each person followed this from the group focusing on a specific element of the chapter and how it relates to daily habits and self-betterment. Six groups presented in total, making sure all areas of the book were covered. Group discussions and questions from the audience followed the presentation. After completing their presentations, the boys headed to Martins BBQ, a Puerto Rican barbeque spot near the hotel. This was their pre-game meal ahead of day 1 of the Combine Sports College Showcase. The U17s kicked off the showcase against Surf Club, dominating possession for most of the game and had many chances on goal but were very unlucky, and the game finished 1-1, with the goal from Mitchell Baker ’25. The U19s kicked off their showcase vs. Ivy League FC. Ivy was organized in their defensive structure, which was a challenge for the U19s. Still, they ultimately broke the deadlock and achieved a 3-0 victory with goals from Jordan Shullenberger ’23, Andreas Viterri ’24, and Ming ’24.

Ahead of their evening games on day 8, the boys enjoyed a morning at Cangrejo Arriba beach, where many tanned, body surfed, played beach soccer, and even had a sandcastle-building competition. The crowned winners of the 2023 Puerto Rico sandcastle competition were Nate Wright ’25, Hamish Riddell ’26, and Trey Frantz ’25, with an impressive life-size sand sculpture of a sea turtle. The previous day, Martin’s BBQ was a hit, so the boys made their way there again and had a nice lunch. The U17s faced the hosts Combine Sports U17 in a much-anticipated game. The match began slowly, but as time went on, the intensity picked up. After a great battle, the U17s prevailed with a 3-2 victory over Combine Sports, with goals coming from Baker ’25 (2), and AJ Etumnu ’25.

Coach Martinez of the U17s described captain Mitchell Baker as “the most consistent player and leader for the U17s all season, and he has not slowed down in his goalscoring.” He also described Leo Doyle as “one of our most consistent players this year, who hasn’t stopped raising his level since the start of the year.”

The U19s also faced Combine Sports U19s in an intense matchup. The Combine U19s were energetic and hungry for the win over Northwood School/Black Rock FC, but the U19s kept their composure and played their style of soccer, which ultimately saw them prevail with the final score of 2-0. Goals came from Ming and Happi. Coach Moodey described the game as “physical and messy, but I am happy that we ground out the result.”

As the trip ended, the boys had breakfast at the hotel for one final time and some downtime before going out for lunch. The boys headed to Borrillos Bayamon, a burrito and quesadilla near the hotel. After a nice, enjoyable Mexican food meal, the boys returned to the hotel to rest up before the final game of their preseason. The U17s faced off against the Bayamon 17s for their final game, looking to get a win since the last encounter ended in a draw. As the game progressed, the Bayamon players continued to employ dirty tactics to throw off the Northwood U17s. The boys stayed disciplined and did not get involved. After a very hard-fought game, the U17s lost 1-3, with their lone goal coming from co-captain Baker. The U19s faced off against Bayamon’s U20 team in the last game of their preseason campaign, hoping to go undefeated by winning all six of their games. Tension was in the air after both teams watched the U17 team’s games, giving the game some meaning. The U19s moved the ball exceptionally well, dealt with opposition pressure as well as possible, and were clinical in front of goal, ultimately leading them to a 3-1 victory, making them showcase champions and undefeated for the Puerto Rico preseason campaign. Goals came from Ming, Sam Knauf ’24, and Leyson Mosquera Losada ’23. Following two hard-fought games, the boys earned a $25 budget for dinner in downtown San Juan near the old city. After a fantastic preseason, the soccer team enjoyed selecting their restaurants and had a great last night.

Coach Martinez praised the U17s team for staying disciplined, executing their play, playing football the right way, having a good response to adversity, going through major learning curves throughout each game, and matching physicality while playing their style of play. He praised co-captain Koah Paye ’24. “Koah had a successful preseason. He held down the defensive line and was rock solid at the back, even though he was playing out of position.” He also praised Diego Green ’25. “Green was the emerging player for the U17s this preseason. He started to play with more confidence, had more consistent games, and looked like he will contribute more in the second half of the season.”

On the U19s side, captain Thebe Mosehathebe ’23 praise the trip. “As a team, we grew in many ways. It was good to get some downtime together. We had good weather, played good soccer, and had good vibes in preparation for our difficult upcoming schedule.” Turner Jackson ’23 said, “what more could we ask for? We had good weather, all wins, good team morale, and we are stepping in the right direction.”

The Northwood Soccer team had a very successful preseason campaign in Puerto Rico and will look to keep that momentum going for the remainder of the year. This trip meant a lot to every one of the players as it was much more than just soccer. It allowed them to know one another better, create lifelong memories, and experience once-in-a-lifetime activities together. It was a great trip and a great way to start the new year.