Welcome to Kevin ’26 and Cody Betsch’s ’26 room. This is their second year of boarding at Northwood.  The twin brothers live on Second  East at the end of the hallway leading towards the West side of the main building.  They have one of the more unique rooms on campus. Their room features rustic wood paneling lining the walls and ceiling. They also have a magnificent view of the front entrance. Their room is one of the larger ones on campus.

The Betsch brothers’ room on Second East. Photo: Casey Morrissey ’27.

One interesting thing about their room’s construction is that their light switch is located outside the room, in the hallway.

The light switch. Photo by Casey Morrissey ’27.

In the corner of the room, they keep their beloved fishing rods. Both twins love to fish; they are excited to spend some time on the dock in the spring and, hopefully, catch some fish.

The Betschs’ fishing poles. Photo by Casey Morrissey ’27.

Next up, the gaming setup. This is where Cody plays his favorite game, Call of Duty – only after all of his work is done, of course. Overall, an upgrade from their room in Berg last year.

Their gaming console. Photo by Casey Morrissey ’27.

“Being an identical twin is extremely interesting. Besides people calling me Cody, I actually enjoy it. The thing I take away most from my relationship with Cody is competitiveness. We are always trying to get better, faster, and stronger than each other, so by doing this, we both improve. I have been blessed with the opportunity to play hockey my whole life with my best friend right beside me, and Northwood has bolstered our relationship.

“My favorite hockey memory is winning USA Hockey Nationals in my 15-year-old year. I felt like I was on top of the world. Being able to share this experience with some of my closest friends and brothers was amazing, and I’d give anything to go back to that moment. The following year, we lost in the semifinals at Nationals, and it was a very tough loss to process, because we knew what it was like to win the whole thing.

“Originally, I was nervous about coming to Northwood, just because it was a new place and I had played hockey in California for my entire life. However, I was coming with Cody, my twin brother, and Henry Kress ’26, two of my best friends from the LA Jr. Kings team. This made the adjustment process much easier for me, because I was not alone.

“Northwood has given me so many outlets in hockey, academics, and life. I have built lasting relationships with my peers and faculty that I will carry with me after I graduate. My favorite memories from Northwood are, for the most part, the common things, like playing Teqball with the boys during open gym. It is these little moments that build unbreakable bonds, and I love it so much. With only a few months left of the hockey season, I am going to make the most of every opportunity that comes my way!”

As told to Andrew Sherland ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“A piece of life advice I would give to someone is to enjoy what you have and not take things for granted.

“If I had to choose between skiing and biking, it would be tough because I feel they go hand in hand with each other. But in the end, I would choose skiing just because the risk is lower. How do they go hand in hand? I feel like Skiing and mountain biking both have such a connection to the mountains. They both wind through the trees and the harsh mountain environments. Also, both sports provide adrenaline and the connection with your equipment that pushes you to go further and faster.

“I think my dad has been the most important person who has helped me during my time in Northwood. Firstly, he helped me decide to go to Northwood for a better education and the opportunities it offers. He also supported my decision to play soccer year-round instead of doing both ski racing and soccer, which was a significant turning point during my time at Northwood because I had done both my entire life, and giving up one felt like giving up a piece of myself.

“I’m a person who is 50/50 if pineapple belongs on pizza. It really depends on what I’m in the mood for.

“Something about me that not a lot of people know is that I used to be a pretty good lacrosse player in my old school.”

As told to Gavin Kruger ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“I am from Akwesasne, New York, about an hour away from Northwood. It is right on the border of New York and Ontario. Before I came here, I played for a team in Ontario called the Hawkesbury Hawks.

“My favorite artist depends on how I am feeling in the day, but of everyone, it has to be Post Malone.

“Definitely my favorite place to eat in town is Soulshine. For home games, my pregame routine is usually walk into town and go there.

“I chose Northwood because it was the first prep school I visited, and I fell in love with it when I toured. I then got to skate with the prep team, and after my skate, Coach Mallaro told me I had a spot on the team for the next year, so it was a straightforward decision.

“My favorite part about Northwood is all the different things you get to experience, like LEAP, which you can only experience here. As well as all the people you meet and how close you become to them.

“My best memory has to be all the team dinners and bus rides with my teammates. They are unforgettable experiences that have given me the best memories that will last the rest of my life.

“My plans after Northwood are to play junior hockey for two years. I then want to go to college and pursue a degree in business.

“The best advice for anyone coming here is to enjoy whatever happens here and don’t take anything for granted. My three years have flown by, and I wish I could experience it all over again.”

As told to Owen MacLean ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“I am from a few places: Singapore, Dubai, England, and Poland. I am on the U19 soccer team here at Northwood, and this is my second-year attending. My favorite hobbies include hanging out with my family, playing soccer, watching soccer, and watching soccer with my dad.

“During my off weekends at Northwood, I like to go into town with friends, eat some nice Chinese food, go to the movies, play video games, and relax. Right now, I live in Dubai. When I am home during breaks, I spend time with family and friends, along with training for soccer. Some of my favorite memories of Northwood have not always been when I get a good grade, but when I am spending time with the people I enjoy being around. It is always an enjoyable time with my friends.

“Something people would not know about me is that I am fluent in Mandarin. I also like video games. My favorite video game must be FIFA; it is a childhood one that always sticks with me. My friends and I often play FIFA in my room during our free time. One of my favorite things about Northwood is my room. Throughout both of my years here, I have had a big TV in my room, and the layout is nice, so my friends spend a lot of time there playing FIFA, Rocket League, or just vibing.

“After high school, I want to go to college and get a good degree while playing collegiate soccer. My dream has been to play professional soccer, and I have been playing my whole life. My father is a huge soccer fan, so I grew up going to games and watching professional soccer. On another note, I would like to follow in my parents’ footsteps for my career outside of soccer.”

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

“Northwood’s academic and athletic development is top-notch, as well as the community. When I toured, I felt instantly welcome from students and faculty. That alone made my decision clear that Northwood is the spot for me.

“What I am going to miss about Northwood is truly the community. I know it sounds cliché, but everyone here pulling towards you for your very best is something I am going to miss. And also, things like playing outside with friends on the grass, like Spike Ball or the competitive Teq Ball games down at the indoor turf.

“My experience here has been nothing short of amazing, and I still have a couple of months left to make the absolute most of it with some of my best friends. The lessons I learned from hockey and the social life at Northwood will stay with me for the rest of my life.

“After Northwood, I want to play college hockey and play professionally. If that does not work out, I want to get into sports marketing/business and hopefully in the NHL or another pro sports team.”

As told to Parker Thompson ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“I came from Chatham, New Jersey, hearing about this school last year. I learned there was a freestyle ski team at Northwood, and I was very excited to join and attend this private school.

“When I came to this school at the beginning of this year, everyone was very welcoming. I was able to meet a lot of new friends and people. I saw the great amount of school spirit everyone showed, and the transition from Fusion Academy wasn’t too bad, either, thanks to everyone here.

“Something I have to say is to keep taking small steps, and you’ll end up in a place you’re happy in. Just keep on moving, meeting new people, and work to keep your goals in sight, and get good grades. If you keep these objectives in mind, everything will work out.

“When I leave Northwood, my goal is to get into electrical engineering. Then, after getting my degree, my goal is to become a quantitative analyst at a good firm and get pretty good money. But right now, I am going to become a postgraduate and ski for an extra year before leaving for university.”

As told to Nathaniel Benjamin ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“One of my secret talents is drawing. It is not much of a secret anymore because most people know how much I love it, but it is also something I love to do that people do not expect from me. Drawing keeps me busy when I am bored and gives me a way to relax and express myself creatively.

“I started playing hockey when I was four years old because I wanted to be the first female hockey player in the NHL. When I told my dad, he said hockey was a boys’ sport, and I think after that, something inside me was motivated to prove him wrong. That mindset has stuck with me ever since and continues to push me to work hard.

“I like Northwood because it has given me the chance to grow as an independent person. Being away from home helped me become more confident and responsible, and it also allowed me to connect with people in ways that were harder for me back home.

“The quote I live by is Wayne Gretzky’s famous saying, ‘You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.’ This applies to my everyday life, especially when I am unsure whether or not to take a risk. It reminds me that you only grow when you step outside your comfort zone.

“My favorite meal at Northwood is definitely the beef tacos.

“Next year, I plan to continue both my education and hockey career at Boston University, where I hope to study architecture. Playing Division 1 hockey has always been a dream of mine, and I am incredibly excited to be a part of the BU hockey program. I am looking forward to this next chapter.”

As told to Anna Monette ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“I’m from Gatineau, Quebec. Before Northwood, my life was amazing, but it got even better when I came here. Northwood really opened a lot of doors for me, not just hockey-wise, but school-wise as well. The fun here is hard to explain. You really have to live it to believe it. It’s a really special culture, and this place brought me a lot of joy and happiness.

“One moment at Northwood that really stuck with me was playing in the Spring Concert. That was a big moment for me because I had to face stage fright. It was also about presenting what we had been working on all year. Having teachers who believed in us made it even more meaningful, and it was really fun.

“I think I’ve changed a lot since coming to Northwood. I’ve become a better person. I’ve learned about integrity, and I try to stick to the five core values. That’s helped me push myself to do things the right way and always try to become better.

“What matters most to me right now is the brotherhood here. The people around me, the teachers, and the community are what make this place special. I really love this place.

“A small detail about me that most people don’t know is that I can learn new skills really quickly. I can usually learn something in under an hour, whether it’s juggling or even trying a backflip. If someone challenges me, I’ll try it, as long as it’s actually possible.

“One mindset I live by is, ‘stop looking at the mountain. Look at the steps in front of you.’ We overthink a lot in life, but sometimes you just need to take the first step. Just get out of bed. If there’s too much homework, just start doing it instead of overthinking everything.

“If I could talk to my younger self before coming to Northwood, I’d say to have fun. Time goes by really fast. And if I had advice for new students, it would be to always say yes. Say yes to opportunities, say yes when people ask you to do something, and learn from everyone around you. Always say yes.”

As told to Jacob Slagel. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.