Sports – The Mirror

Soccer Closes Season with Friendlies vs. the Boston Bolts

May 19, 2023 by Aly El Mofty

The U19 and U17 teams pose for a photo together at Penn State University in the fall of 2022. Photo provided.

Over the last weekend, both Northwood Soccer teams had the pleasure of hosting the Boston Bolts for their last games of the season. The boys enjoyed a long season of hard work and dedication and were excited to wrap up the year at home.

The U17 kicked off the weekend by breezing past the opposition. The Bolts are no easy task as they are one of the biggest soccer clubs in the Massachusetts area. The 17s, however, were on a different level. They were everywhere on the field and making every extra run, knowing it would be the last time they could do so this season. The U17 ended up beating the Boston Bolts with a 6-1 victory. Jace Donawa and Diego Green were the two standouts of the game, both finishing the game with two goals. Jace had this to say on the game: “It was great to help the team out with the two goals, and I couldn’t be happier to end the year off on a good note.” Other goals came from AJ Etumnu ’25 and Quinn Roth ’25. Captain Mitch Baker had this to say: “It was a great performance from the lads and the best way to end off a great year. I’m looking forward to recharging in the summer for an even better season with the 19s next year.”

The U19 had a more difficult game versus the Bolts. The 19s started off very slow and let in 3 goals in a very small period of the game. After a couple of swaps by Coach Moodey, the team started playing a lot better and controlling the game more. They eventually got back two goals, coming from Sachiel Ming ’24 and Jeremy Tsang ’23, but those weren’t enough as the Bolts scored a fourth to end the game. Although the boys didn’t get the result they wanted, by no means was that a performance they couldn’t be proud of as their last game of the year. Thebe Mosehathebe, the U19 senior, had this to say after the game: “We’ve had an up and down year and could have achieved a lot more together, but I’m proud of the boys this year: we never stopped fighting and always gave it our everything. Thank you, everyone, for this much-enjoyed year.”

As the seasons are over and summer is quickly approaching, the players are getting ready for graduation and going away for summer. The Northwood Soccer team is excited about what’s in store next year. With players leaving for college, the U17 moving up to U19, and new recruits coming in—there is a lot of hope for a successful season next year. Northwood Soccer would also like to thank everyone for their support this year. It has truly meant a lot and has not gone unnoticed. See you next year!

Filed Under: Sports

Nordic Athletes Add Depth and Endurance to Crew

May 19, 2023 by Gus Garvey

Clockwise from top left: Abigail Van Dorn ’25, Bella Wissler ’23, Sophia Kelting ’23, and Daven Linck ’25. Photos by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Since Crew is not one of the major sports at Northwood, about half of the athletes partaking in it each season are new to the sport and have had very little experience in a shell. This spring season, the Crew team took on five new athletes, four of whom make up the Northwood Nordic Ski Team. Those athletes are Bella Wissler ‘23, who will ski for Middlebury, Sophia Kelting ‘23, who will ski for UNH, as well as underclassmen Daven Linck ’25 and Abby Van Dorn ‘25.

While Nordic skiing and rowing share a major similarity in that both hinge on endurance, there is still a pretty big learning curve when it comes to balancing the boat and rowing it effectively.

Linck has already fallen out of the boat once, but he’s enjoying crew. “It’s good. Took a little adjustment period but it was made out to be harder than it is. It gets more fun as I get more comfortable in the boat,” Linck said.

“My first time in the boat was a little weird,” Wissler said. “I couldn’t get off the down without Mr. Runyon, and it took a while for me to get used to being on the water. I’d used the machines, but being on the water felt very new. The second time, it felt a lot better, and the third time on the water, I was able to use my full body to propel the boat, which is the stage I’m at right now,” she added.

While the Nordic athletes are too new to rowing to race at State Championships, Linck and Van Dorn have the potential to become very skilled rowers due to the endurance nature of their other disciplines. The future is bright for the Northwood crew.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Sports

Baker Tallies More Than 50, Breaks Scoring Record

May 19, 2023 by Ahmed Elganainy

Mitchell Baker ’25 attacking the goal in a game this season at Northwood. Photo: Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Scoring 50+ goals in one soccer season isn’t something we see players do regularly here at Northwood, but one man decided to break all the records he could during his sophomore year at Northwood, and that’s the U17 Soccer team Captain, Mitch Baker ’25. “Mitch is one of the best strikers I’ve seen in my footballing career at our age, and if he continues on the right track he will become one of the best strikers in the world,” said U19 player Aly el Mofty ’23.

“Mitch has been integral to our team’s success this season,” Coach Kelvin Martinez said. “His talent and hard work on the field have helped the team secure critical wins and reach new heights. He consistently leads by example, pushing himself and his teammates to perform at their best. His contributions to the team go beyond his impressive scoring record; his positive attitude and team-first mentality have been instrumental in fostering a strong and cohesive team culture,” added Martinez.

Mitchell Baker ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“It feels very good scoring over 50 goals this season because, as a striker, you obviously want to score goals, and I love scoring, so I’m very proud of myself for hitting this milestone. I remember at the start of the year, Profe Martinez told me to put a goal for myself to hit 50 goals, and I did it. I couldn’t have done this without my teammates. They’re the ones that play and create the chances for me, and I just finish them, so this wouldn’t be possible without them. I also want to thank Coach Martinez and Coach Komar because they motivate me and help me become better, and hopefully, one day I will fulfill all my dreams and become one of the best strikers in the world,” Baker added.

“We always knew that Mitch had the potential to be a prolific scorer, but his performance this season has exceeded our expectations. His dedication to training and his natural ability to find the back of the net have resulted in an impressive number of goals. We are thrilled with his success and proud of his achievements,” said Martinez.

Baker struggled to name his favorite goal this season. “I’ve scored more than 50, so choosing just one goal as my favorite is hard, but if I had to choose one, I’d choose the goal against the New England Revolution because they’re one of the best teams in the country and playing against them was very good, and we could’ve won the game.”

“The most important goal I’d say that helped the team, I think, was the goal I scored in the Northwood Invitational Semifinal because, without that goal, we wouldn’t have reached the final.”

“My Favorite hat trick has to be vs. the U19 team. To score a hat trick against the older lads isn’t easy, especially when we almost won that game. It’s very special and very important.”

Mitch is a leader for the U17s on and off the field. He constantly shows that he’s a top student-athlete whether it’s on the field or in the classroom. He always knows how to get the job done. Mitch recently got his first U19 call-up to play with them in a friendly match recently, and Mitch did what Mitch does best and proved that it doesn’t matter whether it’s U17 he’s playing against or U19 or even collegiate players. He will find his way to score.

“I can’t wait to continue to play with Mitch next year. I played with him this weekend and realized how good he is, and I can’t wait for next season,” Sam Knauf ’24 said.

“Mitch’s experience and expertise make him a valuable asset to our team, and his positive attitude and work ethic set a great example for his teammates. He leads by example, always putting in the effort and commitment required to succeed. As a captain, he plays a key role in inspiring and motivating his teammates to perform at their best,” added Coach Martinez.

Filed Under: People, Sports

Leddel Competes for the Philippines in Southeast Asia Games

May 18, 2023 by Cedric Lemaire

Noah Leddel ’23 represented the Philippines at the 2023 South Asia Games in Cambodia. Photo provided.

Noah Leddel ’23, a talented soccer player on the U19 team at Northwood, has been given the incredible opportunity to represent the Philippines Under-23 National Team in international competitions. Born to a Filipino mother, Leddel’s selection is a proud moment for him and the Filipino soccer community, as well as the highest level of soccer he has achieved in his career.

Leddel summarized his experience to me, saying, “Yeah, so just to summarize, the experience of playing international football and at this level has been incredible. The treatment of us players and the professionalism of the camp from top to bottom was just amazing. We had two training sessions a day, stats, nutrition, everything taken care of, massages, physio, strict bedtime, and obviously, that’s something that can be bad, but when you’re preparing for a big tournament like this, that’s what you want really, and I’d say more than anything it was a grind eating the same hotel food being in the same routine, but at the same time it’s such an amazing experience being together, and you’re fighting for your country.”

The Philippines National Team, also known as the Azkals, has been striving to make its mark on the global soccer stage. Leddel’s inclusion in the team adds talent and diversity to the squad. Though the team did not get quite the results they wanted, Noah says, “We had the youngest team in the tournament, and we can only go up from here… I didn’t know any of the boys really coming into this and just coming out of it with now having 20 brothers that I have a shared experience.” Leddel’s journey to this achievement has been marked by dedication and hard work. As a player, he is always striving for more and pushing himself and the players around him.

Leddel expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to play for his mother’s homeland. Leddel shared what this experience meant for him, “It means a lot that I can connect with my Filipino side and the people of the Philippines and share this experience with my Filipino Brothers. Obviously, living in Hong Kong and the USA has kind of made me feel the disconnect… being here and singing the national anthem side by side with my boys and my brothers really means a lot to me, and it makes you more passionate even for the country just to come back and keep fighting and bring the Philippines on top of Asia and competing with the likes of Japan and Korea…It’s only given me more to keep going.”

Leddel’s inclusion in the Filipino national team represents a step forward in the growth and recognition of soccer in the Philippines. The biggest driving force for this development is from the supporters, and Noah puts it best when he says, “Seeing the support for the Philippines and seeing the support for the Philippines and just the support, in general, was pretty incredible. Southeast Asia (SEA Games) is an event that happens once every two years and changes host country each year. This year, Cambodia did a really good job promoting the event and getting the general public and the people of Cambodia very hyped up for the tournament. Every game that Cambodia played would have about 30,000 fans, and we were fortunate enough to be in a group with them and play them.

Leddel also acknowledged the support and guidance he received from Northwood, teammates, and coaches. “Thank you to everyone at Northwood for supporting me and helping me get to here, and making this possible for me. Obviously, it hasn’t been easy accommodating mewhile I have been away, and I really appreciate it.”

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Sports

U19s Win Soccer Showcase; U17s Take 3rd

May 9, 2023 by Mitchell Baker

The U19 Team won the showcase. Photo provided.

Northwood recently hosted the Black Rock Spring Soccer Showcase. Teams from all over North America came to Northwood School to showcase their talent in front of top colleges. Several coaches left the showcase happy because of the high-standard games and the well-run program. The U19 and U17 Northwood teams competed hard and played in 4 intense games. The U19 team sought to defend its title on home turf after triumphantly winning the previous Northwood Invitational. The U17s were determined to avenge their previous effort to win the Northwood Invitational, where they, unfortunately, lost in the final in penalties. Northwood faculty and students were eager to support both teams and did so passionately.

The U19s started the weekend with a 1-0 victory against Pro Stars Fc. Sachiel Ming ’24 scored a beautiful left-footed goal in the first 10 minutes of the game. The hockey boys showed superb support and celebrated with the players after the potent goal. The game slowed after the first goal, and the U19 held on and won 1-0. The U19s then took on Riberio Moojen SPU for their day’s final match. The support decreased from the Northwood community due to the inclement weather, but that did not affect the team. The boys won 1-0 with a classy finish from Andreas Viteri ’23.

Sachiel Ming expressed, “The first day of the showcase was heaven. We were determined to put on a show in front of our fans, and we did. Playing in front of fans gives you that extra boost to work harder. The Northwood community was like a 12^th man with its support.”

The team dominated the last day of the showcase, winning its first game against Western Reserve 1-0 and its second 3-0 against Burlington Football Club. Cedric Lemaire proclaimed, “The team was excellent on our home turf. We entered a flow state as a team and were unstoppable.” The U19s defended its title, going undefeated without conceding a goal. They excelled in the previous Northwood Invitational and continued their impressive home form.

The U17 team started the weekend extremely slow, losing 2-0 against St. Anthony Futuro SC. The team started the game off lethargically, and the score line reflected it. Lohkoah Paye ’25, Co-Captain stated, “We started off terribly. We weren’t playing like us, and the team morale was low. St Anthony took advantage of that and capitalized early to put the game to bed. We picked our form up later in the game, but it was just too late.” The second game started much better for the U17s, as they took the lead early, with Mitchell Baker ’25 scoring off a Jace Donowa ’25 cross. They, however, didn’t hold the lead as the game continued and drew 1-1. Sam Rudy, a skier who watched the game, said, “The 17s played a lot better in the second game. They came out stronger and scored a nice goal. Unfortunately, the other team scored a banger which was almost impossible to save, but the 17s looked a lot better than I expected.” The U17 team was disappointed with their results after the first day because it put them in the 3^rd and 4^th playoff, not the final. They played the semifinal for the 3^rd and 4^th playoff against Immaculate Heart School (IHC), a familiar rival. It was IHC who won the previous Northwood Invitational. The U17 team was out for revenge and took this game personally.

Coach Martinez analyzed IHC’s game plan and changed the team’s formation and press. Coach Martinez deserves much credit for this tactical change because the team won the game. The team came out strong pressing hard. IHC didn’t know what to do, and the boys finally broke through with 10 minutes left. Diego Green ’25 scored off a Jace Donowa cross. Diego celebrated passionately, and the lads were experiencing pure joy. Later in the game, Baker scored a cheeky goal chipping the goalkeeper off a Hamish Riddle ’26 through ball. The game ended 2-0, and the team got their revenge.

The win secured a start in the playoffs for 3^rd place against Pro Stars FC. The game was immensely scrappy due to tired legs and heavy rain. Both teams were exhausted but battled hard but couldn’t find the back of the net. The team was preparing for a penalty shootout, but with 3 seconds to go, Baker scored a header from an AJ Etumnu ’25 corner. The team went crazy and stormed the pitch, celebrating the victory. The U17s weren’t happy with 3^rd place but were pleased with their performance on the second day.

Both teams competed hard over the weekend and entertained a passionate crowd. Northwood School held another successful event and would like to thank all teams and coaches who made the trip to compete over the weekend. The community loves hosting games for the teams and looks forward to many more successful showcases.

The U17 team took 3rd place in the showcase. Photo provided.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Sports

Paddlers Hit the Whitewater

May 8, 2023 by Aidan Lasky

During the spring at Northwood, most students are tasked with choosing a separate co-curricular from their fall/winter sport. One of the unique offerings here at Northwood is a complete course in whitewater kayaking. I have had the pleasure of joining this course for the past two years, so I can provide some insight into how incredible this offering is.

The whitewater kayaking course is a subdivision of the recently re-launched Northwood Outing Club (NOC), led by Bobby O’Connor and Matt Roy. With these two leading, you get a combination of Mr. Roy’s years of experience and Bobby’s mastery of teaching students the disciplines of the outdoors.

This course starts very mildly, and Bobby does a great job of starting from a clean slate so that pretty much anyone can join, regardless of skill level. Bobby likes to joke about how cool it is to see how the group whittles down over the first few days. It tends to scare some students off between the cold water and the surprising amount of technique required to keep the boat going where you want it to. If you happen to be one of these students though, both Mr. Roy and Bobby encourage you to stick with it because those hardships are worth going through when the techniques finally click.

Alex Randall ’25 (Photo: Mr. Bobby O’Connor)

When first starting the course, we had a flatwater day out on Mirror Lake so Bobby could show the group all the basics of what it takes to succeed on moving water. We went over basic forward strokes to harder draw strokes that will help us dodge obstacles on the river. After that, we take a step up from that and go down to Saranac Lake Dam. There is a very mild amount of moving water there, and it is excellent for putting the skills learned on the first day to use in moving water. This is the day when most students realize if they want to continue because even though there is a small amount of moving water, it isn’t hard for beginners to tip the boat over accidentally. After the group gets a bit smaller, we make our way to the next level, which is a short stretch of faster-moving water again, so students aren’t taken from 0-60. After that, the students made their way to take on a 5-mile stretch of the Ausable East Branch. In this one Alex Randall ended up taking a swim so we got a great demonstration of what a river rescue is like. Anytime we are able to Bobby and Mr. Roy promote safety first when on the river. The very next day we went from the Wilmington dam to further down the Ausable West Branch. Through all these runs we have learned to identify river features and how to navigate certain obstacles when we are quite literally thrown into them. It has been a fantastic experience so far, and I know the others in the group would say they have had nothing but fun despite taking a few swims.

It is great to participate in such an amazing outdoor discipline, and in doing so, you get to connect with other students you might not usually talk with. I have nothing but great things to say about it, and I want to thank Bobby and Mr. Roy for being such great teachers to the group because we really appreciate the time and effort put into this. This is what has been happening so far in the Whitewater coco and we are excited to see what water the “Northwood Swim Team,” as Bobby likes to call us, takes on in the final weeks of the school year.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Sports

NHL: Devils Eliminate Rangers in Game 7

May 2, 2023 by Gus Garvey

Devils forward Ryan McLeod (#20) celebrates after scoring the first and game-winning goal. The Devils would go on to win game 7, 4-0, advancing to the Second Round. Photo: NY Post.

Wow. When I saw this matchup, a part of me figured the Rangers would lose this series, but not like this. Behold one of the greatest embarrassments in franchise history: a star-studded team goes into the playoffs and lose in the first round. To a team they had a 2-0 series lead over in dominating fashion. A team whose average age is about 20 years old. A team whose defense consists of Dougie Hamilton and a bunch of wet plywood. A team that was down to their third-string goalie in game three because the other two options sucked. You can make excuses about how Akira Schmid was unstoppable and how the playoff structure sucks, but either way you look at it, this is downright pathetic.

This team had cup ambitions? Really? I sure couldn’t tell with this garbage. A team that went all-in at the trade deadline wholly self-destructed. This was probably their best chance at winning the cup in this contending window, and they completely defecated all over it. I got losing to Tampa last year, but THIS? Did anyone even bother showing up for this? I couldn’t tell by the lack of urgency from most of the team. The grace period is over, boys. It’s time for me to pick apart this team for its flaws like everyone else I write about. And I’ll do it with pride.

Chris Drury has got to be one of the most frustrated executives in the NHL right now, if not the four major sports. With his deadline moves, he is easily a candidate for GM of the year. The dude pretty much built an All-Star team. Want to know how spoiled for wealth the Rangers were this year? They had Vladimir Tarasenko on their second power-play unit. What do the Rangers do with this luxury? Waste it. Like every other year they’ve been a contender over the past decade. Drury did nothing wrong. He did exactly what he needed to do. He added star power for bargain-bin prices, he added quality depth in the lineup, he did everything according to the book and then some- and then everyone else let him down.

I don’t want to admit this, but I have no choice. Gerard Gallant needs to be fired. There, I said it. His tactics are wearing off, and honestly, he’s falling into the same traps he did in Vegas. There were about six guys on the Rags that actually looked awake in this series: The 4th line, the top D pairing, and Shesty. That’s it. For a team that has enough star talent on it to single-handedly populate an all-star team, this was incredibly disappointing to witness.

Artemi Panarin has been hot garbage these playoffs from every conceivable metric. Two assists for a guy making 8 figures a year is a borderline criminal underachievement. So why is it that when he keeps turning the puck over and doesn’t backcheck that he gets a permanent place on their top line? Why is he a core piece of the penalty kill? This guy can’t do anything on defense, yet Gallant is trotting him out there because Panarin exists to satisfy the idea of a top-flight winger. An argument can be made that his is one of the worst contracts in the league. This man makes $11.6 million per year. Three more years of this. Nice work, Gorton. No wonder Dolan fired him two years ago.

I know the excuse amongst players and fans for this year will be something along the lines of the following. “Our team is still good. It’s okay. We came up short yet again. There’s always next year, you know!” WHAT PART OF THE RANGERS DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND? NEXT YEAR NEVER COMES! Once again, this was quite possibly their best chance to win a cup in this contending window, and they blew it spectacularly. This honestly feels worse than that 2017 series loss to Ottawa. My jaw has hit the floor. If major changes aren’t made this offseason, this team isn’t doing a thing for the next few years.

That’s enough of my salt and rage—time to make fun of other teams that embarrass themselves.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: GusOnNHL

Lightning Eliminated, Maple Leafs Advance

May 1, 2023 by Gus Garvey

The Tampa Bay Lightning were eliminated in the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Could this be the end of the Lightning’s dominance in the NHL? Photo: NHL.com

Folks, it’s finally happened. The Tampa Bay Lightning have turtled and allowed Toronto to advance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in the cap era. This article should congratulate the Leafs for their efforts, but it’s not.

I think this will likely mark the end of Tampa’s true contending window. You saw it all through the regular season when they sucked. We were prepared for them to morph into juggernaut mode for the playoffs, but it never happened. They just sucked after game one. With this talent, I don’t know if this is indeed the end, but if it is, I have a few parting words for you, Tampa. I hate you. I hate everything about you. I find most of your players to be unlikeable, your coach is a whiny buffoon, and most of your fans don’t have their heads screwed on straight. I want nothing more than to see you and your stupid Tesla coil wither and die in the abyss.

But I respect the hell out of you. To maintain that level of success after years upon years of choking in a salary-cap league? With little to no change in terms of the coaches and core? That’s impressive. They may have never won a cup in an 82-game season during this window, but they surely came close a few times.

This is where I will admit my bias as a Ranger fan and never speak about those years again. 2015 and last year give me nightmares. Regardless of his decision to quit in 2018, Steve Yzerman will forever be a legend in Tampa for what he did for this team. He took an organization reeling in mediocrity and turned them into… this. Just look at their drafting record over the last decade. Besides Stamkos and Hedman, nobody on this team was a top 10 pick. Vasilevsky was a 19th overall pick and wasn’t even Tampa’s first choice in that draft. Kucherov was taken in the 2nd round. Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli were taken in the 3rd round, and guys like Andrej Palat and Ross Colten were taken later in the draft. It’s a testament to Yzerman and the entire scouting staff he brought with him from Detroit. Tampa has been coasting off this for a while now, and the current GM, Brisebois, is incompetent at best. Seriously, man, five draft picks for Tanner Jeannot, how’d that work out for you, buddy? I think I’ll close this out by echoing the lines uttered by Bolts PR the last time they lost in the first round:

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: GusOnNHL

Boston Bruins Eliminated in First Round

May 1, 2023 by Gus Garvey

Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron leads the Bruins in the end-of-series handshake after Florida eliminated Boston in the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Photo: NHL.com

Wow. Where do I even start on this one? I’m genuinely curious because it’s still hard to comprehend the utter failure and humiliation I witnessed last night. A 65-win season. Talent and quality depth up and down the lineup. The best defense in hockey. A Vezina trophy-winning goalie with a backup who could probably start for a few teams. They went up against a team with a shell of the identity that made them regular season gods the year before and couldn’t decide which goalie they wanted, and they made the playoffs in the last week of the season. A 3-1 series lead where Florida was dead.

Do you realize what you’ve just done, Bruins? This is, bar none, the greatest choke job in NHL history. This is a collapse for the ages. Do you know how bad it was? Fans around the league felt actual feelings of sympathy for Boston. BOSTON. Do you know how bad things must get for that to play out?

And the worst part about this? This was their best opportunity to win another Cup this window, and they choked it away again. Besides 2011, this is all they’ve done in this window. Look at the Scottie Walker series in ‘09. Washington in 2012, which they also lost in an OT Game 7. A 2-1 series lead against Chicago with home ice in the Cup Final in 2013, culminating in their 3rd-period collapse in game 6. Losing to the Montreal Canadiens in a home game 7 as the Presidents’ Trophy winners. Missing the playoffs in 2015 and ‘16, and being invisible in ‘17 and ‘18 thanks to organizational ineptitude. Wilting in a home game 7, in the CUP FINAL, to a St. Louis team they were far better than.

And now this. All your opportunities, all that talent: Wasted. This may have been Patrice Bergeron’s last game. He’s been playing through a herniated disc that he injured playing in the season finale, and who knows if he ever plays for the Bs again. Brad Marchand is getting up there too, and certain aspects of his game will not age with grace. David Krejci is getting older.

You guys had a deep playoff run placed on a tee for these guys to have their final ride into the sunset, but you just had to let them down one last time. Come back down to earth. You’re one of us now, Boston. Now run along and die on the golf course like everyone else.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: GusOnNHL

Spring Season Brings New Co-Curriculars

April 30, 2023 by Anayo Etumnu Jnr

Cole Van Etten ’25 with the fly-fishing co-co. Photo: Northwood/Instagram.

As we welcome back Northwood for the final quarter of the spring semester, we also welcome the spring co-curricular activities (co-cos). As the weather changes and many students are out of their main season, spring co-cos replace the sports and give the students a new experience.

The Mirror spoke to Mr. Gilligan, athletic director and head of co-curriculars. “Spring Co Cos allow students to participate outside of their major sport or activity. Spring offerings are Golf, Crew, Volleyball, Intramurals, Mountain Biking, Music, Northwood Outing Club (including Whitewater Kayaking, Rock Climbing and Fly Fishing), and Yoga. My goal for these programs is to provide students the opportunity to enjoy the crisp spring air in Lake Placid and have a chance to decompress after a long, competitive winter.”

“I do Golf as my spring co-co, and I love it,” said Ritter Coombs ’25. “I’m surrounded by my buddies playing something I enjoy.” Coombs plays golf with friends who also play hockey. “We all enjoy golf. I played them today, and it was fun. I believe golf helps us as a team when it comes to bonding.”

A co-curricular that continues all school year is the Soccer program. Soccer players don’t seem to mind missing out on spring co-curricular activities. “Honestly, I am really enjoying Soccer right now,” Ean Malay ’23 said. “We get to be outside again, playing in front of home fans. It’s good to be home.” Malay feels that he’s improved his game this spring. “I have learned to get my confidence on and off the field, which is huge for me, as I struggled with it all my life, and the more I play, the more confident I think I become.”