Sports – The Mirror

Soccer Teams Win Big in Vegas

March 17, 2024 by Mitchell Baker

The starting 11 of the U19 squad. Photo provided.

Every year, the soccer teams travel to Las Vegas to play in the prestigious Players Showcase. Top teams from all over the country compete to win the tournament and impress elite college coaches. This year, the U19 and U17 teams have been performing at levels the program has never seen before and went into Vegas with ambitions to win it all.

Day 1

The first day started with a brutal 1:45 a.m. wake-up. Both teams traveled to Albany to catch a 7 a.m. flight to Chicago, where they would then catch a flight to Vegas. Trey Frantz, ‘25, said, “The morning wake-up was awful, but the weekend ahead motivated us to push through.”

After a long day of travel, both teams finally arrived at the hotels but weren’t allowed to rest too much. Coach Moodey referred to this trip as a “Business trip.” Only a few hours after landing, the teams were out on the pitch training for their matches the following day. After some tactical and technical work, the boys were finally done for the day. Cedric Lemaire ‘25 expressed, “It was so nice finally being able to rest; I slept like a baby.”

Day 2

The second day was the first matchday for the teams. After a long travel day, both teams could sleep in and recover. The 19s played at 4:20 p.m. which gave them time to catch up on schoolwork and go for a team walk in the morning. The 17s played at 1:00 p.m. They had a team meeting in the morning and headed out to the fields shortly after to compete. The U19 team watched the 17s fight hard for a well-earned 1-1 draw in a scrappy game. Said El Eyassami ’26 scored an equalizer in the second half. Diego Green ’25 emerged as a key leader and player who controlled the game. Many of the U19 players were impressed with his performance. After watching the 17s, the 19s got ready to start their campaign. The U19s went up 1-0, but soon after, their opponent equalized. The team outplayed their opponent, which led to 2 team goals, which helped secure a 3-1 win. Mitchell Baker ’24 had a hat trick and scored his 50^th of the season. Both teams fought hard and returned to the hotel with a desire to get some rest.

Day 3

The third day in Vegas was the most important and most eventful. Both teams played a morning and night game that would decide their final standing in the tournament. The U17s played Strikers FC and won 3-1. Said El Eyassami ’26 had a Hat trick and goalkeeper Gavin Kruger ’26 had a huge penalty save. This was a much-needed win for the U17s to build momentum for the remaining two games. The U19s played the tournament hosts Players FC. Several opposition parents were constantly trying to frustrate the Black Rock Boys, but with the help of the coaches, they were able to block it out. The U19s won 5-1, with Baker scoring all 5. This was a significant win that would give them confidence for their tournament-deciding game against Crossfire. After the games, both teams got lunch and quickly came back to the hotel to do some recovery. The U19s first allowed the U17 team to watch the match. After an intense start to the game, Sachiel Ming ’24 opened the scoring. The boys continued to fight hard against a tough opponent. In the second half, Baker scored to make it 2-0. The strong display of discipline on defense earned a well-deserved shutout. The 2-0 victory put the boys at the top of the group. Coach Moodey expressed, “That was one of the best team performances I’ve seen in Northwood soccer history. It was a true joy to watch.”

The U17s played right after and were on fire from the start. Jace Donowa ‘25 and Said both scored early goals to give the U17s a 2-0 lead. The team managed the game and held on to win 2-0. Both teams rushed back to the hotel, exhausted. They ate and then slept at once ahead of their final games of the tournament.

Day 4

The Players Cup championship team. Photo provided.

On the final day, both teams were up early for 8 a.m. kickoffs. Daylight savings affected the amount of time the boys got, resulting in everyone losing an hour. After three tough games, both teams were sore and tired but were determined to end on a high note. The U17s were ranked 2^nd in the group, facing the 3^rd ranked team. Winning the game gave them the potential to win the tournament or at least secure an impressive second place. Hamish Riddle ’26 opened the scoring by cutting onto his right foot and curling one into the far corner. The boys conceded soon after and went into the half tied at 1-1. Diogo Charraz ‘25 stepped up and scored a beautiful goal to give the boys the lead. Not long after Said scored his 6^th goal of the tournament. Coach Coss said, “Said’s goal was a beautiful team goal.” The U17 team won 3-1 and secured a solid second place in the Vegas showcase.

The U19s played Santa Rosa FC with the potential to win the tournament. After a goalless first half, Lohkoah Paye ’25 stepped up and scored an important goal to give the boys the lead. Soon after, Baker scored a brace. This brace broke the team’s previous goal record of 56 (set by Baker) and established a new record (58) with several games to go in the season. The U19s won the tournament in impressive style. College coaches were very impressed with the performances of both teams.

Some of the soccer players hiked at Red Rocks following the tournament. Photo provided.

After the game, the boys ate at Denny’s. An unhealthy meal was their reward for all their hard work. Several members of the team then went on a hike up Red Rocks. Trey Frantz ‘25 expressed, “The hike was fun. It became more of a climbing session than a hiking one, but regardless, it was an unreal experience.” The last activity before returning to Lake Placid was exploring the Las Vegas strip. The strip was a great way to end their successful business trip.

Filed Under: Sports, Top Story

Soccer Teams Fare Well in Manhattan

March 15, 2024 by Eduardo Augusto Campos de Aguiar

The Northwood U17 and U19 soccer teams went to Manhattan in late February. Both teams played three games and did very well during the championship.

The soccer team playing in Manhattan in February 2024. Photo provided.

During their stay in Manhattan, the boys stayed in a hotel with all possible comfort, and with all the preparation for the games, both teams played in warm but windy conditions.

The players felt the trip was very productive for all the athletes and coaches, thus making a good preparation for the championship that takes place in Las Vegas March 7 – 11. “I think this trip added a lot for us on the football team,” Sérgio Neto ’24 said. “It was a good preparation for [The Players Showcase in] Las Vegas; I really liked the weather and playing in Manhattan. I hope we can make a good championship in Vegas and that we can leave even better prepared than we are,” Neto added.

Filed Under: Sports

Warm Winter Bad News for Snow Sports Athletes

March 15, 2024 by Hamish Riddell

Aston Ferrillo ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

The 2023-24 Lake Placid winter has been unimpressive. Global warming is a significant, well-known problem that has been a primary factor in recent depressing winters. Here at Northwood, we pride ourselves on our snow sports athletes, yet our earth cannot provide a sustainable winter for them to enjoy the sport they love. With temperatures reaching 54 degrees at the beginning of March and rain during February, life was difficult for Northwood’s winter sports athletes.

Aston Ferillo ’26 is a NYSEF/Northwood Alpine ski racer who is disappointed in the weather this winter. “It just sucks, and there is nothing we can do about it,” said Ferrillo. “If you think about five years ago, there was more snow,” he recollected. Weather directly affects his sport and he feels helpless when the weather is bad. “It’s not life or death, but we will just have a shorter season, but we can’t do anything about it which might even be the worst part,” he added.

Whiteface Mountain is the major training and competition venue for alpine, freestyle, and snowboard athletes in the region. The Whiteface season opened in November, which is consistent with the previous season; however, last season ended in late April, but Whiteface watchers say it’s not likely that the mountain will be open into April. The athletes have alternatives and fun ways to train and get snow when none is found here, as they went on early-season trips to Colorado and Austria in recent years.

Marcos Alvarez ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“It is getting too warm too quick,” said Spanish ski racer Marcos Alvarez ‘26. “There is not enough snow, and obviously, I do not like it.” Marcos expected more snow and better conditions in Lake Placid than his home in Spain, but that hasn’t been the case this season. “In Spain it snows more, which is crazy since I came here for skiing. It is not too different because in Spain, it is very hot too, and it gets warm like here.”

The Northwood snow sport athletes have been disappointed with this winter. All they can do is hope for a better one next year and hope that there is a possibility of a little more cold and snow this winter.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Real World, Sports

Varsity Senior Night Highlight of Boys’ Hockey Weekend

March 14, 2024 by Lea Lambert

Many of our seniors are experiencing their “final moments” at Northwood. For some, it might be the time to close the chapter, but for most, it’s a hard reality to accept. For some, their “last moments” include their last home hockey games, especially on the highly anticipated Senior Night.

Senior members of the 2023-24 Varsity Hockey Team. Photo provided.

Over the weekend, the Varsity Hockey seniors took the stage in their grand finale games versus the Utica Junior Comets. Senior Night is an event held in many high schools to honor the senior athletes at their last home game. It is a moving moment where teammates, family members, friends, and fans come and cheer on their loved ones.

The Varsity team knew it was going to be a challenging weekend. Their opponents have mounted 40 wins on the season. The first game was held on Saturday night at 8:00 p.m. in the USA rink. It was fast-paced and the Junior Comets got the best of the Huskies by a score of 5-2. Roman Kravtchouk ‘24 and William Dallaire ‘24 tallied goals in the losing effort.

On Sunday morning, they had their rematch. The team fought hard but ended up losing. Senior Victor Cutting ’24 said having his family up for Senior Night was special. His parents, grandparents, and even cousins were able to come.

Victor Cutting ’24 with his parents. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

The players’ moms planned a touching ceremony after the game that truly made it a memorable experience. Even though the team didn’t get the outcome they were hoping for, some players mentioned that they don’t think the team is defined by the results of this past weekend. They had many great games and big wins throughout the season, which they are very proud of. Cutting added that he is very proud to be part of this team and will forever hold those memories close to his heart.

The Prep hockey had their penultimate weekend of home games. On Friday night, they played Cushing Academy. Unfortunately, they couldn’t manage to pull off the win. The final score was 5-1. Devin Bard ‘24 scored a great goal. The next day, they had a bounce-back opportunity against Lovell Academy. They concluded the weekend on a good note, winning 4-0.

The Prep squad will play their final games of the season next weekend at home. We encourage all Husky fans to join and cheer for all our seniors experiencing their last games.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Sports

Girls’ Hockey’s Eventful February Break

March 14, 2024 by Halle Mules

Many Northwood students returned home during the February break, but the Girls’ Hockey Team remained together and had a great time. They were busy with activities ranging from tubing at Titus Mountain to driving to Arlington, Virginia, for a tournament.

Girls Hockey at Titus Mountain. Photo by Mr. Trevor Gilligan.

Sophia DeAnzeris ‘25, Laura Dyke ‘25, Eliza Quackenbush ‘25, and Jorja Gillis ‘25 at Titus Mountain. Photo provided.

To start the girls’ vacation, they hit the slopes and went tubing at Titus Mountain. The girls turned everything into a competition and decided to divide into three teams for a relay. “I went down more than everybody else because I ran up when I got to the bottom,” Shayna Deutsch ’24 said. “My favorite part was when everyone went down at once. Gilly formed teams, and you had to go down, run up, and tap a teammate until everyone finished. When I was running up, Katie two-handed me, which I felt was unfair, but overall, it was a lot of fun,” Deutsch added.

Before driving to Arlington, they headed to St. Lawrence University. The team had the opportunity to see Northwood alum and current St. Lawrence player Kennedy Wilson ’22 practice. Shortly after, the Huskies faced the Ottawa Lady Sens U22, Canada’s eighth-ranked team. The Huskies dominated play, winning 4-1, giving them momentum heading into one of the biggest weekends of the year.

The team at the Wahington Monument. Photo by Trevor Gilligan.

They arrived at Arlington on Thursday. They saw the Washington Monument, Reflecting Pool, Lincoln Memorial, and World War II Memorial. Every year during the JWHL Challenge Cup, players from each team in the league get to take part in coaching a clinic for young hockey players. This year, Scout Oudemool ’24, Katie Demers ’24, Shayna Deutsch ’24, Laura Dyke ’25, and Jorja Gillis ’25 all had the opportunity to get involved. “It was great to come together with players from different teams and work with them to teach younger players. This was absolutely something I loved doing and took a lot out of it,” said Scout Oudemool ‘24.

Friday morning, everyone got to watch the Washington Capitals practice. Some were lucky enough to get photos with some of the players.

Jorja Gillis ‘25 and Gracie Hurlbut ‘25 with Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie

Later that day, they played their first game of the weekend against the top team in the country and perhaps the best team they would face all season. Oceanne Thiffault ’26 had an incredible game, allowing only two goals on 32 shots against a team with 17 Division 1 commits.

The next day, they played two more games against tough competition. In the morning, the Huskies faced a strong goaltender and tied 1-1. Later that night, they defeated Culver 4-1, with three goals coming in a solid third period.

On their final day, they played two more games. Their first game was against a physical team and familiar opponent, Belle Tire. The Huskies won 4-3, completing a season sweep over them. Later that night, they played their final game of the weekend, which was their finest. They faced off against Canada’s sixth-ranked team and won 6-2, including a hatrick from Brac Kelley ’24.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Sports

Fuller and Spear Headed to Freestyle Nationals

March 12, 2024 by Machai Davis

Clay Fuller ‘ 25 (left) and Yosef Spear ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Freestyle skiing athletes Clay Fuller ’25 and Yosef Spear ‘26 are off to the U.S. National Championships in April. The event will take place at Copper Mountain in Colorado.

“I am excited about this event. I participated in it last year, and I qualified for regionals, but sadly, I got injured and couldn’t participate,” Fuller said.

“My goal for this competition is to get as far as I possibly can,” said Fuller. I have more experience than the rest, so I think I will get far.”

Spear will participate in his first Nationals. “It is an honor participating in Nationals. This is my first year, so I’m excited. This is going to be a highlight, and I will forever cherish this moment,” Spear said. “I want to thank my mom and dad, my coach, and Clay for supporting me in my journey and the start of my freestyle skiing career.”

Filed Under: Sports, Top Story

4 New Commits to Top Universities for Hockey and Soccer

March 8, 2024 by Mitchell Baker

As the season progresses, student-athletes at Northwood are well into the college selection stage. Committing to a college is extremely difficult. Athletes from all over the country are competing for limited positions. A high school team is rarely full of committed players. 5 Northwood students have recently achieved their goals and committed to top programs nationwide. Four seniors and one junior have committed in the last couple of months to top NCAA Division I and Division III programs. For seniors, this process tends to be very stressful as they are against the clock to find their future college.

Jersey Graham ’24

One Girls Hockey senior recently committed: Jersey Graham ’24 committed to Division III Nazareth College in Rochester, New York. This new commitment adds to the list of eight Girls Hockey commits this year. This is by far the most out of any team at Northwood. Isabella Norris ‘24, a key leader on the team, said, “Jersey is a great goalie and an even better person. She brings positive vibes to the team and has only positively impacted the program here. I look forward to seeing her progress in college. I am sure she will succeed.” Jersey came to Northwood this year; committing in one’s first year is rare and a notable achievement. Her teammates and coaches are very proud of her progression and are optimistic about her future.

Sam Lyne ’24

One Boys Hockey senior and junior have committed to top Division I programs. Senior Sam Lyne has recently committed to Colgate University. This is a huge achievement for Sam and his family who are in England. “Sam is the hardest worker in the program. He is a key leader on the team, and he keeps improving. I’m really happy and proud of him, and I wish him the best of luck in college,” said Ritter Coombs ’25.

Will Schneid ’25

Junior Will Schneid is the other new Division I commit for the Boys’ Hockey team. Will recently committed to Princeton University, where his brother has also committed. “Will is my roommate and one of my best friends at Northwood. He has talent that I have never seen before, and his future is very bright. I wanted him to come to Providence, but I am very happy that he has decided to play with his brother. Princeton looks like they could be a powerhouse in the future,” Coombs said. Schnied is a prolific goal scorer, this is his first year at Northwood, and he is leading the team in scoring. The two new Boys’ Hockey commits have helped enhance Northwood Hockey’s prestigious reputation

Jordan Shullenberger ’24.

The Boys’ Soccer team has added one Division I commit. Jordan Shullenberger ‘24 has committed to Albany University. Jordan becomes the 4^th committed senior on the soccer team this year. Syracuse-bound Sachiel Ming ’25 said, “Jordan is a player who always works hard for the team. He cleans tables after dinner and continuously leads on and off the field. He has been a key part of our success this season, and I look forward to playing against him next season in college.” Jordan came to Northwood in January 2023 with aspirations of playing Division I soccer. “Jordan is someone who displays the core values of Northwood on and off the field,” coach Jon Moodey said. “He works hard and constantly encourages his teammates. It will be interesting to see him, and other seniors play next season at the college level,” added Moodey.

These 4 new commitments have benefited the Northwood name. They have made this school year one of the best school years, commitment-wise, in Northwood history. As the year continues, more student-athletes aspire to follow in the footsteps of Northwood legends. Northwood awaits its future stars!

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People, Sports

Soccer Teams Faring Well in Can-Am Cup

March 8, 2024 by Hamish Riddell

The U17s in early 2024. Photo provided.

The Can-Am Cup tournament is the first 11-side tournament in which the Northwood soccer teams competed in 2024. The tournament has a prolonged structure that stretches over 4 months. The first group games started in mid-November and will go on until the middle of March.

The Northwood soccer program traveled to Tinton Falls, New Jersey, to play the second and final round of group games. Both teams went 4-0, resulting in a combined 8-0 record for the weekend. The teams played one game on Friday, two games on Saturday, and one last game on Sunday.

The 17s’ first competitive game of the second round of group games was against Valencia FC. The scoreline showed a 3-1 victory to Northwood | Black Rock with Richard Szekely ‘27 grabbing his first Northwood goal. Saturday, the 17s played their toughest games against Woodbridge and RMPUS, with the scores 3-1 and 4-1, respectively. The final game on Sunday against Far Post was a tight match. Although it was a friendly, the 17s went all out to win. A single goal from goal machine Diego Green ’25 secured the 1-0 win. Diego was the player of the weekend with 3 goals and 2 assists.

The 19s played RMPUS on Friday night and came away with a comfortable 2-0 win with striker Mitchell Baker ‘24 scoring both goals. On Saturday, they played Valencia FC and Woodbridge, winning 2-1 and 4-0, respectively. On Sunday, the 19s played their final game against their Black Rock “brother” High Mowing School in the pouring rain. They finished their chances and earned a 4-1 victory. Star performances from Leo Doyle ‘25 (on his first matches back from injury) with 4 goals and Baker with 7 goals.

The unbelievable performances from both teams truly show what Northwood School is capable of. Ending the weekend with 8-0 combined is a first for the program in the 2023-2024 season, which is an incredible feat. With many college coaches looking on, many players showcased themselves. With every team, many things can always be improved, but 8-0 goes without saying as a successful weekend. The teams look forward to the winter showcase in New Hampshire and are preparing more than ever.

Filed Under: Sports

Humans of Northwood: Mr. Tommy Biesemeyer

March 7, 2024 by Lea Lambert

“I always was a competitive person who loves challenges more than anyone, and it all started here, at our Whiteface Mountain, where the Olympic spirit arises. I wasn’t older than 8 when I knew I wanted to be just like my idol, Herman Maier. His aggressive skiing style was my definition of ski racing. I kept a picture of him right above my bed, waking up every morning with this Olympic dream.

“Looking back on my career, I can say that it was a ‘hell of a ride.’ Ski racing comes with a lot of commitment and sacrifice. Throughout my 12-year professional career, I had 11 surgeries. I had to fix multiple ACL, spinal, Achilles, knee, and shoulder injuries. Having the ability to stay positive and believe that I was going to come back stronger was my driving force to prevail through adversity.

“They say, ‘From every low, there arises a high,’ and if I can say anything about that, I’d say that nothing is more rewarding than finding your way out of hell by yourself. I will always remember my first time racing in Hahnenkam, Kitzbühel. I started 51 and finished 21st, and the result catapulted my speed career to the next level, allowing me the chance to compete with the best in the world. My most memorable moment was qualifying for the 2018 Olympic Team. The opportunity to represent your country and, to walk in the opening ceremony as a team and compete for your country was a childhood dream. It makes all the sacrifices and the dark times worth it, and I will forever be grateful for it.

“Even though my life revolved significantly around skiing, I am proud to have finished my business degree after retiring from racing and building the ski program at Northwood School.

“I am also part of the World Cup Dreams Foundation, a project I am proud of, and our goal is to guide student and athletic goals and raise funds for our nation’s best top-level athletes to ensure they are not lost to the cost of sport.

“Despite all my skiing success, my biggest achievement in life is, and will always remain, my wife, Claire, who in a couple of months will be the mother of my child.”

As told to Lea Lambert ’24. Photo: courtesy of World Cup Dreams Foundation.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People, Sports

An Inside Look at Soccer Recruiting at Northwood

March 7, 2024 by Gavin Kruger

Northwood’s soccer program has witnessed the arrival of some big, bright stars since the dawn of the program. Names like Said El-Eyssami ‘26, Mitch Baker ‘24, and Sachiel Ming ‘24 come to mind. How has Coach Moodey been able to consistently recruit top-end talent on and off the pitch? What’s their recruitment system like?

Coach Jon Moodey at a rainy game at home in the fall of 2023. Photo: Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Jon Moodey is Black Rock’s highly-regarded coach. “We look for candidates with excellent soccer/football ability and the desire to learn and grow,” Moodey explained. “What is also very important is the academic interest of the candidate,” he added. “We want to know that they’re very serious about their academics. This does not mean they are perfect students, but they must be intent on making the most of their opportunity.”

Character counts, Moodey said. “When it comes to recruiting, we look for character. We’re looking for good people who understand the notion of community and want to be leaders, on and off the field,” he explained.

Narrowing down the list of prospects can be difficult. Coach Moodey explained a “glowing” application and a reassuring interview could help the coaches close in on the candidate. “I tend to do a Zoom with each family or invite them to campus, so I get to know them better as people. This is to make sure that not only are we excited about the candidate but also that they are excited about us. If all these things line up, we typically proceed to offer that individual a place in our academy.”

“Tony Mohamed and I do the recruiting,” said Moodey. “We work together for Black Rock. This year, we’ve been to South America, including Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Uruguay, and Brazil. In addition, I’ve been to Bermuda. Profé Coss has been to Puerto Rico. Tony has also been down to Trinidad and Antigua. In the next month, he’s heading to Germany, Italy and England. Also, we do look throughout North America for good players.”

Moodey also learns about prospective student-athletes from his current players. “We love referrals from former and current players. We believe the players have a good network of friends who might be interested in this pathway. You guys [the players] probably know your former teammates from home who might be a good fit for what we offer. Those sorts of referrals are really something we value.”

Prospective student-athletes interested in soccer can inquire on Northwood’s website or reach out to Coach Moodey directly.