The Panel - February 2023 - Volume 71, Issue 6

100 YEARS OF BELMONT HILL ARTS Belmont Hill Begins Centennial Celebrations with Arts Chapel

Belmont Hill music ensembles (B Flats, Jazz Band, Orchestra) performing the Celebration Song in the Centennial Arts Chapel BH

By Lev Tolkoff ’24 Panel Staff

In January, Belmont Hill convened in the Hamilton Chapel to kickstart the review of its history with a Centennial Arts Chapel that celebrated the last 100 years of arts. To begin the events, Mr. Duarte spoke on the achievements and experience of Belmont Hill students in the arts, including trying new things ranging from ceramics to orchestra. Following, Mr. DiResta spoke about the history of Belmont Hill arts, from the Glee Club started at the school’s inception to Andy Cadiff ’73 and his contributions to

the arts fifty years ago, to now and the excellence displayed by Jeremy Eaten ’23 in the arts. A representative from each era was in that chapel and, Mr. DiResta remarked on how they are all connected through the arts. After hearing from the two art teachers, Bill Achtmeyer ’73 took the stage to “talk about my best friend Andy Cadiff.” He spoke highly of his classmate in his introduction which included his many successes as a movie and television producer and director. Andy Cadiff ’73 has directed a plethora of successful TV sitcoms from Spin City (1996), to Chasing Liberty (2004), and Young and Hungry (2014). He also highlighted Andy’s artistic ability while at Belmont Hill

where he wrote and directed a play, “Poison Ivy,” which details a character’s impossible decision between Princeton and Harvard.

Finally, after his introduction, Andy spoke about his time in Hollywood. He talked about how the business he was in, where someone’s success was based on how funny they were. He emphasized this point by pointing out that he is paid whether or not someone laughs at the show and that it is not on the actors, but on him to provide this service. Finally, he talked about writing the play “Poison Ivy” and how the arts were not nearly as prominent a part of Belmont Hill culture as they are today while he was in school.

After Andy’s speech, the B flats, as well

as some members of the class of 1973, performed two scenes from his play “The Senior Slump” with Mr. Diresta. Then to conclude the ceremonial chapel, the B-Flats with Mr. Patterson and the orchestra with Mr. Fiori led the school in the Belmont Hill centennial song, ringing throughout the chapel.

Clint Smith Visits Belmont Hill for Chapel Talk

By Kevin Weldon ’24 Panel Staff

On January 17th, students filed into the Hamilton Chapel for the arrival of Clint Smith, author of the #1 New York Times Bestseller, How the Word is Passed, and Staff Writer for The Atlantic. Mr. Smith has a myriad of accolades, including winning the 2014 National Poetry Slam, receiving the Jerome J. Sheshack Prize in 2017, being named on Ebony’s 2017 Power 100 List, and being included on Forbes 2018 30 under 30 list. A critically acclaimed author and poet, Clint Smith sat down on

Look Inside The Panel

News 2

Mr. Martin ’65 Hockey Rink Dedication

Noah Farb ’24 details the official recognition of the Kenneth M. Martin III ’65 Hockey Rink.

the stage with Mr. Collins, the Director of Community and Diversity, to speak about his book and his experience writing it.

How the Word is Passed is an account of the landmarks and stories of Smith’s visit to them in the South; he discusses how slavery is intertwined with the United States not just during its development and until the Civil War, but continuing after its abolition and to the current day.

Smith had a fascinating conversation with Mr. Collins about how he went through the process of writing, where he discussed a handful of powerful anecdotes from his journey throughout the region.

Continued on Page 2.

Opinions 4

Debate of the Issue: Is Tom Brady actually retiring?

Luke Trevisan ’24 and Lev Tolkoff ’24 debate the second retirement of Tom Brady.

Sports 6

Athlete of the Issue:

Will Kelly ’23

Noah Farb ’24 writes about Will’s athletic accomplishments on the varsity Basketball team. Read about Will’s experience also playing soccer and tennis at BH.

Arts 5

Opinions 4

Russo-Ukrainian War

Duncan Kilbride ’24 provides an in-depth analysis of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Artist of the Issue: Daniel Cho ’23

Brian Lee ’24 writes about Daniel’s achievements and contributions to the BH Music program playing the cello.

Clint Smith Visits Belmont Hill for Chapel Talk

By Kevin Weldon ’24 Panel Staff

One powerful story he delved into was his visit to Monticello Plantation, the estate of Thomas Jefferson, where he lived during the American Revolution and throughout most of his life. Despite advocating for liberty and equality, writing the Declaration of Independence, and even a condemnation of slavery (which was eventually removed), Smith noted the obvious hypocrisy, as Jefferson had 600 enslaved people in total and 400 on the same property where he wrote that “All men are created equal.” Smith even recounts a conversation he had with two women from New York on his tour of the Monticello Plantation, who had come down to the South to visit Jefferson, whom they had idolized as an American hero. When they arrived at the plantation, they were shocked at the harsh reality which was in stark contrast to the image they had learned in school and believed in for so many years. These women were so shocked they cried, feeling betrayed by someone whom they had looked up to as a model person. Smith cites this as being due to the lack of education concerning the presence of slavery. Growing up in New Orleans, Louisiana, Smith notes that he often did not receive the whole picture when learning about the history of slavery and racism in the South. The antiquated view of “The Lost Cause” and criticism of Reconstruction is still commonplace in some textbooks, and the roots slavery has in every facet of the world are often not expressed but certainly present. This point is argued by How the Word is Passed, as Smith shows history in a different manner than some may be used to seeing. He sheds light upon

the hypocrisy and horrid reality of slavery when it existed and the fact it still exists.

Clint Smith finished the Chapel talk with a recitation of one of his poems, which discusses the experience of growing up in a city where he was surrounded by Con-

federate legacy and iconography. Smith’s performance was a powerful reminder of the need to continue the conversation about the legacy of slavery. The Panel Staff and the Belmont Hill Community thanks Clint Smith for coming to speak to us. ☐

The Embrace Statue Celebrated in Boston

By Aidan Lee ’24 Panel Staff

The recent unveiling of “The Embrace” statue of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King in Boston has generated much excitement and positive reactions from the public. The statue, which depicts the iconic civil rights leaders in an embrace, is a powerful symbol of love, unity, and perseverance in the face of adversity.

The statue was created to commemorate the life of Martin Luther King Jr. and to honor the legacy of both King and his

wife. It stands at a height of twelve feet and is made of bronze, which gives it a timeless and sturdy appearance. The statue, designed by artist Hank Willis Thomas, depicts them in an intimate and tender embrace, conveying a deep sense of love and commitment to one another, even in the face of the many challenges they faced during their lifetime.

The statue has received widespread praise for its beautiful and moving design and ability to capture the essence of the Kings’ relationship and their work for social justice. The statue serves as a powerful reminder of the Kings’ courage and determination in the face of adversity and of the

progress that has been made in the fight for civil rights. It is a testament to the enduring legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King and to the continued importance of their work in shaping our world today.

“The Embrace” statue of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King in Boston is a fitting tribute to these two critical figures in the history of civil rights and equality. The statue’s beautiful and moving design, combined with its meaningful location, makes it a powerful symbol of love, unity, and perseverance in the face of adversity. The statue serves as a reminder of the Kings’ legacy and the continued importance of their work. ☐

Hockey Rink Dedicated to Mr. Kenneth Martin III ’65

By

On Thursday, January 5th, Belmont Hill held an official recognition of the Kenneth M. Martin III ’65 Hockey Rink ahead of Belmont Hill Varsity Hockey’s game against Milton. This honor celebrates Mr. Martin’s legacy as a Belmont Hill teacher and coach. His wife, Linda, dropped the ceremonial first puck to mark the event.

Mr. Martin has an imposing history both within and outside of Belmont Hill. Mr. Martin rejoined Belmont Hill in 1972, seven years after his high school graduation, and has served in numerous roles ever since. He coached Belmont Hill Varsity Hockey for 39 seasons to an astounding record of 707-270-43, making him the winningest

his

Outside of Belmont Hill, Mr. Martin was a senior captain of Bowdoin College’s hockey team, and he has been inducted into all of the Bowdoin Athletic Hall of Fame, New Hampshire Hockey Hall of Fame, Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame, and Massachusetts Hockey Coaches Hall of Fame. Mr. Martin has made an impact on countless members of the Belmont Hill community throughout the years, and that was shown through the number of people who came to be at the Kenneth M. Martin III ‘65 Hockey Rink to celebrate his contributions to Belmont Hill. The Jordan Athletic Center was packed with alumni, students, teachers, and others, all there to express their gratitude for Mr. Martin. It was truly a special event for an amazing teacher, mentor, coach, and person. ☐

high school coach in Massachusetts state history. Since

retirement from the varsity squad in 2010, Mr. Martin has coached some of Belmont Hill’s middle school teams.

Noah Farb ’24

Panel Staff

The Embrace Steven Senne (AP)

Mr. Martin in the opening ceremony BH Communications

Clint Smith speaking with Mr. Collins BH Communications

Cont‘ from Front Page

General Mark A. Milley ’76 Announces Retirement

By Aidan Lee ’24 Panel Staff

General Mark A. Milley’s ’76 recent announcement of retirement from office later this year celebrates the end of a distinguished career in the military and public service. Milley ascended through the ranks to become one of the most respected military leaders of his generation. In addition to his military service, General Milley also served as a public servant, holding several key standings in the nation, such as serving as the Secretary of Defense and eventually as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces and Joint Chief of Staff.

General Milley’s commitment to duty and his soldiers made him notable throughout his career. He led with integrity and put the needs of his country and his fellow service members before his own. He was an amazing general and leader known for his capability and his passion for serving his country.

In addition to his military achievements, General Milley also made important contributions to the country as a public servant. He was a strong advocate for veterans and worked hard so that they could receive

the support and resources they needed. He also contributed to the fields of national security and foreign policy. He was known for his ability to bring different perspectives and opinions together to reach a consensus on

key issues. General Milley placed his country in front of himself and inspired others to strive to do the right thing perennially. Furthermore, he has been a massive part of Belmont Hill’s community. He came to talk in The Chapel a few months ago and left a lasting impact on those who came to watch him. His never-ending support for BH and his continuous hosting of the Form II students on their annual D.C. trip is something that will never be forgotten. General Milley’s retirement from office marks the end of an era, but his legacy will live on. He will live on both in Belmont Hill’s community and in America. When he retires later in the year, it will be another milestone and celebration of his illustrious career. ☐

House Voting Finally Sees McCarthy as Speaker

By Kevin Weldon

On January 3rd, 2023, the vote for Speaker of the House began a routine election. The Republicans were expected to elect House Representative Kevin McCarthy, representing the 2nd District of California. However, issues arose when McCarthy did not please all members of the party with agreements that would have assured the vote. Thus, a small rogue faction of the Republican Party refused to vote for McCarthy.

When the voting first began, listeners and Congressional members, many of whom had brought their families to the ceremony, were shocked when, by the early part of the vote in the tedious roll call, enough Republicans voted against the California representative to block him from being elected. The Democrats, who saw the opportunity to embarrass their opposing party, all held steady and voted for Hakeem Jeffries, so that by the end of the vote, Jeffries emerged as the person with the most votes for Speaker of the House, with 213,

while McCarthy gained 202, and other candidates held the last 18 votes. The Republicans continued to hold out for the first day, and as a result, the House members were not sworn in, and the session was not begun. This trend continued for three more days until the 15th round finally secured enough votes for McCarthy to be elected as House Speaker. He accomplished this by making many concessions to the far-right holdouts, which weakened his power by making it easier to replace him as House Speaker, giving preferential treatment to the House Committees, and allowing 72 hours to read proposed bills before voting. While this certainly took the country by surprise, it is not unprecedented, as, in 1855, the voting lasted a two-month period with 133 rounds. Besides being direct evidence of a divided Republican Party, not electing a House Speaker, meant that the House was inactive regarding legislation during this period, which includes the passing of bills, swearing in new members, and assigning House Committees. Many people see this as a bad omen of what is to come over the next two years,

as the voting turned into a battle between moderate and far right conservatives. With only a slim majority in the House, however, Republicans will need every vote they can

get, which means securing support from the self-proclaimed “Freedom Caucus.”

Classified Documents Reported on Biden’s Properties

By Luke Trevisan ’24 Panel Staff

Early this month, classified government documents were discovered in a former office space of President Joe Biden, who claims he does not know how they ended up there. They were first discovered on November 2nd, less than a week before the midterm elections, by the President’s lawyers when clearing out the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement in Washington, D.C. The administration then reported these documents, some of which were marked classified, to the Department of Justice, which then sparked an inquiry into the subject. It is unclear how the documents got there, but they date back to the administration change between President Obama and President Trump back in 2017.

In cooperation with the Department of Justice, President Biden’s team cited two other likely places for possible document caches: his main residence in Wilmington and a vacation home in Rehoboth Beach, both in Delaware. They scanned them personally and came up with a few smaller batches of documents scattered mainly throughout the

garage on four more occasions: December 20th, January 12th, 14th, and 20th. After the first three discoveries, President Biden’s team arranged for them to be handed over to the DOJ. Additionally, last month the FBI investigated his main home, finding six documents, and has recently cleared his vacation home as well. While the total number of documents is unknown, the administration claims that it is a very small amount.

After the discovery of the initial documents on November 2nd, they were reported to the National Archives, which then relayed them to the DOJ, who launched an inquiry on November 9th. Five days later, Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed U.S. Attorney John Lausch to lead an investigation into documents. Lausch then briefed Garland on January 5th and advised that a special counsel be formed in order to investigate the potential leakage of information more thoroughly. On January 12th, Garland appointed Robert Hurr to lead this special counsel, which has since begun investigating the situation surrounding Biden and the documents.

These events occurred after the recent scandal of former President Donald Trump. After leaving office in January 2021, classi-

fied documents were discovered in Trump’s vacation estate Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida; the Trump administration was more uncooperative when dealing with the DOJ. Initially, a small number of boxes were handed over, then a larger quantity was returned

after the issuing of a subpoena, and finally, a substantial amount was discovered when the FBI searched his home in August of last year. Both cases are currently under investigation by a special counsel committee.

General Mark Milley ’76

BH Communications

’24 and Duncan Kilbride ’24 Panel Staff

President Joe Biden at podium Susan Walsh (AP)

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy Greg Nash

DOTI: Is Tom Brady Actually Retiring this Time?

By Luke Trevisan ’24 And Lev Tolkoff ’24 Panel Staff

Yes, he is: Argued By Lev Tolkoff

While every New England Patriots fan secretly hoped that Brady would return to give us another shot at a Super Bowl, he is finally retired, and for good. There is no doubt that Brady may be one of the most competitive humans ever; however, it is clear when watching him that football is not filling that hunger for competition any longer. Many times throughout the 2022-2023 season, the camera would pan to Brady disgusted at his team’s and his own play, One of the funniest moments of the season was when Brady slammed a film tablet on the bench.

Although Brady came to the same decision last season, this year is different. Last year he tested the uncharted waters of retirement, thought that he enjoyed football more, and returned. Now he knows what to expect in retirement and chose that over playing football, so his decision will be final.

Additionally, no team would be willing to give up their future for a few years of Tom Brady, and Brady was not willing to face the reality that he may not be a desired commodity. Based on his play this season and the poor performance of the Bucs’ he does not look like he is a Super-Bowl-caliber quarterback any longer. The only reason for playing more would be to pad his stats and solidify

his records, originally, he had said he would not stop playing until there are thirty-two other quarterbacks better than him; however, now with there being arguably five to ten better, he realized his chance of winning another Super Bowl is over. There lies his true motivation for the game and for his competitive spirit: to win. If he no longer can do

joy retirement by relaxing on the beach and occasionally tuning into NFL games. There is no way around it, Brady is done No, he isn’t: Argued by Luke Trevisan

Is Tom Brady really going to retire so early in his career? The young prospect recently tweeted a 50-second-long retirement video, in which he claims he

around. First, even at 45, he is still breaking records and smashing expectations. Last year, he set the record for most completions in one season (485) and this year he broke it again, tossing 490 completions to his receivers. He also had his most yards since 2015 (4694) and his second-best completion percentage (66.8%) since that same time. Tom has not slowed down; he’s just getting started.

Additionally, Brady and the team did not have the success they were looking for this season. This would be demoralizing to anyone except the GOAT himself. Brady led the Buccaneers to the first losing season of his career (8-9). Furthermore, the Buccaneers lost to the Colts (4-12-1) as well as the Cowboys, which was Brady’s first-ever loss to “America’s Team.” How can anyone, let alone Tom Brady be content with themselves after losing to the Cowboys? I know for a fact he isn’t, as he personally told me, “I will return.” He will take revenge next year after he unretires.

so, then he has no other choice but to retire. Furthermore, Brady is not retiring from football altogether, but retiring from playing quarterback . Upon announcing his retirement, Brady signed a massive $300-million-dollar contract with FOX to broadcast. He will be making more money than he would as a player while getting to critique and give insight never seen before to audiences watching. Now, living in Florida, Brady will en-

is going to retire, again. However, we all know that he is faking it yet again.

Last year, Brady pulled the same stunt. After the news was spoiled by reporter Adam Schefter, Brady tweeted a multi-paragraph note explaining his strong love for the game and the reasons that he was going to leave it. But 40 days later, he signed on for another year contract with the Buccaneers. What is to say he isn’t going to do it again? Brady has many reasons to stick

Finally, Tom Brady is nothing without football. Brady is dedicated to the game, and the game is dedicated to him. He made his decision last year when he chose the sport over his marriage, and he will continue that trend for the foreseeable future. Tom Brady continues to break records, and after finding himself bored again within the next two months, will go on yet another revenge tour. I can’t wait to see number 12 out on the field next year. ☐

An In Depth Update of the Russo-Ukranian War

By Duncan Kilbride ’24 Panel Staff

Nearly one year into a war of unprecedented death and destruction in the modern century, the fate of Ukraine still hangs in the balance. From almost complete domination by Russian forces in the early months of the invasion to a sweeping counteroffensive retaking much of the formerly occupied territory, the war in Ukraine has consistently remained in the headlines. But now, this war is entering a new phase, a stalemate between Russia and Ukraine which will only draw out the conflict, and the catastrophe it has left in its wake. This is not a small, regional conflict; it is a global war between a ruthless dictator and a people fighting for their very survival, and it is our job to support them in any way possible.

Last month, in a meeting with Western allies, President Volodymr Zelensky asked for more offensive weapons includ-

ing tanks, to break the attacking Russian forces and end the war as soon as possible, stating “Hundreds of thank yous are not hundreds of tanks.” Western countries have been supporting Ukraine throughout the war. The U.S. has been at the forefront of this effort, sending some of its most advanced weapons like the Patriot air defense system, which, according to Tom Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), is “one of the most widely operated and reliable and proven air missile defense systems out there.” After a $2.5 billion spending package passed a few weeks ago, U.S. officials have announced that the country has now sent over 26 billion dollars in aid to Ukraine. Support like this has greatly increased Ukraine’s ability to defend itself, but now that might not be enough anymore. Many countries had hesitated up until this point to send tanks to Ukraine out of fear of angering Russia and sparking an all out war which could have nuclear

consequences. In response to this, President Zelensky singled out Germany and its particular resistance to give permission to other countries and its own military to send its Leopard 2 tanks, which are widely considered as some of the best in the world.

Due to the ever increasing stakes of te war and demand from Ukrainian officials, the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Joe Bide have announced together that they plan on sending German-made Leopard 2s and the U.S.’s own formidable M1 Abrams. Although this comes as a highly controversial move by both nations, Biden says the tanks would only serve to “enhance Ukraine’s capacity to defend its territory and achieve its strategic objectives,”and that “This is not an offensive threat to Russia. There is no offensive threat to Russia if Russian troops return to Russia, where they belong.” The U.S. and Germany are not alone in their continued support as many countries have followed their lead and bolstered their own support for Ukraine.

With its many ups and downs, the war in Ukraine is far from over. President Vladmir Putin is willing to sacrifice his people and the people of Ukraine in the pursuit of conquest, but by pledging Western tanks to the Ukrainian military, their forces now have a chance to halt the ever-encroaching Russian forces and drive Putin out of Ukrainian land. It does not end here, however. Western nations, as countries free from immediate war, must step in and do what is right to end this conflict as soon as possible not only to stop the suffering of the Ukrainian people but to stop the spread of evil throughout the world.

Chinese Government Revokes its ‘Zero Covid’ Policy

By Luke Trevisan ’24

Since its initial outbreak in China in the early winter of 2019, COVID-19 has been a major threat to public health and politics. Countries developed different protocols for handling the virus. In the US, the ill-prepared health system went into shock, and panic concerning the virus became catastrophic. Precautions like masking, vaccination and “zooming in” became necessities of everyday life. In other places, such as New Zealand, the virus was very effectively controlled, but with stricter lockdown measures and damage to the country’s economy. An extreme example is China, which, up until a couple of months ago, had maintained its lockdown policies since the start of the pandemic.

COVID-19 traces its origins back to

a live-animal market in Wuhan City, China, where it arose in the late months of 2019. China was initially caught off guard by the virus and its rapid human-to-human contact. As doctors and personnel on the scene spread word of the outbreak, the government actively tried to keep things under control and withhold information until approved by President Xi Jinping’s administration.

China began enforcing heavy lockdown, testing, and mask mandating for its citizens. These regulations continued on a relatively stable basis up until the last few months.

The Chinese population became restless due to isolation and restraint from social gatherings for so long. Protests and dissent arose in early December of last year. Furthermore, public disputes with China’s censorship and government control policies have existed for many decades. This fragile peace lasted until late November of this year when ten people

were trapped due to COVID restrictions in an apartment fire in Xinjiang. This outrage sparked the protests that have arisen.

Since being loosened on December 7th, new freedoms have allowed interaction but in return, millions have been infected and many have died. These changes in events provoke a question: Should China be going through with reintegration? China’s precautionary measures were effective. The country was able to reduce transmission and keep the population relatively safe. During this time, however, the population has become disillusioned with authority. But easing back in may not be so easy, as China’s population lacks the herd immunity and vaccination rates that other countries can boast.

I believe that, as hard as it will be for the foreseeable future, China should continue on the path to reopening the country. The population was infuriated with the continued enforcement of restrictions, and

the economy suffered as well. In 2022, China saw its worst rate of economic growth, only 3%, since Mao Zedong’s death in 1976. Additionally, a large percentage of the population is unvaccinated. The country also lacks the vital protection of herd immunity, and so it cannot keep forestalling its lifting of restrictions. The unrest will only get worse and more lives will be lost if reintegration is not achieved. Thankfully, at the cost of a few years of hardship, China has chosen to rip off its band-aid now rather than continue its social repression, and risk the effects of a revolution. ☐

Panel Staff

Tom Brady at Gillette Stadium

The Boston Globe

February Artist of the Issue: Cellist Daniel Cho ’23

By Brian Lee ’24 Panel Staff

For Daniel Cho ’23, music has always played a significant role in his life. First picking up the violin at the age of five, he soon switched to the cello due to the discomfort of the violin’s chin rest; with its superior sound and the comfort of playing seated in a chair, the cello was a much better fit for Daniel. Since elementary school, his talents on the cello have improved under the guidance of Barbara Paschke, a member of the Portland Symphony Orchestra. In Form I, Daniel joined the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras (BYSO) and was eventually accepted into the Boston Youth Symphony (BYS), the highest level orchestra of the organization.

One of his favorite aspects of BYSO is being able to play advanced music as a high school student and its opportunities to perform moving music in a tight group. Daniel has particularly enjoyed learning

new music with great nuance, and he mentions that “at BYSO, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the experience of playing music. It’s amazing to have a youth orchestra synchronize with international singers and perform multi-hour long operas.”

BH Winter Student Recital

By Brian Lee ’24 Panel Staff

On Sunday, January 22nd, Belmont Hill musicians gathered in the Chapel to showcase various musical talents with the community. The recital included a diverse array of genres and instruments, and performers ranged from new Form I students to experienced seniors.

To kick off the recital, T.Z. Snail ’26 gave a beautiful performance of J.S. Bach’s

“New Dream of Yuan Yang Butterfly” by An Huang. Shifting to country music, B-Flats members Declan Reilly ’24 and Leo Montoya ’23 sang “Snow” by Zach Bryan, and Will Kelly ’23 displayed his excellent talents in singing with a wonderful rendition of “Pluto Projector” by Rex Orange County. Third Former Nathan Zhang ’26 returned to the classical genre with an exciting performance of Beethoven’s Waldstein Sonata, which was followed by Ilan Turevskiy ’28, who performed “Blue Bossa,” a thrilling jazz piece composed by Kenny Durham.

Throughout his time at Belmont Hill, Daniel has performed in various festivals, both at the Junior and Senior District levels. As the Co-Vice President of the school’s chamber orchestra, Daniel’s experiences as a musician at Belmont Hill have been memo-

rable. When asked what his favorite musical memory at Belmont Hill was, he described a jarring moment in Form II when a fellow musician accidentally tripped over his cello, causing the bridge to collapse and snap into two pieces before a concert. Luckily, it was a rental cello that was fully insured: “I remember laughing about it and getting to play Ms. Carye’s cello, an instrument of a price and quality I hadn’t played on before nor probably will again.” When looking back at his musical journey at Belmont Hill, Daniel says that he is “proud to have performed for the schools in seasonal concerts, chapels, and graduation ceremonies.”

Daniel has been an integral member of the Belmont Hill Orchestra during his time at Belmont Hill, and we will miss his natural humor and leadership as one of the senior members of the group. The Panel wishes Daniel the best of luck as he heads on to college next year, and congratulates him for all his musical endeavors. ☐

Scholastic Art Awards

By Daniel Xie ’24 Panel Staff

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is an annual competition that is “the nation’s longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens.” Every year, thousands of students across the nation submit works of art and writing into 28 various categories. The competition has three different levels of awards at the regional level: the Honorable Mention, the Silver Key, and the Gold Key. Regional award-winning works in Massachusetts are presented by the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University.

This year, seven Belmont Hill Students entered and won awards in the competition. In the “Photography” category, Brian Lee ’24 was awarded both a Silver and Gold Key for his photos, Untitled 1 and Untitled 2, respectively. In addition, John Stonestreet ’25

was awarded an Honorable Mention for his photo submission, Untitled 1. In the “Film and Illustration” category, Jaiden Lee ’26 earned a Silver Key for his submission, 5/26: On Her Birthday. Next, in the “Expanded Projects” category, Ezra Lee ’25 was awarded a Gold Key for his piece, Broken but Healing. For his submission in the “Ceramics” category, Untitled, Nathaniel Voss ’24 won a Silver Key. There were four awards won in the “Drawing & Illustration” category, with Ethan Xie ’26 winning two Silver Keys for his submissions, Smile and The Fight, and Daniel Xie ’24 winning a Gold Key for his drawing, Crawling, and an Honorable Mention for another piece, Shattered. Daniel was also awarded a Silver Key in the “Design” category for his submission of a coffee can design.

The Panel extends its congratulations to all of the Scholastic Awards winners this year and wishes Gold Key award winners the best of luck in the national competition. ☐

Well-Tempered Clavier on the piano. He was followed by a duet between two talented sophomores, Derrick Huang ’25 on saxophone and Adrian Tan ’25 on piano; the two musicians performed “Unravel” by Toru Kitajima and “Hikaru Nara” by Goose House. First Former Alex Guo ’28 gave a riveting

To cap off a great recital, seniors Cameron Connell ’23 and Will Kelly ’23 sang “Jersey Giant” by Tyler Childers, incorporating talented harmonies throughout the song.

Congratulations to everyone who performed in Belmont Hill’s first student recital of the year! ☐

Online Editor Kevin Weldon ’24

Digital Media Editor

Andrew Bittner ’24

Arts Editor Brian Lee ’24

Sports Editor Noah Farb ’24

Graphics Editor

Luke Trevisan ’24

Daniel Xie ’24

Editors-In-Chief

Mac Bobo ’23

David Cho ’23

Executive Editor

Alex Lo ’23

Cooper Nelson ’23

Assistant Editors

Tommy Folan ’25

Ben Hack ’24

Duncan Kilbride 24

Alex Laidlaw ’25

Aaron Stanger ’24

Lev Tolkoff ’24

Staff Artists/writers

Nick Andersen ’24

Matthew Flaherty ’24

Jake Kornmehl ’24

Garrett Theberge ’24

Faculty Advisors

David Hegarty

Juliette Zener

News Editor

Daniel Cho ’23

Opinion Editor Aidan Lee ’24

Article Support Editor

Luke Guleserian ’24

Back Page Editors

Jason Cannistraro ’23

Trey Penna ’23

Turner Rayment ’23

performance of Mozart’s Rondo Alla Turca on the piano, and was followed by another classical piece by cellist Brian Lee ’24, who performed Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major. Alex Zhang ’26 then delivered an engaging interpretation of

The Panel, founded in 1953, is the official school newspaper of the Belmont Hill School. The Panel is the voice of the student body. We publish articles that are of consequence to the students, as well as the school communities. The views expressed in The Panel belong solely to the authors and editors and do not necessarily represent the student body, faculty or administration of the school. Any comment about the content should be addressed directly to the editors. The Panel encourages responsible opinion in the form of Letters to the Editor. We reserve the right to edit all submissions for length and content. Copyright © 2022 The Panel. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission of the Editors-in-Chief. Published by the Belmont Printing Co., Belmont, MA 02478.

Belmont Hill Orchestra Performing

Neal Hamburg

Daniel Cho ’23 (Far Left) Playing Cello as a part of the Orchestra Neal Hamburg

Brian Lee ’24

Playing Cello

Livestream

Buffalo Bills Safety Damar Hamlin Post-Injury Update

By Christopher McEvoy ’25 and Andrew Hildebrandt ’25 panel staff

On January 2nd, millions of people watching Bills vs. Bengals Monday Night Football witnessed one of the most terrifying injuries in sports history. On a routine play, with six minutes left in the first quarter, Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins caught a pass and was tackled by Bills safety Damar Hamlin. Following the hit, Hamlin stood up before collapsing to the ground. The Bills medical staff rushed onto the field to tend to Hamlin, who was not breathing when the medical staff reached him on the field. Bills trainer Denny Kellington administered CPR to Hamlin on the field for eleven minutes before an ambulance carted Hamlin away. He was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

Commentator Joe Buck announced that the NFL gave the two teams five minutes to warm up before the game would resume. The NFL has faced criticism over this initial response as many were shocked the NFL would send the teams back out after such a horrific occurrence. Many players on both sides were visually emotional with many in tears. After a few minutes, Zac Taylor and Sean McDermott, the team’s head coaches, met in the middle of the field to discuss how

to move forward and both agreed to postpone the game. The two teams went back into their respective locker rooms. The NFL canceled the game roughly an hour later.

Both teams ended with one less game on their record. This was extremely important for the NFL playoffs. The Bills, Bengals, and Chiefs all had the opportunity to seize the number one seed in the AFC guaranteeing home field advantage for the entire playoffs at the time of the postponement. It was decided by the NFL that if both the Bills and Chiefs won their games in week eighteen of the season and both reached the AFC Championship game that

Varsity Squash Update

By Stephen Agular ’25 panel staff

Coming off a championship win last year, the Varsity Squash team aims to once again rule the ISL. Led by captain Aaron Green ‘23 and coached by Mr. Brownell, the team has started the season with a great record of 6-2, and an undefeated 4-0 record in the ISL.

The loss of talented seniors including Will Okurowski ‘22 and Dietrich Jacobs ‘22 led to doubts about the team’s competitiveness. However, this year’s young team boasts depth and talent, including Colton Jacobs ‘27 and Mattias Liem ‘28. Moreover, the top three players on the team are all Form IV students: Leighton Calhoun ‘25, Hayden Okurowski ‘25, and Jai Karande ‘25.

The team began the season with a strong win at the Jackson Tournament, defeating Brooks and Tabor in the league. They then beat a strong Phillips Exeter team 5-2 and collected another ISL win against

St. George’s. In a recent ISL match, the team achieved a significant win against Groton.

In the coming weeks, the team has crucial matches, highlighted by New Englands and Nationals in Philadelphia. ☐

the game would be played at a neutral site.

It has been determined since the incident occurred that Damar Hamlin’s chest was hit in a specific way at a specific moment in his heartbeat that caused cardiac arrest.

Thanks to the valiant efforts of the Bills medical staff and the staff at University of Cincinnati Medical Center Hamlin has made tremendous strides and is no longer at the hospital. Thankfully, he will survive and potentially even return to football if that is the path he chooses. After waking up in the hospital his first question he asked the doctors was “Who won the game?”.

Damar Hamlin’s injury has helped to spread awareness about player safety in the NFL and other major sports along with the need for people to be CPR certified. The hope is that in the future, injuries like the one Damar Hamlin suffered can be prevented by better equipment and teaching better techniques. Just hours after his injury, millions of people donated to Damar Hamlin’s charity that helps give toys out to underprivileged children. What happened to Damar Hamlin was a shock to the entire sports world and will hopefully bring about change regarding player safety. ☐

Varsity Hockey Update

By Noah Farb ’24 panel staff

The Belmont Hill Varsity Hockey team has had a promising season to date, boasting an 12-4-2 record. They’re currently second in the Keller division of the ISL with a 5-2-2 record within the league. The team is currently on a seven-game unbeaten streak, with only a tie against Milton Academy in the Kenneth Martin III ‘65 Rink Dedication game. Led by senior captains Ronan O’Donnell ‘23 and Danny Markham ‘23, the team is looking to compete for the ISL title.

In the next few weeks, they have some crucial matchups, highlighted by a home game against St. Sebastian’s on February 8th and an away game against Milton Academy on February 17th. Other upcoming matchups include an away game at Thayer and a home bout vs. BB&N. With a strong senior class and excellent coaching under Mr. Phinney, Belmont Hill Hockey has a bright future and aims to qualify for the NEPSAC playoffs in back to back years. ☐

Athlete of the Issue: Basketball Player Will Kelly ’23

By Noah Farb ’24 panel staff

The Panel honors Will Kelly ‘23 as the Athlete of the Issue. Will has been a valuable Belmont Hill varsity basketball team member for the past three years. While his first season was during the COVID-19-altered year, he has gotten the full Belmont Hill basketball experience the past two seasons.

current season is that to battle through adversity, especially in a team sport, “everyone has to care and try. As a young team, we [all] needed to buy in and work together to

When asked how he views his role on the team, he responded, “I strive to be as best of a leader as I can. I try to do whatever [I can to] help everyone else be better and help out the team, whether that’s fighting for a rebound, hitting a shot, or filling water bottles”. Even though varsity games are much higher stakes, Will remembers a game against Fessenden on 3rds as his favorite memory as part of the Belmont Hill basketball program. The Loop™ showed up in the second half to support the freshman squad, spurring an enormous comeback. His most significant takeaway from this Will Kelly ’23

achieve the success that we knew we were capable of.” While he played for many AAU teams, Will believes there was something special about playing high school basket-

ball, “seeing your teammates in the hallways or [at] lunch is extremely special and something that I will miss from my time here.” As many Belmont Hill students know, there is something different to being on a team that practices every day after school with the coach-teacher model compared to an out-of-school travel or club team.

Outside of basketball, Kelly has formerly played soccer and tennis for Belmont Hill and plans to try out sailing this spring. While most memories of Belmont Hill Basketball bring him joy, one awful experience was losing his two front teeth last year in a game. Since then, his teeth have been replaced, and he says now that he always knows to “wear a mouthguard.” Will has had a successful Belmont Hill career on and off the court, and The Panel wishes him the best of luck in the future in all of his athletic and academic endeavors. ☐

Miles Sandoski

Damar Hamlin with friends after his recovery Google Images

Belmont Hill Hockey Adam Richins

Squash Team Celebrates a Win @bhsquash

Midseason Update on Varsity Wrestling’s Stellar Year

By Aaron Stanger ’24 Panel Staff

As Belmont Hill Varsity Wrestling enters the latter half of the season, the team has shown nothing but sportsmanship, hard work, and success. With just five matches remaining, the team’s 19-1 record speaks for itself. Although the team lost several strong seniors from last season, new incoming starters, namely Isaac Novod ’27 (106 lbs), Scotty Moreau ’26 (113 lbs), Jack Dragoumanos ’26 (126 lbs), and Haden Botillegeri ’24 (170 lbs), have bolstered the lineup. From the start of the season, the team has dominated the ISL. Before winter break, the team defeated Governor’s Academy 67-9. In January, they continued to defeat other ISL squads, including Thayer, BB&N, Lawrence Academy, Middlesex, Brooks, Milton, Tabor, and Nobles. Highlighted by heavyweight Dave Lograsso’s ’23 buzzer-beater takedown, the team beat St. Sebastian’s 69-12. On the 23rd, the team proved their league superiority, overwhelming previously undefeated Roxbury Latin 72-6.

Outside of the ISL, the team continues to find success against some of the largest schools in New England, including Phillips Exeter and Phillips Ando-

Celtics Upd.

By Ben Adams ’25 Panel Staff

It is no understatement that the Celtics have had an impressive start to the season. They currently sit at 36-15 with the best record in the NBA, and Jayson Tatum is an MVP candidate. Jaylen Brown is also averaging 27 points as a second option. However, they have slowed down since the start of the season. Still, Celtics fans cannot be mad as they still hold the best record in the NBA, although it is a little concerning that they have not been playing as well lately.

Looking ahead to the rest of the season, the Celtics are in a prime position to take the one seed and make a deep run. Some of the biggest adversaries that could prevent the Celtics from going to back-to-back Finals appearances are the Cavs, Bucks, and Sixers. Considering the Celtics’ schedule for the rest of the regular season, I predict the Celtics will finish at 55-27 and will win the NBA finals and hang up their 18th banner. ☐

ver. In a close December match, the team proved themselves by defeating Greens Farms Academy, the second-place team at last year’s New England’s tournament. At

their most recent match, the team secured a perfect score win, 84-0, over Avon Old Farms. Unfortunately, the team lost in a close match against Northfield Mount Her-

mon, the current New England champions. However, they look forward to a rematch with a full, healthy starting lineup next month at the New England’s tournament.

Meanwhile, the second varsity team continues to prove the depth of the program. While the starters competed at the Battle of Germantown in Pennsylvania, the second team began their season at the Taft tournament. After defeating Beaver Country Day, the team competed at the Skiff Mountain Scuffle Tournament at the Marvelwood School, finishing in second place. The second team is looking forward to taking on Landmark, Portsmouth Abbey, and Eagle Hill in the coming week.

As the final dual meets come to a close, the team looks forward to competing in postseason tournaments, namely the Graves-Kelsey, New England’s, and Prep Nationals. Having placed third at New England’s tournament last year, the team seeks to regain their title as the previous threepeat champions. Propelled by excellent captain leadership from Alex Garvonsky ’23, Turner Rayment ’23, and Freddy Pimentel ’23, BH wrestling will continue to push the pace over the coming weeks, with the goal of winning the ISL, New England’s, and placing as many All-Americans as possible on the podium at the Nationals. ☐

Rocky Start for Varsity Alpine Skiing

By Luke Guleserian

The Belmont Hill Alpine Ski season has been off to a rocky start, literally. Due to the lack of snow and unusually warm New England winter, the little snow that has fallen has melted away quickly. So, the on-mountain practices and races that the team would like to have started back in December were instead pushed to late January. Even then, as the uncertainty of the weather persists, what little time for skiing is typically up in the air. In place of on-mountain training, the team has been running “dryland training”, a mix of cardio and strength in order to be best prepared for time on the mountain. While not unusual in years past, Head Coach Feldman mentioned that it was “by far the longest stretch of dryland in [his] twelve years and Coach Trautz’s 20 years in coaching.

Nevertheless, the Alpine team has proven to be resilient, tackling whatever

challenge comes their way. As on-mountain tryouts were impossible, and since everyone made the mile benchmark, cuts loomed over everyone’s heads as the season progressed forward. They continued through dryland until Coach Feldman canceled tryouts for the year, stating that, due to their tenacity, “everyone deserves to be a part of the program.” Considering the limits placed on the amount of skiers that could be brought to the mountain each week, Coach Feldman instated a mixed system: part of the team, “primarily younger and less experienced guys”, will rotate through IM sports each week while the rest of the team skis and then switch out with another group the next week.

Joining the team this year are two new coaches: Coach Wallace and Coach Creedon. Coach Wallace comes to Belmont Hill for her first year here after teaching at the Community Charter School in Cambridge. She has ample ski racing experience and brings great first hand knowledge of the sport to the program. Coach Creedon, additionally our Varsity Sailing Coach, also

Mykhailo Mudryk Transfer to Chelsea F.C.

By Luke Guleserian ’24

Staff

Mykhailo Mudryk, formerly of Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk, has joined English club Chelsea for a transfer fee of $108 million. The 22-year-old Ukrainian international has joined on a seven-year contract. Despite the low perception of the Ukrainian league, Mudryk impressed in the UEFA Champions League, scoring thrice and assisting twice in six matches. There are numerous intriguing elements in this deal. For months, it seemed that Mudryk was destined to go to Arsenal, a rival of Chelsea. He posted pictures of himself watching Arsenal games on his Instagram story numerous times in an attempt to get Shakhtar to let him leave the club. Fans and commentators alike believed that was destined to play for the Gunners. Yet, just a day before the transfer occurred, rumors circulated that Chelsea was outbidding Arsenal. Surprisingly, the Blues ended up winning the race.

Interestingly, of the $108 million fee that Chelsea paid, the Shakhtar Donetsk President, Rinat Akmethov, donated $25 million to fund the war effort against the Russian invasion. Some critics believed that ‘politics must be kept out of football’ and decried the fee as a political gesture by Shakhtar. Mudryk is one of the latest of Chelsea owner Todd Boehly’s shopping spree since he came to own the club in May 2022. Boehly has spent over $739 million on numerous players, with Mudryk being the second most expensive player, just after Enzo Fernandez from Benfica, who cost a Premier League record fee of $130 million. This has led many to accuse Chelsea of breaking Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules. These rules were set in place so that a club could not suddenly outspend its competitors. While on the surface it appears that Chelsea is doing exactly that, Boehly has cleverly structured these contracts to be lengthy so that the upfront cost is minimal, sidestepping the guidelines. The contracts last for up to nine years in the case of Mudryk; however, with the prevalence of transfers, it

is unlikely that all of Chelsea’s new recruits will stay for the entire contract length.

It is yet to be seen if UEFA will restructure FFP to prevent such loopholes that Chelsea exploited. In Mudryk’s first appearance, he was widely praised for his energy and skill. Fans can only speculate about the long-term success of this stunning move. ☐

has ski racing experience and is a coach at Loon Mountain in New Hampshire, and so has already met a few of the members of the team before this season. Coach Creedon has a good sense of planning and organization and the team is excited to have him. Moving forward through the season, the weather will continue to be a limiting factor. Despite the record lows of the recent weekend, the temperatures will continue to be high and racing and practicing will be constrained with low snow levels. Nevertheless, the team was able to have a successful race on Wednesday, February 1st. They raced at Wachusett, a larger course than Nashoba and competed against other ISL teams. Despite such few opportunities, Coach Feldman still “wants each athlete to experience accomplishment and improvement,” since, while ski racing is individual, it still is important to maintain a team atmosphere. The final goals for the team are to be competitive at both the ISL championship and their class at the upcoming NEPSAC championships.☐

Alums

Wrestle

By Andrew Bittner ’24 Panel Staff

On January 6th, five Belmont Hill Alumni wrestled at the Franklin and Marshall School Invitational in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The five represented three different Division I wrestling schools and competed in four different weight classes. All the wrestlers enjoyed the opportunity to compete against former classmates.

Luca Pontone ‘19 represented Princeton, Harrison Shapiro ‘20 wrestled for Franklin and Marshall, and Jimmy Harrington ‘22, Matt Smith ‘19, and Daniel Bittner ‘22 wrestled for Harvard. Though the group had struggles against tough competition, the wrestlers managed to score a few wins. Notably, Jimmy Harrington finishing with a strong record of 3-2. The gathering of alums at such a high level of competition serves as a reminder of the strength of the Belmont Hill athletic program and brotherhood is even after graduation! ☐

’24 and Luke Trevisan ’24 Panel Staff

Mr. Bradley celebrates during a match

Adam Richins

Panel

Mykhailo Mudryk talkSPORT

How the Centennial Fund was Spent

Jay Bounty "invests" in new

Porsche

Bribes to Mr. Hegarty to prevent him from quitting

Mr. Craig Schneider's Wardrobe Budget

A task force dedicated to censoring every funny joke on the back page Even tighter pants for Mr. Ryan

Where will Belmont Hill Students be in 10 years?

The Biggest stories and headlines from around campus that you might have missed!

- Mr. Butler spotted in ghillie suit on top of science building trying to shoot down the Chinese spy balloon with a paintball rifle

- Mr. Feldman claims he is going to "take matters into his own hands," later seen spitting water into the air at Nashoba in an attempt to make snow

- 37 Seniors suspended over yearbook most-likely drafts, criminal investigations ongoing

- "Tee hee hee, I'll never tell" Says Doc Fast when asked what the Grateful Dead was like

Beloved Physics Teacher and Coach Craig

Schneider will be jetting off to Las Vegas for a “tech conference.” He has graciously donated his itinerary to be published by his favorite students, the Panel Staff.

all his physics students that he loves

5:45 PM - Chance upon a jungle cat while relieving himself 7:00

8:00

- Count Cards, make enemies, become inevitable

- Craig is a man of action. Less than 24 hours into his parole from a New Jersey penitentiary, the wry, charismatic thief is already rolling out his next plan. Following three rules: Don't hurt anybody, don't steal from anyone who doesn't deserve it, and play the game like you've got nothing to lose, Craig orchestrates the most sophisticated, elaborate triple casino heist in history.

Pie Chart: BH Centennial Fund

Bobby Cooper and Alex Gavronsky

Tommy Folan