Congratulations and Thank You Class of 2025!
By Executive Staff Panel Staff
The Belmont Hill community wishes to congratulate you all, Class of 2025! Throughout this year, you have led the way. Your class unity has shown all the younger guys how to lead within the Belmont Hill community. The Panel Executive Staff has dedicated this issue to the Class of 2025. Throughout this issue, our focus on graduating seniors can be found in a News article highlighting the oneof-a-kind Senior Field Day, an Arts article summarizing the process of cre -
ating this year’s Senior-Directed Play, and two Sports articles that cover Athlete of the Issue Jordan Summers ’25 and this year’s many recruited athletes. In the classroom, you have excelled in numerous ways. On the fields, the courts, and the river, you have shown of your athleticism and pride in
being Belmont Hill students. In extracurriculars and community service, you have shown what it means to be true Belmont Hill leaders. Seniors, we hope you enjoy your special day alongside your family, loved ones, and, most importantly, fellow Belmont Hill brothers! You all deserve it. Congratulations! ☐
Mr. Sweeney Departs After 32 Amazing Years of Service
By Eli Norden ’26 Panel Staff
Since September of 1992, Mr. Sweeney ’83 has been a cornerstone of the Belmont Hill community. From his classroom on the second floor of the Eliot Building, where he has taught four classes and led a middle school advisory for his entire career, to the fourth football field, hockey rink, and fourth baseball field, Mr. Sweeney has left his mark on generations of Belmont Hill students, faculty, and families. Griffin Vail ’26 reflected that “Mr. Sweeney really shaped my Belmont Hill experience.” Mr. Sweeney is the Belmont Hill role model, serving as a defining reason why this school has, for the last 32 years, produced so many young men unafraid to jump into challenges head-first.
Mr. Sweeney’s Belmont Hill journey began before he was even born. In the summer of 1964, months before his birth, a Belmont Hill student visited his childhood home in Reading, MA to talk with his older brothers. This visit resulted in Mr. Sweeney’s older brother, Paul ’66,
Page 2: Departing Faculty: Mr. Feldman & Mr. Sweeney
Brandon Li ’26, Jaiden Lee ’26, and Eli Norden ’26 recount the significant impact that Mr. Feldman and Mr. Sweeney have had on the BH Community.
Page 6-7: Prize Day Lists
The centerspread highlights the Belmont Hill students who won an award at Prize Day. The list truly shows the talented nature of the student body.
enrolling as a junior the following year, 1965. The year after Paul graduated, Mr. Sweeney’s brother, Pat ’74, began at Belmont Hill. More Sweeney brothers (yes, Mr. Sweeney is the youngest of ten) took another path, enrolling at St. Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire. For fresh-
Page 8: Senior-Directed Play
Liam MacLean ’27 details the senior directed play, highlighting the amazing performance put on by the students. The play was wonderfully received by the faculty and parents.
Page 11: Crew Team Sweeps NEIRAs
Patrick Snail ’28 describes the pure dominance the crew team had in their NEIRA regatta last weekend. The team swept the field: an undefeated season.
man year, Mr Sweeney applied to the two schools his brothers attended, but only Belmont Hill accepted him. “Thank God!” he exclaimed as he reflected on this moment. However, Mr. Sweeney thought he would be a boarding student, and because of this, he felt some disappoint-
ment that St. Paul’s did not accept him. Still, Mr. Sweeney was ready to step into Belmont Hill: “I became a bit of an ‘I always wanted to be here kind of guy.’” Mr. Sweeney has endless stories of his time as a student at Belmont Hill. Namely, he said, sports were always the aspect of campus life that stood out to him most. He vividly recalls his Form III sports seasons, including an undefeated football season with Mr. Martin ’65, a hockey season coached by Mr. Gallagher in which the team let up zero goals, and a season with all wins except for a single tie in baseball under Mr. Sherman. Later, as a varsity baseball and football star, Mr. Sweeney stepped back from varsity sports in the winter, playing on JV hockey. He humbly reflected, “it was so nice to watch my friends shine.” He also loved his teachers and their sense of humor, and quoted his freshman year report card from his English teacher, Mr. Hawley: “Chris will achieve great success if he could only learn to spell it.” Mr. Sweeney joked, “And that’s it. That was the whole thing he wrote.”
See FACULTY page 2
Letter from the Editor
Welcome to Issue 2 of Volume 74! This issue marks the final one of the year as our special commencement edition. Our news and arts sections spot light the graduating senior class of 2025, numerous departing faculty members, notable musical performances, and much more. Our sports section features Jordan Summers ’25 as our Athlete of the Issue and articles focusing on Mr. Bradley’s induction into the MA Wrestling Hall of Fame as well as major championship wins from various BH spring teams. In this issue’s centerspread,
we’ve compiled a list of all of this year’s prize winners who were honored on Prize Day, while the back-page features the college destinations of the 2025 senior class. We’d like to thank all of the writers, editors, faculty, and staff who helped make this final issue of the year possible. Sending the year off with this paper, we are proud to celebrate the hard work of the students and faculty in all areas of school life this past year. Lastly, we give a huge congratulations to the Class of ’25! We hope all readers enjoy this last issue!
Mr. Sweeney Teaching His Math Class
Adam Richins
FACULTY
Continued from page 1
In Mr. Sweeney’s senior year, his father suddenly passed away. Mr. Sweeney explained that his father underwent what was then a groundbreaking open-heart surgical procedure. During the surgery, Mr. Sweeney played football against BB&N at home, and some of his brothers watched the game. “We got destroyed,” he explained, but the team still threw a party in the locker room because of his brothers’ attendance. Mr. Sweeney’s eldest brother told him his father had made it through. While Mr. Sweeney’s father did make it through the operation, he passed away from complications related to the surgery later that day.
After the death of his father, Mr. Sweeney explained, “I missed time emotionally, mentally, and so my teachers were stunningly helpful.” Mr. Sweeney was the antithesis of a typical senior spring student and recalls yelling at classmates goofing off in class to stop talking, so he could focus on the work he had missed. He comically reflected, “Imagine that: Some guy you’ve gone to school with for four years telling you to shut up. It didn’t go over well with anyone.” He added, “And I didn’t care.”
Belmont Hill stayed with Mr. Sweeney when he began college at Harvard in the fall of 1983. At this point, Mr. Sweeney was running a paper-shredding business (called Ace Destroyers to be first in the phonebook) and used his company van to
move himself into his freshman dorm. He moved in and then drove home, planning to take the train into Cambridge and leave the van at home. On that stop at home, he checked the mail: “I [got] a card, and it was signed by several of my Belmont Hill friends, some of my best buddies, many of their parents, and some of their siblings that I knew pretty well from over the years, and they gave me a check that basically covered my freshman year in college.” After this incredible display of affection and care from the Belmont Hill community, Mr. Sweeney explained, “I always had a kind of a little pointing [sic] back to here.”
While at Harvard, Mr. Sweeney connected with Mr. Dewar, the former Belmont Hill Athletic Director, and coached two seasons of fourth football with his former coach, Mr. Martin. Subsequently, Mr. Sweeney jokingly explained that he was offered $4,000 to “teach four [classes] and coach three [sports]” at Belmont Hill. He rejected the offer and entered commercial banking for about three years. He then earned his Master’s in Education from Columbia University and began his teaching career at Loomis Chaffee. Mr. Sherman, Mr. Sweeney’s “big draw,” eventually helped guide him back to Belmont Hill.
After he had begun to teach, Mr. Sweeney realized what Belmont Hill had done for him as a young man: “I felt that, when I was here, so many people made a difference in my life. If I could ever do that for even one person, then that would
be really special. I just felt the desire to want to do something, and it’s ironic, because it’s the desire to want to do something for someone other than me.”
Shortly after Mr. Sweeney re-embarked on his Belmont Hill journey, his life changed yet again. He recalls walking up to the academic side of campus between the Art building and the dorms and suddenly seeing a woman. He remarked, “Oh my God, who’s that? And I just said to myself, ‘That must be my wife.’ And then I looked down, and right on her hip was this little girl. And I said, ‘That must be my daughter.’ And that was it.” Mr. and Mrs. Sweeney married four years after their initial encounter; the rest is history. Mr. Sweeney quipped, “I’m winning big time!”
Since he began teaching at Belmont Hill, Mr. Sweeney has coached baseball, hockey, and football every year save sabbaticals. Mr. Sweeney has always arranged his sabbaticals so that he never missed football season; he says he will miss this most during his retirement. As a teacher, he has taught every math class except for the levels beyond AP Calculus BC and AP Statistics, and was awarded the Trustees’ Chair in STEM in 2014, which he held for four years.
One memory of Mr. Sweeney was recounted by Tyler Smith ’26. He talked about how he vividly recalls that the fourth football team in 2022 had to run ten moose laps because “guys were not hustling,” and that Mr. Sweeney took time to
meet with him in Form I in the evening, on Zoom to raise his grade average from a D to an A in Pre-Algebra. Ms. Iandiorio, Math Department Chair and longtime friend and colleague of Mr. Sweeney’s, reflected, “I’ll miss coming to school every morning and, no matter how early I get here, seeing Mr. Sweeney’s car in a spot.”
In his retirement, Mr. Sweeney plans to “start doing something for [himself].” After serving others for so long, Mr. Sweeney plans to look inwards and improve his physical and mental health while learning more about himself. Additionally, he plans to work around the house and spend time with his new grandson. He added, “We [Mrs. Sweeney and I] have our kayaks and camping gear ready,” and are excited to spend time outdoors with family. He quipped, “I’m glad to have Mrs. Sweeney…I thought she might have had three or four years of retirement on her own. But, oops!”
Mr. Sweeney, the entire Belmont Hill community is eternally grateful for all the extra hours you have put into making this place so special. From the small things you do, like embodying our traditions of dress code and our family-style sit-down lunch, to the formative experience of watching boys grow into men, everyone who has interacted with you is consistently impressed by your commitment to this wonderful school. The Panel wishes you the best of luck in your retirement and hopes that you and Mrs. Sweeney return to pay a visit now and again. ☐
Departing Faculty: Thank You Mr. Feldman!
By Brandon Li ’26 & Jaiden Lee ’26 Panel Staff
In his fifteen years of teaching mathematics at Belmont Hill, Mr. Stephen Feldman has left a lasting impact on the school. Whether explaining differential equations in his BC Calculus class, cracking jokes about setting up a zipline from his classroom to the Jordan, or coaching Varsity Alpine Skiing, Mr. Feldman has become a deeply respected and core member of the Belmont Hill community.
After obtaining his Bachelor’s Degree from Colby College and his Master’s Degree from Columbia University, Mr. Feldman set his sights on becoming a mathematics teacher, both due to his love for the subject and a keen interest in the psychology of teaching. In an interview with The Panel , he recalled: “Math is the academic subject that I was naturally drawn to, subject-wise, and I just found myself curious about the logical reasoning behind it all. The brain science behind how we learn things became very interesting to me as I learned about myself as a student; when choosing what to focus on when I entered the field of education, the obvious choice was math.”
Mr. Feldman’s strong passion for mathematics comes across in his teaching style, which is uniquely collaborative and focused on building intuition. Rather than simply lecturing, he encourages students to explore new concepts together and guides them with probing questions: “I try to make class -
es very discovery-based at all times; I never like to hand out information, but rather try to build scenarios where it’s easily discovered.” Mr. Feldman’s unique approach to teaching has made learning math a much more enjoyable and interactive experience for students. His classroom teaching style connects to his broader teaching philosophy about individual agency and confidence when tackling problems as an individual.
jump on. I am always impressed and thoroughly enjoy when somebody will work to explain something to a peer by curating it in a particular way, and it works.” When asked about a lesson that he would want his students to carry with them for the rest of their lives, Mr. Feldman replied: “Know what to do when you don’t know what to do. I think students should build a sense of agency and independence when doing challeng -
Mr. Feldman also reflected on some of the highlights of working in a community like Belmont Hill, stating that his favorite part of being a teacher has been observing how the students in his class fully grasped material by talking their way through a problem or explaining a concept to a classmate: “There are lots of times where I’m listening, and I hear somebody say something or explain a formula in a particular way that I really like, and I’ll
ing things. I think that’s something that is emphasized all over campus, and it’s something that I value immensely.” Mr. Feldman constantly expresses this viewpoint to his students as well, as he encourages them to not only nurture math skills but also problem-solving abilities that will aid them beyond the classroom.
Mr. Feldman is not only known across campus for his talents as a math teacher but also for his witty sense of humor and fun-loving pranks. He often
jokes about setting up a zipline from his math classroom in Eliot to the Jordan Athletic Center, and he advocates for using the infamous “Brownell Sleaze Method” when appropriate for solving a problem. He emphasizes that the relationships and connections he has made over the years have been one of his favorite aspects of teaching at Belmont Hill: “I think it’s really cool that each day of the year looks the same on paper, but each day is very much its own thing. In reality, it’s the relationships, conversations and interactions with students and colleagues I have that actually make up my day.” One of his most well-known pranks has been the “marker graveyard,” where any time the neighboring Mr. Brownell sends a kid to ask Mr. Feldman to borrow markers, Mr. Feldman always gives ones that are out of ink, or “dead.” When the unsuspecting Mr. Brownell inevitably sends kids back to ask for more markers, Mr. Feldman provides yet another unusable marker. When asked about these shenanigans, Mr. Feldman replied: “I’ve been doing it for fifteen years, and Mr. Brownell has still yet to catch on, so it makes me chuckle when kids come back two or three more times and we give them another one.” Mr. Feldman has made an impact on countless students over the years. We will be sad to see him go after many years of passionate teaching and coaching. The Panel would like to give a huge thank-you to Mr. Feldman for everything he has done for Belmont Hill and wishes him the best of luck in all of his future endeavors! ☐
An Exciting End to the Year: Senior Field Day
By Jack Ramanathan ’26 Panel Staff
To make up for missing their 7th-grade Roman & Greek Field Day because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Class of 2025 decided to bring it back—with a twist. Throughout the spring, seniors competed in a series of
Olympic-style games as one last fun, grade-wide event before leaving Belmont Hill. Events ranged from a quiz bowl to an egg-and-spoon race up and down the hill, and competition quickly got intense. Each advisory was hungry for the win, and things got so serious that at one point Mr. Grant even called out his own advisory’s poor perfor-
mance in front of the entire dining hall. With just a week of school left, the final event—Senior Field Day—had every advisory ready to give it everything they had. Between obstacle courses, races, and a dramatic game of tug-of-war (where the advisory with Ford Webb ’25 and Harrison Dewitt ’25 surprisingly lost), Mr. Speer’s advisory came
out on top. “I was extremely surprised,” said senior Jack Nolan ’25, a member of the winning advisory. “I never seriously considered that we had a chance to win.”
Although this was the first time the seniors put on a field day for themselves, it might just become a new tradition, especially with school president Grant Hanser ’26 leading the way next year. ☐
Mr. Feldman Teaching Math Class
Communications
Belmont Hill 2025 IBSC Conference Preview
By Suhas Kaniyar ’28 Panel Staff
During the 2025 summer, Belmont Hill will welcome the international boys’ school community as the host of the International Boys School Coalition (IBSC) Conference. This event is the product of years of work from certain staff, most especially Mr. Schneider and Ms. Larocque, and this event will have over 650 guests from around the globe! While hosting the event in itself is an incredible feat, what the Belmont Hill Community the information Belmont Hill learns will set the tone for the coming years of boys’ education across the globe.
The conference features a variety of speakers and presenters, all of whom will give traditional “Chapel Talks” or presentations. Some of the notable panelists are Shabana Basij-Rasikh, a world-renowned activist in the field of female education, Maud S. Mandel (Higher Education Panel), the President of Williams College and the author of numerous publications, Niobe
Way, a New York University Professor of Developmental Psychology, and Alan M. Garber (Higher Education Panel), the President of Harvard University. Aside from the speakers, Belmont Hill will offer numerous traditional school experiences, such as walks through the habitat, a visit to the woodshop studio, and a rowing trip on the esteemed Charles River. The event will conclude with a reception at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, where the school leaders will have dinner, dance, and explore exhibits. All the while, global leaders have the opportunity to traverse the famous streets and landmarks of Boston.
As for the impact of the conference, Head of School Mr. Schneider stated that he hopes the conference “offers us a chance to learn and grow with boys educators around the world, while also showcasing what we think is unique and special about Belmont Hill and the city of Boston.” Emphasizing the theme of learning, he also said that “IBSC is a wonderful source of professional growth for our faculty, and I trust by experienc -
ing the conference firsthand they will feel this in a new way.” When asked about the legacy of the conference, he believes it will shed light on the conference motto, Better Together. By showing the power of being a part of a school community, he wishes to encourage other schools to build on this momentum.
Ms. Larocque emphasized this message, stating, “Better Together inspires a sense of camaraderie, joy, and respect for our profession and work in serving boys.”
While the conference will take place this summer, the time to register as a volunteer is now! If you are interested,
please scan the attached QR code. 150 students and faculty have already volunteered, so if you are looking to meet new people and make an impact on the boys’ school climate, this is your chance to show what is great about Belmont Hill! All in all, the Belmont Hill community is excited for this extraordinary opportunity to meet with other leaders from around the world, and The Panel shares that sentiment! ☐
Departing Faculty: Dr. DeFraia and Mr. Ryan ’17
By Adrian Chen ’28 Panel Staff
As the school year comes to a close, Belmont Hill says goodbye to Dr. DeFraia, who stepped in as a sabbatical replacement for Dr. Tift in the English Department. When asked what brought him to Belmont Hill, Dr. DeFraia replied simply, “I needed a job!” But his time here has left a deeper impact than that modest answer suggests. Before joining Belmont Hill, Dr. DeFraia taught at Emerson College. Next year, he’ll begin teaching English at Malden Catholic, while also working to complete editing his book – “hopefully,” he adds. Sam Norden, ’28, a student in Dr. DeFraia’s English III class, when asked about his experience with him, claims, “[Dr. DeFraia] is a really passionate teacher. You could just tell that he cares about the students, and what he teaches”. Reflecting on his first impressions,
Dr. DeFraia noted, “They [the students] are smarter than I am,” a compliment to the intellectual spirit of our community.
His teaching philosophy incorporates independent thinking and involves the endeavor towards deeper analysis. “Don’t let anyone do your thinking for you,” he advises. “Choose your own words, create your own arguments… and have the humility to know when you are wrong.”
As a parting message, Dr. DeFraia leaves students with this encouragement: “Engage with the world. Stand for something. Fight a few battles… life is in the trying.” Though his time here was brief, Dr. DeFraia’s words and presence will linger. We thank him and wish him well on his next chapter. ☐
By Sam Leviton ’28 Panel Staff
The 2024-2025 school year is in its final stages, and Mr. Ryan ’17 will take off from Belmont Hill. Mr. Ryan spent
Mai Hassan on Sudan
By Bradford Adams ’26 Panel Staff
On April 24, award-winning MIT political science professor Mai Hassan came to Belmont Hill to speak about the ongoing conflict in South Sudan. Hassan spoke on the background of the war, how it affected the country’s population, and why it matters to Belmont Hill. She highlighted the human suffering the conflict caused and how the country had fallen due to poor leadership. Hassan graduated from Harvard with a PhD in government before becoming a political science professor at the University of Michigan, and then she was hired by MIT, where she currently works as an associate professor of political science. In 2020, she published “Regime Threats and State Solutions: Bureaucratic Loyalty and Embeddedness in Kenya,” which went on to receive the American Political Science Association’s 2021 Robert A. Dahl Award. Hassan opened her chapel by discussing the background to the ongoing conflict in Sudan, noting the oppressive dictatorship of Omar al-Bashir, as well as the
division of the country’s armed forces. She was introduced by students Yusuf Ibrahim ’25 and Babikir Saeed ’26, who each had family members in the affected areas. Both students discussed the impact the war had on their families and the destruction inflicted on their homes.
Hassan explained the intricacies of the conflict, such as the different groups, as well as the power struggle that led them to open conflict. While doing so, she emphasized the humanitarian efforts that struggle to provide provisions to suffering citizens, many of whom are refugees who lack basic necessities. ☐
six years at BH as a student and another four teaching geometry, Latin Alpha, intro to engineering, computer science 1, independent studies in computer science, and other advanced topics.
Mr. Ryan excelled at wrestling and rowing as a student. After returning as a teacher, he has coached both sports. Starting in the fall, Mr. Ryan will head to Northwestern to study engineering, design, and innovation in a two-year master’s program at the Segal Design Institute. Mr. Ryan’s three favorite memories here at school are robot day in 9thgrade computer science, winning the Graves Kelsey wrestling competition as a first-year coach, and attending graduation every year. When asked if he sees himself returning to BH, Mr. Ryan said he “definitely sees himself coming back.”
Mr. Ryan adds, though, that he would also like to try other things in the professional world, such as more advanced programming, engineering, and other higher level work in these areas. When asked what teaching here at
Belmont Hill as someone who attended the school, Mr. Ryan emphasized the meaningfulness of giving back to a community that did so much good for him. Mr. Ryan said he received so much from Belmont Hill, and giving that back to students is such a fantastic opportunity. Mr. Ryan also spoke to teaching alongside faculty who once taught him, saying, “Working alongside people who taught me is such an honor.” As a student and advisee of his for the past year, I can personally attest to Mr. Ryan’s amazing teaching skills and dedication to making every student feel supported and comfortable at our school. Mr. Ryan truly cares about all of his students. An athlete coached by Mr. Ryan stated that Mr. Ryan was always enthusiastic to be there and ready to help anyone. One of his students said, in an interview, “From the first day, you could tell Mr. Ryan has had a deep passion for his work.” Mr. Ryan will be sincerely missed, but we know he has great things ahead! ☐
Online Editor Ethan Xie ’26
Arts Editor Bradford Adams ’26
Sports Editor Will Hennigar ’26
Visual Media Director Will Sandor ’27
Lead InDesign Editor Ben Gong ’26
Editors-In-Chief
TZ Snail ’26
Jaiden Lee ’26
Executive Editors
Eli Norden ’26
Nathan Zhang ’26
Assistant Editors Liam MacLean ’27
Tyler Grossman ’27
Sam Leviton ’28
Sean Park ’28
Patrick Snail ’28
Adrian Chen ’28
Ryan Ho ’28
Ryan Li ’28
Staff Artists/writers
Faculty Advisors Paige Wallace Juliette Zener
News Editor
Jack Ramanathan ’26
Opinion Editor Will Achtmeyer 26
Long Form Editor
Rhett Curtis ’26
Jack Coughlin ’26
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 © 2023 The Panel. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission of the Editor-in-Chief. Published by the Belmont Printing Co., Belmont, MA 02478.
IBSC Conference Logo theibsc.org QR Code to IBSC Google Form Signup Link
Mai Hassan Chapel BH Communications
Suhas Kaniyar ’28
Brandon Li ’26
Faculty Ride the Prouty
By Tyler Grossman ’27 Panel Staff
This summer, Belmont Hill faculty members including Dr. Calloway, Mr. LaLiberte ’14, Mr. George, Mr. Ryan ’17, Mr. Trautz, and Ms. Wallace, will be participating in the Prouty Ride in honor of Mr. Bill Mahoney, a long-time member and supporter of the Belmont Hill community who passed away last summer from cancer.
On July 12th, riders will bike 100 miles through New Hampshire terrain to honor Mr. Mahoney–along with other Belmont Hill friends and families affected by cancer–and raise money for cancer research at the Dartmouth Cancer Center. When thinking about a way to recognize Mr. Mahoney, Mr. George and the other Belmont Hill faculty members thought that participating in the ride would be a great way to honor his legacy, given that Mr. Mahoney rode in the same event in 2011 in honor of Mr. Cliff Goodband, a former Belmont Hill Director of the Upper School
who also passed away from cancer. Mr. LaLiberte said he is “looking forward to doing something meaningful with my colleagues in memory of a great man.” Mr. George added that he knows of “many other Belmont Hill families who have lost people in recent years,” saying that he will “also have them in [his] mind” throughout the ride. A QR code to donate is shown below. ☐
Sustainability Club Update
By Nathan Zhang ’26 Panel Staff
The Belmont Hill Sustainability Club has concluded a successful year filled with impactful initiatives, research, and community engagement, with projects ranging from local cleanups to representing the school at the IBSC.
The club hosted local waste cleanups in three locations: The Fells in Winchester, Mystic Lake in Medford, and Farm Pond in Framingham. In collaboration with the Community Service Club, the club also held a fundraiser in support of Palisades High School in Los Angeles, which lost a significant amount of their infrastructure from the wildfires in January. The club raised nearly $2000, which went to the Palisades High School Band to pay for new instruments; ultimately, with those funds, the school was able to hold a concert.
This year, the Sustainability Club also sought to quantify the school’s carbon footprint. Through the school’s utility bill and a schoolwide transportation survey, the club put numbers to the school’s environmental impact. In 2024, the school burned over 118,000 therms of natural gas, releasing around 626 metric tons of CO₂, enough to heat more than 1,300 homes through a New England winter. It also consumed 2 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, but it obtains this energy through renewable sources. In the transportation survey, 70% of the student body reported that they get to school by car, creating 14 tons of CO₂ every week, the equivalent of 30,000 miles of driving. Next year, the club hopes to explore water
Poetry Fest Performances
By Ben Gong ’26 Panel Staff
The Belmont Hill community gathered on Friday, April 25th, for the 31st annual Poetry Fest, a celebration of poems that has become an established tradition at our school. After a highly selective process, ten finalists were chosen to perform at the Friday Chapel in front of the entire school. This year’s finalists included Will Achtmeyer ’26, performing “Never Mind” by Leonard Cohen; Alexander Isaac ’30, performing “The Gift Outright” by Robert Frost; Marco Pena ’28, performing “Achilles’ Speech in the Underworld”; Alex Chen ’27, performing “The Sunshine Kid” by Harry Baker; Ben Qin ’29, performing “The Laughing Heart” by Charles Bukowski; Andrew Agular ’28, performing “Walking Around” by Pablo Neruda; Nicky Jones ’26, performing “Intricately Woven” by Clive Norman; Ryan Ho ’28, performing “There are no Kings in America” by Aileen Cassinetto; Arun Lenhart ’29, performing “Preludes” by T.S. Eliot; and Babikir Saeed ’26, per-
forming “America” by Claude McKay.
Facing a tough decision after excellent performances by each of the finalists, the judges ultimately chose three winners: Marco Pena ’28, Alex Chen ’27, and Andrew Agular ’28. Marco Pena recited “Achilles’ Speech in the Underworld” in both Latin and the English translation— and both with equal passion and vigor. The rhythmic flow and flawless performance of “The Sunshine Kid” by Alex Chen elicited “mms” from a very entertained audience. Andrew Agular’s powerful delivery of “Walking Around” had pure emotion reverberating through the chapel. When reflecting on the winning performances, Adrian Tan ’25, one of last year’s Poetry Fest winners, said, “Marco Pena impressed us all with his fluency in Latin as well as dynamic voice. Alex Chen’s recitation speed was almost like rapping, and Andrew Agular fully conveyed the emotions in his poem.”
The Panel congratulates this year’s winners and finalists and looks forward to more breathtaking recitations in next year’s Poetry Fest! ☐
Alumni Reunion Weekend
and waste usage as well furthering the depth of the carbon footprint project.
The Sustainability Club also engaged in conferences, interacting and building relations with other schools’ clubs. In the James Tufts Pener environmental conference hosted in April, club members Alex Zhang ’26, Giacomo Turco ’26, and Nathan Zhang ’26 presented as keynote speakers.
Over March break, many club members attended a Sustainability Trip to Iceland, with a focus on renewable energy. Nearly 100% of Iceland’s electricity and heating comes from renewable sources—mostly geothermal and hydropower, a culture that the club hopes to spread and eventually have the school adopt in its construction of a new dining hall in the future.
Finally, the club helped plan for this summer’s IBSC conference to be a sustainable event. First, the club found truly sustainable metal water bottles, not just those made of recycled plastics, to achieve the school’s goals of reducing plastic water bottle waste while not generating more waste at the end of the event. The school decided to offset all carbon emissions, making this IBSC the first carbon-neutral one in its history.
Overall, the club has made major strides in making Belmont Hill a more sustainable place. The school has invested in green infrastructure upgrades, including semi-permeable pavement, EV chargers, heat pumps, and a solar-ready building. As Belmont Hill heads into the 2025-2026 school year, the Sustainability Club is eager to continue and expand on its climate action both on and off campus. ☐
By Suhas Kaniyar ’28 Panel Staff
Coat & tie, milk & cookies, Chapel talks, family-style lunches, and the waiter system are all fundamental aspects of Belmont Hill tradition. Among the most meaningful of post-graduate traditions is Reunion Weekend: a powerful reminder of the lasting brotherhood and connection that define the Belmont Hill community.
Following an opening reception on the day before that honored Mr. Sweeney’s retirement and Mr. Bradley and Mr. Montoya’s coaching achievements, Belmont Hill welcomed its alumni for Reunion Weekend on May 3rd.
The festivities kicked off with a luncheon and children’s activities at the Jordan Athletic Center, where alumni talked and caught up with each other while also eating some great food. Afterwards, Mr. Sweeney ‘83, a legendary and beloved teacher/coach, led a tour across the campus. All the while, a variety of athletic events took place, such as lacrosse, baseball, track & field, and tennis matches. The day resumed in the evening, with an Alumni & Faculty
Memorial Program held in the Hamilton Chapel. After about thirty minutes, the State of the School Address, presented by Ronald M. Druker ‘62 Head of School Mr. Schneider, occurred. To close out the day, the group was split into three categories: the Classes of 1980 - 2020 (intervals of 5 years), who enjoyed cocktails and dinner on the Chapel Lawn and Dining Hall, the Class of 1975, who had a reception and dinner at the Alumni House for their 50th anniversary, and the Grand Alumni (before 1975), who met in the MacPherson. Reflecting on Reunion Weekend’s significance, Mr. Schneider noted, “It’s special to witness the power and scope of brotherhood in a new way each year.” He emphasized the importance of “reconnecting with the physical space—including one’s panel—as it renews appreciation for the school’s lasting impact.” Returning alumni shared similar sentiments, as Mr. Holland ’05 said, the most meaningful part was “reliving those experiences from such an important time in your life.” For Mr. Montanaro ’20, the highlight was “sitting and having dinner at the cafeteria’s long table and talking like no time had passed.”
Alumni Reunion Weekend
Prouty Bike Ride Poster
Google Images Poetry Fest Performers
BH Communications
Artist of the Issue: Photographer JJ Pena ’26
By Jaiden Lee ’26 Panel Staff
JJ Pena ’26 has been heavily involved in photography for several years, creating countless portraits and pieces of human subjects, nature, sports, and more. Surprisingly, JJ first got into photography through skateboarding; JJ stated, “When I was in grade/middle school, I used to skateboard all the time, which prompted me to get my first camera—the GoPro Hero 10—so that I could record myself and my friends skateboarding. Sadly, after falling quite a bit, I became tired of all the bruises and aches that came with it, so I quit, but I still had the GoPro. After going on a trip and documenting it through video with my GoPro, I realized I enjoyed capturing moments more than riding the skateboard itself.” After JJ got home from the trip, he found an old camera his mom had previously used, prompting him to explore photography more deeply. During his freshman year, he decided to drop digital music production to fulfill his passion for photography. In his words, “Three years, five cameras, and over 100,000 pictures later, I am still going strong, doing the thing I loved.”
When asked about his favorite aspects of being a photographer, JJ stated that he loved the freedom the art form offered, as he could capture whatever and whomever he wanted. JJ added that his love for photography grew as he discovered his true purpose of being a photographer: “There tend to be two categories of photos: photos that the photographer is proud of, and photos that everybody else likes. At the beginning of my journey, I catered to what everybody else
liked—sharp, clear images, usually depicting whoever paid me to take it. The photos were made well in the technical sense, but they lacked something—the why: the reason I took the photo in the first place. Once I started finding photos with a ‘why,’ something clicked.” JJ further elaborated that his niche soon became environmental portraiture, believing his best work would come from nature photos. However, JJ also emphasized his love of capturing human portraits, stating, “Despite my love for environmental photography, I think my favorite photo is a high-exposure portrait of a man in Chinatown where a gate is out of focus in the foreground. It’s a well-done photo in a technical sense,
ROTS Returns to Theaters
By Liam MacLean ’27 Panel Staff
In honor of its 20th anniversary, starting in late April, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith was released to theaters for the first time since May 19th, 2005. Revenge of the Sith is the third and final prequel movie to the Star Wars franchise, and follows Anakin Skywalker’s battle against the dark side. Anakin, a Jedi knight, seeks to save Chancellor Palpatine from the clutches of the Separatists, with the guidance of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Once rescued, Anakin begins growing closer to the Chancellor, too close in the eyes of the Jedi. However, Anakin starts to have visions of Padme Amidala’s death during the childbirth of her and Anakin’s twin children, and looks for any way to save her. Palpatine reveals his true identity, Darth Sidious, a Sith lord, and shows the powers of the dark side, specifically the ability to save loved ones from death. Anakin turns on ObiWan and the Jedi, becoming Darth Vader, and setting up the storyline of A New Hope, the first of the original trilogy. Fans crowded the theaters, showing their love for the 20-year-old movie, though at one point in time, this movie received a very different response. Upon their release in the late ’90s and 2000s, the fanbase was very critical of the prequel movies. Some said that they didn’t live up to the original movies, a few critiqued Hayden Christensen’s acting as Anakin, and others simply hated the movies just because of Jar Jar Binks. No matter the reason, there was a consensus at the time that prequels were no match for the cinemat -
ic masterpieces of the original trilogy. As time went on, however, and those who were just kids during the release of the prequels grew up, public opinion about the movies began to change. A new wave of Star Wars fans emerged, a group that valued the prequels as much as the original trilogy. Hayden Christensen, who was once despised for “embarrassing the Star Wars franchise,” was suddenly seeing admiration and support for movies released many years previously. This rerelease is now one of the most successful in history, earning $42.2 million in the box office in its first weekend. It is on pace to pass Titanic, to officially claim the title of most successful rerelease, compared to its $22.3 million made in the first weekend. Though it took two decades, the Star Wars fanbase has finally come to appreciate the prequels for the valuable films that they are, showing love to Hayden Christensen and the films as a whole upon the incredibly successful rerelease of Revenge of the Sith. ☐
but I think it means a little more beneath the surface. As one can imagine, it is a little awkward and nerve-racking to take photos of random people on the streets sneakily; this photo represents a core memory for me as I built up the confidence to approach people for making art.” JJ also mentioned that this was his first photo where he fully “sent it” and simply took the picture without stressing over the outcome. He added that the photo marked a definitive moment where he started to trust himself to make good photography pieces. Regarding his inspiration for taking photos, JJ stated that Mr. Duarte significantly influenced his work. JJ remarked, “I will start by saying that
Mr. Duarte is an amazing photographer, which is inspiring, but it’s not why I look up to him. I know Mr. Duarte’s photo journey has been far from easy, and to do what he loves despite his challenges is incredible. He had a very independent nature–he shoots what he wants, which is simple. I also admire his success in choosing such a volatile career path and sticking to it to this day.” JJ emphasized that he was impressed by Mr. Duarte’s confidence in finding his niche because of his challenges in doing the same: “Every photographer has to pick a niche, whether it be weddings, sports, or journalism. You can’t just do everything simply because you will not get hired. I think that’s the first big difficulty because, as a photographer, there is so much inspiration everywhere, and it’s so hard to choose one topic; essentially, it’s pointless to have a portfolio of work with no connection to each other.”
When asked about JJ, fellow photographer Will Sandor ’27, stated, “I think it’s great that he gets involved in a lot of school events as well and can connect his passion for photography with something within the community too.” JJ has stated that the BH community is something he holds close to his heart, with over half of the 100,000 photos he has taken being captured at Belmont Hill, whether it be sports games, Chapels, or anything in between. Looking into the future, JJ plans to continue his photography pursuits but is also excited about branching into other art forms like rock music and bass guitar. The Panel wishes JJ the best of luck in his artistic endeavors and thanks him for his many contributions to the school community.☐
BH 5/13 Spring Concert
By Ryan Ho ’28 & Patrick Snail ’28 Panel Staff
On Tuesday, May 13, Belmont Hill hosted the Spring Concert, a culmination of the hard work all the bands had done throughout the school year. The orchestra opened with renditions of “Bittersweet Symphony” by The Verve and Oblivion by Astor Piazzolla, with clarinet player Ernest Lai ’25 starring as the lead soloist. Led by Zach Park ’28’s incredible vocals, and joined by members of the Upper School Jazz Band and Jazz Combo, the orchestra closed with “Remember Me” from the movie Coco. The Middle School Rock Band followed with a sublime performance of their own, playing “Sweet O’ Child of Mine” by Guns N’ Roses. Sebastien Vuono ’28 opened the song with its distinctive introductory riff, and Arun Lenhart ’29 jumped in with the vocals shortly after. Next came the Jazz Combo playing the One Note Samba by Antonio Carlos Jobim, with soloists Jake Ma ’27, Babikir Saeed ’26, and David Luo ’25 all showcasing their skills on the trumpet. Per its name, the “One Note Samba” has a catchy melody of one note, and the Jazz Combo was able to play it masterfully without making it too repetitive. Next up, the Upper School Rock Band performed “Layla” by Eric Clapton, led by Will Skordos ’27 and Morgan Rich ’27 playing another iconic riff, and Alex Tosi ’25, who displayed his variety of talents as he both sang and played the tambourine. After, the Middle School Jazz Ensemble played “Treasure” by Bruno Mars, Ari Levine, Philip Lawrence, and Phredley Brown. With Patrick Gaulin
The Concert Adam Richins as the guest musician and notable solos from Ben Qin ’29, Jiajia Shen ’30, and Joseph Gallagher ’30, the famous pop song was a hit at the concert. The Upper School Jazz Ensemble finished off the instrumental part of the concert, playing “Impressions” by John Coltrane and “Pick Up The Pieces” by Average White Band. Patrick Gaulin also helped as a guest musician to help with percussion. All Upper School Jazz players were able to perform solos. Lastly, the B-flats were called upon to finish off the night. Before the entire choir joined them on stage, Alex Tosi ’25 and Thomas Sheehan ’25 sang a stunning rendition of “Man or Muppet” from The Muppets, describing the internal struggle of a “very manly Muppet” and a “Muppet of a man.” After the duet, the B-flats lit up the room with three uplifting gospel songs: “Smile” by Kirk Franklin, “Could’ve Been” by Kirk Franklin, and “The Best Is Yet to Come” by Donald Lawrence. The Panel congratulates all Belmont Hill bands for a great year! ☐
JJ Pena ’26 Performing at the Spring Concert
Adam Richins Photography
B Flats Music Awards
Instrumental Music Prize
Ensemble Award
Diversity Leadership Award
Extracuriculars & Arts
Thomas Sheehan, Alex Tosi, Alexandre White, Wes Lindstrom-Chalpin, Isaiah Langham, Nicholas Pellagrini, Jordan Summers, Charlie Crowley, Ashton Cruz, Henry Hagedorn, Myles Beckett
Wesley Zhu, Yareh Constant
Wesley Zhu, Ernest Lai, Yareh Constant, Alex Tosi, Adrian Tan, David Luo
Chibudom Ezeani, Henry Hagedorn, Yusuf Ibrahim, James Keefe, Babikir Saeed, Eli Norden, Thomas Sheehan
Woodbury Public Speaking Prize Ross McKee (Fall), Alex Tosi (Spring)
Hayden G. Coon Drama Prize
Paul J. Zofnass ’65 Environmental Award
Thomas Folan, Juan Pablo Fernández del Castillo, Stephen Agular
Thomas Danahy, Alex Zhang
Hampers Lyceum Award William Achtmeyer
Edward M. Burt Community Service Award
William Achtmeyer, Myles Beckett, Griffin Calhoun, Matthew Carolan, Thomas Danahy, Rylan Dean, Juan Pablo Fernández del Castillo, Nicholas Fiumura, Connor Goodband, Michael Hadley, Henry Hagedorn, Albert Hanser, Suhas Kaniyar, Jack Kastner, Ross McKee, Vincent Mezzanotte, Scott Moreau, Brady Paquette, Nicholas Pellagrini, Jack Ramanathan, Tyler Smith, Patrick Snail, Timothy Snail, Davis Woolbert, Alex Zhang
Max Warburg Community Service Award Giacomo Kaplan
Global Citizenship Award Alejandro Laidlaw, James Keefe
Angelo Togneri Art Prize Andrew Waugh
Thomas Photography Prize CJ Fortes, Adrian Chen
Panel Prize Henry Buckley-Jones
Athletics
Babe Ruth Sportsmanship Award Myles Beckett
Red and Blue Key Society
Darren D. Gallup Three Sport Athlete Award
Dininar Alpers, William Butler, George Carroll, Daniel Chen, Caleb Collins, Ashton Cruz, Harrison Dewitt, Thomas Dolan, Henry Dow, Nicholas Fantasia, Eliot Fritz, Noah Gleason, Josiah Gomes, Albert Hanser, Mason Iandiorio, Jack Kastner, Coby Kelly, Kenneth Largess, Samuel Leviton, Reis Little, John Mazur, Christopher McEvoy, Vincent Mezzanotte, Scott Moreau, John Pena, Ryan Pohl, Jai Somani,William Walton, Alex Zhang
Myles Beckett, Henry Buckley-Jones, Luis-Maximilian Kuehberger, Ross McKee, Sampson Onuoha, Ryan Pohl, Maksim Roman, Adam Shaff, Jordan Summers, Charles Webb, Davis Woolbert
Charles F. Kenney ’06 Prize Jack Kastner
Independent School League Award of Excellence Sampson Onuoha
Classics
Maureen O’Donnell Book Award
Samuel Flood, Eita Fuse, Jaiden Lee, Gabriel Umlas, Maxwell Ramanathan, Ethan Xie, Brandon Li
Jared Waterbury Scudder Latin Prize Eita Fuse
Modern Language
Spanish Prize Eli Norden
French Prize Cotter Healey, Babikir Saeed
Raymund A. Kathe Prize (Asian Studies) Jackson Hurd
History
Downes History Prize Henry Hagedorn, Alejandro Laidlaw
Form IV History Prize Morgan Rich, William Trautz
Middle School
Middle School Public Speaking Prize Suhas Kaniyar (Fall), Patrick Snail (Spring)
Prospector Prize Tristan Dolan, James Chaytors, Decker Smith, Owen Goodband
Middle School Drama Award Tadhg O’Sullivan, Jack Egan, Evan Gerber Hill Prize Adrian Chen, Patrick Snail
Newell Howes Morton Award John Creedon
Form I - Adil Adem, John Brady, Finnegan Dean, Jack Irwin, Wes Peterson, Alexander Isaac
Middle School Award of Merit
Citizenship Award
Form II - Charles Baker, Finn Davis, Robert Hassell,Bradley Kaufman, Tadhg O’Sullivan, Eli Waldeck, Weston Wild
Form III- Ryan Ho, Samuel Leviton, Daniel Ivester, Noah Marrero, CJ Fortes, Field Boney
Lowrey Helena Weiser Funk Award Stephane Durocher
Mathematics
Xie, Eita Fuse Clifford Goodband Biology
Curtin, Dean Lundquist
Willey Sextant Prize for Creative Writing
S. Robinson English Prize
General Mark A. Milley ’76
Upper School
Davis, Jack Ramanathan
Chen, Ky-Mani Monteiro, William Skordos Form V Book Prizes
Senior Awards
Li (Harvard), Jaiden Lee (Harvard), Timothy Snail (Williams), Mason Iandiorio (Yale)
Musical Talent Showcased at Studio Recitals
By Ryan Li ’28 Panel Staff
The Music Department hosted its annual year-end studio recitals during the three days of April 29th, April 30th, and May 6th. The music featured a diverse selection of musical genres, from jazz to pop to classical. This year, the recitals displayed not only private lesson students, but also members of the B-Flats and Mr. Patterson’s Piano I class, totaling roughly sixty performers.
The first night began with voice, guitar, and piano. The performances opened with Sam Hastings ’30 playing “Tale of the Troubadour” on the guitar before diving into a variety of genres. There were plenty of vocals, with several members of the B-Flats finishing their final solos of the year. On guitar, Pierce Courtney ’28 even debuted his own song, something he had been working on all year. Students of Mr. Patterson’s Piano I class were also present, showcasing the talents they had discovered throughout the year.
The following day, the recital doors opened once more, this time
featuring alto saxophone, voice, and piano. There were plenty of B-Flats performers, with highlights being Thomas Sheehan ’25 singing “Otherside” by The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Alex Tosi’s solo of “Con te Partiro.” On the jazz side, the saxophone students played beautifully, the night ending with an impressive performance from Brandon Li ’26 of “Footprints” by Wayne Shorter. The piano students performed both classical and pop, the saga finishing
with Jianji Hou ’28 playing “Sonata #5 in C minor, Movement 1” by Beethoven.
The final night also featured plenty of instruments, including drums, trumpet, voice, piano, and guitar. The students on the drums performed pop, rock, and even jazz, with songs such as “Iron Zion Lion” by Bob Marley, “Dynamite” by Taio Cruz, or even “Song for My Father” by Horace Silver. This variety was exemplified throughout the night, next with the two trumpeters displaying
two contrasting genres. First, James Palumbo ’28 showcased a moving performance of “Edelweiss” from The Sound of Music, while Jake Ma ’27 presented the introduction from Carnival of Venice by Jean Arban, the two pieces over a century apart. Continuing the classical theme, Rylan Flynn ’27, another member of Mr. Patterson’s Piano class, performed “Minuet by Bach.” Members of the B-Flats continued their solos, joined by students taking vocal lessons, with a variety of artists represented from Carroll Coates to Billy Joel, and even Zach Bryan. When asked about the studio recitals, Mr. Fiori responded saying, “They’re great. It’s an interesting mix because you’ve got some kids who are beginners on their instruments and others who have more years of experience. We have jazz music, classical music, and pop music. Everything’s kind of covered in it. It’s a nice mix of genres.”
Overall, this year’s studio recitals are ones to remember. They were a huge step-up compared to previous recitals, with the increase in performers showing Belmont Hill’s ever-growing musical talent. ☐
Folan ’25 Takes the Directors Chair in Senior Play
By Liam MacLean ’27 Panel Staff
This spring, students led by Thomas Folan ’25 organized and performed a comedy titled, “13 Ways to Screw Up a College Interview.” Jai Somani ’26 and Thomas Folan played the main roles, with a majority senior cast, and Max Dow ’25 and CJ Collins ’25 running the tech. In the middle of March, Tommy reached out to a group of seniors, along with a few fourth and fifth formers who were previously active in Belmont Hill theater productions, presenting the idea for this play. After establishing a group of students, Tommy decided on this script written by Ian McWethy, and obtained the rights to perform the play.
Roles were decided, rehearsals got underway, and the preparation officially began. For a month, the students met twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays at X block, which is a relatively short period of preparation for a production. Furthering the rush in the preparation, two of the cast members who had originally said yes could no longer perform, leading to a last-minute search for two roles to fill. Tommy sent out emails, and some parts had to be cut or altered, all of which led to more hastened preparations for the seniors. Nicholas Jones ’26 and Mr. Conway, for example, took up their roles very close to the show date, and both “did excellent jobs during the performance, despite picking up the role so late in production,” said
Senior Directed Play Mr. Chittock
Patrick Nolan ’27, a fellow cast member. On Thursday, May 15th, the play took place, a production following the admission process at an unnamed university. Two admissions officers realize that they are one admitted student short at the end of the process and must
speedily select one application from the waiting list, or they will be fired. The officers, played by Jai Somani and Tommy Folan, hold multiple last-minute interviews in order to decide who should gain admission. The meetings don’t go as seamlessly as they had hoped, however. Each student has a specific idiosyncrasy, making the interviews confusing, and ultimately complicating the decision. One student, Harold, played by Boston Ezedi ’26, has a rare condition known as “Chronaquestimixidous,” which makes it so that he understands each question asked of him as a completely different, often peculiar question. Thus, despite his otherwise qualified application, his quirk makes for a cumbersome interview, which leads the interviewers rethink his admission. In the end, the play concludes in a cliffhanger, where the audience is still unclear as to who gained admission. The seniors worked effortlessly to create an enjoyable experience for our community, with congratulations from Mr. Masiiwa and Mr. Sherman’s praise, calling it “great fun!”. The Panel thanks Tommy Folan and the entire cast for their hard work this spring, and congratulates them for such a successful production. ☐
Notable Quotes from the Senior Play
Ben: “You see, for reasons I can’t entirely explain to you at this moment, it is vital that I attend this University. I’ve been meticulously planning for this day, years of SAT prep, AP classes, all in the hopes of being accepted. I was intending to hear an answer today.”
Interviewer 1: “Well, I’m sorry, I... don’t have the authority to just let you in right now.”
Ben: “There are forces at play here friend, forces that you cannot possibly comprehend.”
Harold: “you didn’t just ask to see my mother in a two-piece bathing suit, did you?”
Iinterviewer 1: “No, I didn’t.”
Harold: “Allow me to explain. I have an extremely rare disorder known as “Chronaquestimixidous.” It’s a neurological condition which renders incapable of hearing a question... correctly.”
Interviewer 1: “So, what kind of extra-curricular activities are you interested in?”
Harold: “Seventh grade, Melissa Bloch. We both had braces, it was kind of awkward.”
Interviewer 1: “What’s your favorite subject in school?”
Harold: “I would take South Pike road.”
Studio Recitals
Mr. Fiori
Mr. Bradley Inducted into MA Wrestling Hall of Fame
By Tyler Grossman ’27 Panel Staff
On April 5, 2025, after 38 years of guiding the Belmont Hill wrestling program, Mr. Bradley was inducted into the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Mr. Bradley was first introduced to the sport in fourth grade in an elementary school PE class. Then, in the 7th grade at the Kingswood Oxford School in Connecticut, he joined the wrestling team, for which he would become a key member over the next six years, even becoming team captain. However, his journey as a wrestler concluded after high school as he chose not to pursue the sport in college.
After college, Mr. Bradley decided that he wanted to give back to the sport he grew up loving. He decided to do this by begining to coach wrestling at the youth level beginning at the Fessenden School in Newton. Bradley joined Belmont Hill and the low-ranked wrestling program in 1987. One of the main rea -
T&F Win ISL
By Tyler Grossman ’27 Panel Staff
Belmont Hill Track and Field concluded a very successful season with its second ISL Championship in three years and a multitude of new school records. The first school record broken was the 4x100 record that had stood for nearly 14 years, which was snapped twice this season. The current record time was broken by Jordan Summers ’25, Luis Kuehberger ’25, Ross McKee ‘25, and Ashton Cruz ’25 with a time of 43.09 FAT. Justin Li ’26 also created a new Belmont Hill record, running a time of 15.05 FAT in the 110m hurdles. At the NEPSAC Class A championships at Deerfield the tem took fourth place with multiple athletes finishing on the podium in their events. This included Josiah Gomes ’25 in both the shot put and discus, Justin Li ’26 in the 110 hurdles, and Sampson Onuoha ’25 in shot put. The record breaking 4x100 team also took third place in their race The Panel would like to congratulate the Track and Field team on an excellent championship season. ☐
sons that he decided to take the job at Belmont Hill was because he knew the program needed to be built. Over the next 10 years, he began the long climb to build the program to championship standards within the ISL. In 1997, the hard work came to fruition when they won the ISL Graves-Kelsey Tournament in what remains one of Mr. Bradley’s favorite coaching memories. Since that first championship, the team has had tremendous success. They have won the
Graves-Kelsey Tournament 17 times, the ISL Dual Meet championship 19 times, and the New England tournament six times. On January 22, 2022 in a meet against Roxbury Latin School, Mr Bradley captured his 500th win and number that has continued to balloon over the past few seasons. In addition to the impressive team success that occurred during Mr. Bradley’s tenure, he has also helped many boys accomplish incredible individual success. 27 Belmont Hill wres -
tlers have earned All-American honors at the National Prep school tournament, many of who continued wrestling at the next level in college. When asked about being inducted into the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Mr. Bradley, who is more comfortable out of the spotlight, said, “It is really an honor for the whole program and the work of a lot of different people. It is a team effort.” He specifically shouted out his fellow coaches, Dr. Davis, Mr. Sullivan ’07, Mr. Ryan ’17, Mr. Messina, Mr. Williams, and Mr. Leonardis, along with many other members of the coaching staff, for their efforts over the years. Isaac Novod ’27, a member of the program for three years, three-time Graves Kelsey champ, two-time Prep New England Champion, and two-time National Prep School All-American, said, “Mr. Bradley is a great coach who puts his all into Belmont Hill Wrestling for each and every member of the team. He is very deserving of this honor.” The Panel would like to congratulate Mr. Bradley on his accomplishments. ☐
Lacrosse Champions Again Sailing Wins
By Tyler Grossman ’27 & Will Hennigar ’26 Panel Staff
On Sunday, May 18th, the Belmont Hill lacrosse team beat Tabor 8-7 in a thrilling game that was decided in overtime. The team was led to victory by a game-winning goal by Captain Lindan Verville ’25, three goals from both Trey Clayton ’26 and John Lynch ’27, coupled with stellar defensive and face-off efforts. In victory, Belmont Hill defended its ISL title from last year and gave the Sextants their league-leading 15th championship overall.
The team caught fire after dropping its first two games of the season
against talented non-conference opponents Deerfield and Choate, going 15-1 in its remaining games. This run had multiple impressive wins, including a win against rival St. Sebastian’s, which required Belmont Hill to score eight unanswered goals to erase an 11-5 deficit entering the fourth quarter. During this run they also captured impressive victories over Nobles, Avon Old Farms and IMG Academy. As the top seed in the playoffs, Belmont Hill beat a talented Thayer 17-8 in the quarterfinals and held off Rivers 15-12 in the semis to advance to the championship game against Tabor. The Panel would like to congratulate the lacrosse team on a remarkable season. ☐
By Tyler Grossman ’27
Panel Staff
Belmont Hill sailing completed one of its most successful seasons ever this spring, which included multiple championships and an 8-2 overall record. After being forced to rally multiple times, the team captured its second-ever Mass Bay B division championship in team racing. In the semifinals, the third-seeded Belmont Hill team came from down 2-0 to upset Marblehead by winning the final three races in the best-of-five series to advance to the finals. In the finals against Nantasket, they were once again pushed to a fifth game, ultimately triumphing again. This championship has promoted them to the A division next year, where they will continue to be led by talented underclassmen skippers Roger Wellington ’28, James Chaytors ’28, and Ty Jarvis ’27. Additionally, the team also won the Massachussetts Fleet Race Championship and the Donald Green Regatta. The Panel would like to congratulate the sailing team on an outstanding season on the water. ☐
Athlete of the Issue: Jordan Summers ’25
By Justin Li ’26 Panel Staff
Running clean routes on the gridiron and exploding past competitors on the track, three-sport Varsity athlete Jordan Summers ’25 has completed an illustrious athletic career at Belmont Hill. Jordan captained both the Belmont Hill Varsity Football and Track teams this year. He is “really looking forward” to playing Division III football at Amherst College in the fall. Jordan is no stranger to working hard and seeing results. He started track in his sophomore year and has contributed to two ISL championships (2023 and 2025), running the 4x100 and the 100m. Jordan has also been on the ISL-winning and NEPSAC Bowl Champion football teams, and has contributed in all three phases of the game whether as cornerback, wide reciever or returning kicks. His leadership and sportsmanship earned him the Henry B. Sawyer Sportsmanship Award. Jordan was
also named all-ISL and all-NEPSAC 1st team for his performance in the fall. In addition to his accomplishments on the field and track, Jordan also spent three years as a vital member of the varsity basketball team. While Jordan’s individual accolades are many, his effort as part of the team is even greater.“My favorite moment…is easily breaking the 4x100 meter relay record at Deerfield Academy [during the 2025 NEPSTA D1 cham -
pionship],” he shared. As the first leg of the relay, Jordan led the team of himself, Luis Kuehberger ’25, Ross McKee ’25, and Ashton Cruz ’25 to run the race in 43.09 seconds, obliterating Belmont Hill’s previous record of 43.46 that had stood since 2011. Jordan attributes the success to a “culmination of a lot of hard work, dedication, and teamwork over the years.”While Jordan himself exemplifies the ‘and then some’ motto of the
Track team, he also recognizes the hard work and dedication of the entire team: “I love how connected the track team is, especially this year…everyone supports each other and gives it their all.”
With the next level of football on the horizon, Jordan is excited to follow in the footsteps of some “really great people” from the BH community who went to Amherst. The Panel wishes him the best of luck. ☐
The Lacrosse Team Adam Richins
Mr. Bradley Adam Richins
Jordan Summers ’25
Adam Richins
BH Alumni Student-Athlete Spotlights - Class of ’24
By Wiliam Hennigar ’26 Panel Staff
Hockey
Jake McManus ’24 Williams College Forward | #6
Jake McManus ’24 appeared in 24 games as a freshman, scoring 7 goals and tallying 11 assists for the Ephs. Additionally, on February 3, McManus was recognized as NESCAC Player of the Week after scoring 2 goals and 1 assist in wins against Connecticut College and Tufts.
Jake was a captain of the 2024 Belmont Hill team that had a very successful campaign, and he won the ISL Championship in hockey as a member of the 2023 team.
Brady Miller ’24
Boston College
Left-Handed Pitcher | #23
Brady Miller ’24 appeared in 15 regular season games as a freshman for the Boston College Eagles and started in 11 games. He compiled a 4-1 record with a 3.81 ERA (Earned Run Average). Brady started for Boston College at Fenway Park when they played the University of Miami and pitched 7 spectacular shutout innings. BC finished
their regular season campaign and beat talented Notre Dame and Virginia teams in the ACC Baseball Championship Tournament, and played North Carolina in the Quarterfinals last Friday. Brady was a star pitcher during his time at Belmont Hill, captain for the 2024 Belmont Hill baseball team, and also won an ISL Championship in 2023.
Princeton University Defense |
Finn Fox ’24 appeared in 15 games as a freshman, collected 8 ground balls, and caused 4 turnovers for the Tigers this past season. Princeton was the 3rd ranked team in the country this past season before losing a thrilling contest against Syracuse in the NCAA Quarterfinals. Finn was a four-year member of the Belmont Hill lacrosse team, accomplished an unofficial 2021 ISL championship and captain of the 2024 team that won the ISL Championship.
BH Sports Championships & Senior Commitments
Team Accolades:
Football: NEPSAC Champions
Squash: ISL Champions
Nordic Skiing: Lakes Region Champions
Track & Field: ISL Champions
Sailing: Mass Bay League Champions
Wrestling: ISL Champions
Alpine Skiing: ISL Champions
Lacrosse: ISL Champions
Crew: NEIRA Champions
Varsity Undefeated Season
1V4+ NEIRA Course Record
Class of 2025 Sports Commitments:
Football: Amherst College Colby College
Duke University (2)
Hamilton College
Middlebury College (2)
Princeton University Union College (2)
Soccer: Bowdoin College
Carleton College
Basketball: Bates College
Brown University
Emory University
Squash: Bowdoin College
Connecticut College
Williams College
Hockey: St. Michael’s College
Wrestling: Washington & Lee University
Baseball: College of William & Mary
Lacrosse: Brown University
Cornell University
Colby College
St. Lawrence University
MIT
Middlebury College
University of Vermont
University of Virginia Williams College College of Wooster
Crew:
Dartmouth College (2)
Georgetown University
Tufts University
Track & Field:
George Washington University
Trinity College University of Virginia
Brady Miller ’24
Sports Illustrated
Finn Fox ’24
Princeton Athletics
Jake McManus ’24
Williams College
Baseball
Lacrosse Finn Fox ’24
#18
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Crew Ends in Style: Sweeping the NEIRA Regatta
By Patrick Snail ’28 Panel Staff
On May 25th, only a day after the last classes of the 2024-2025 school year, the Belmont Hill Crew team traveled to Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester for the New England Interscholastic Rowing Association (NEIRA) Championship. The team had optimistic hopes going into NEIRAs, as all four boats competing boasted the first seed in their respective events: Boys 1v4 (1st varsity 4), 2v4, 3v4, and 4v4. Fortunately for Belmont Hill, the boys did not disappoint. First, the 4v4 finished first in their race, crossing the line three seconds before Nobles and twenty-five seconds faster than CRLS in third, punching their ticket to the finals. Only a little over an hour later, the 3v4 beat out second-place Brooks and third-place Taft by six and eleven seconds, respectively, earning themselves a finals berth. Next up, the 2v4 handled their race and finished eight seconds before Hotchkiss in second, placing them in the finals. Lastly, the 1v4 won
their heat by three seconds over Groton, granting them a spot in the finals.
Like the qualifying heats, the finals were pure dominance. The 4v4 set the tone with a hard-fought finals race, pulling away from Nobles in the back half of the race and beating them by just over a second. Following this, the 3v4 walked over their competition, beating second-place Groton by twelve seconds. Up next, much like the 4v4, the 2v4 pulled away from Nobles halfway through the race and finished first, five seconds ahead of them. Finally, the 1v4 annihilated the competition in their race, beating second-place Brooks by seven seconds, and setting a new course record of 4:41.603, breaking the old record by three seconds.
This year is one of four instances in which a crew wins all four races at NEIRAs, sweeping the competition: 2008 by BH, 2010 by BH, 2013 by BH, and 2025 by BH. The Panel would like to congratulate the crew team for their win and wish them luck at Youth Nationals this June! ☐
1V4+ with Coaches after Finals
Crew Parents
Crew Team Post NEIRA Sweep
Senior Destinations
As of May 31st
Amherst College
Babson College (2)
Bates College
Boston College (4)
Boston University
Bowdoin College (4)
Brigham Young University
Brown University (2)
Carleton College
Colby College (4)
College of the Holy Cross
College of William & Mary (2)
College of William & Mary/St. Andrews (UK)
College of Wooster
Colorado College
Connecticut College
Cornell University
Dartmouth College (3)
Duke University (3)
Emory University
George Washington University (2)
Hamilton College
Harvard College (2)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2)
Miami University (Ohio)
Middlebury College (4)
Northeastern University (3)
Princeton University
Quinnipiac University
St. Lawrence University
St. Michael’s College
Stanford University
Syracuse University
Trinity College (2)
Tufts University
University of California - Berkeley
University of Chicago (3)
University of Massachusetts - Lowell
University of Michigan
University of Notre Dame (2)
University of Pennsylvania
University of Southern California
University of St. Andrews (UK)
University of Vermont
University of Virginia (2)
Vanderbilt University
Villanova University
Wake Forest University (3)
Washington & Lee University
Williams College (2)