Congressman Pat Ryan Speaks At Chapel
By Bradford Adams ’26 Panel Staff
On September 13, 2024, Representative Pat Ryan stepped onto the chapel stage and began by revealing his insider knowledge about Belmont Hill: students don’t like St. Sebastians, and love Milk and Cookies. Mr. Ryan’s introduction set the tone for the rest of his speech. Despite his somewhat intimidating role as a representative and combat veteran, he was candid, kind, and articulate. In light of our current struggles as a nation, Mr. Ryan focused his speech on how to stop the growing political divide in our country and emphasized that the next generation of leaders must show compassion for one another, even if they do not agree on policy.
Mr. Ryan was born and raised in Kingston, New York, some 90 miles north of New York City. After graduating high school, he enrolled in the United States Military Academy. While attending West Point, the whole nation witnessed the horrors of the September 11th terrorist attacks. Upon graduation, Mr. Ryan served two tours in Iraq as an intelligence officer. Following five years in the military, Mr. Ryan founded Praescient Analytics, a company that identifies the strong and weak points of a company’s
technological systems, before running for Congress for the first time in 2018. Although unsuccessful, he ran for political office again in 2019 as County Executive in his home county and won the election. After his three-year term as County Executive, Mr. Ryan ran as the Representative for New York’s 19th district and narrowly won the election with 51.1% of the vote. He beat out his opponent, Republican Marc Molinaro, by just over 2000 votes. Mr. Ryan currently represents New York’s 18th district after a redrawing of districts and serves on the House Armed Services Committee and House Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure Committee.
Mr. Ryan touched upon two members of his West Point class, John James and Wesley Hunt, his peers in the House. Although both are Republicans and he is a Democrat, they are able to have discussions about policy while maintaining a close relationship. He emphasized that people are more than their political views and that having friends with different opinions is beneficial.
Mr. Ryan explained how civil discourse is crucial to the continuation of democracy, adding how social media furthers the growing divide between Democrats and Republicans. He en -
couraged Belmont Hill to continue engaging in civil discourse and difficult conversations while not identifying each other based solely on political beliefs. Furthermore, Mr. Ryan noted that in order to have a say, citizens have to vote. He especially encouraged young people—a demographic that voted three times less frequently on average than senior citizens in the 2020 presidential election—to vote and make their voices heard. He mentioned that the people who impact policy are the ones who email and talk to their representatives. Without input, representatives are unable to assist their constituents.
Mr. Ryan’s speech opened the eyes of many of the students and faculty to the inner workings of their government and was very informative about the roles that Belmont Hill students have in an ever evolving democracy. Nathan Zhang ’26 remarked, “Hearing the insightful views of Mr. Ryan from a moderate standpoint was really refreshing considering the political polarization we see today on the news and social media.” Realizing how relevant the topic was, some teachers took time to discuss the chapel with their students and further Mr. Ryan’s points. In light of the upcoming election, The Panel would like to thank him for taking valuable time to speak to Belmont Hill. ☐
New Parking Lot is Open after Months of Waiting
By Eli Norden ’26 Panel Staff
The East Campus parking lot has finally arrived, providing 150 parking spots—including five handicapped and four electric vehicle spots—for Belmont Hill faculty, staff, and other guests at special events and on game days. “It was definitely necessary,” explained Mr. Matos, Director of Facilities, as “[Belmont Hill was] renting 50 parking spots at a lot in Arlington.”
Until last year, Belmont Hill relied on small buses that brought many Form IV and V students to and from the St. Paul Lutheran Church parking lot, across the bridge over Route 2, before and after school. Students’ cars are now all together in one spot. Mr. Matos explained that this system is safer because students no longer need to go through traffic if they miss the shuttle—a highly common occurrence. The Church Lot was incredibly inconvenient to students, as they could not regularly access sports equipment,
and needed to arrive at and get out of school earlier. Ernest Lai ’25 elaborated: “The Church Lot was really annoying. I had to get there early. If you missed the second [morning] shuttle you were ‘cooked,’ even though you didn’t arrive late. The afternoon was also not great.”
Generally, the faculty approves of their new parking situation. “I love it,” stated Mr. Harvey. “First of all, I’m literally right next to [my class] room, so I’m not walking up a hill. So far, I’ve been able to move my car [to the Jordan lot] after school. I enjoy it…when I get out of the car in the morning, I’m hearing ‘nature’ sounds.”
To build a new parking lot, the school had to obtain approval from the Town of Belmont Planning Board, a lengthy process. Neighbors on nearby Rutledge Road and objectors throughout the town voiced their opposition to the lot, citing both environmental and property-value-related concerns, most notably through an in-person protest in January 2023. However, once the
Look Inside The Panel
Page 3: Faculty Attend IBSC
Jack Ramanathan ’26 recounts faculty members’ journey to Harrow, England for the International Boys School Conference over the summer, and the school’s preparation to host the IBSC in the summer of 2025.
Page 5: Artist of the Issue: Ernest Lai ’25
David Luo ’25 tracks Ernest Lai’s musical journey as a clarinetist and member of the school orchestra, and his future goals to take on new challenges in the musical world.
Page 9: Debate of the Issue
Max Ramanathan ’25 and Brady Paquette ’25 engage in a fruitful debate about the merits of classical and modern languages, and whether it is better to study Latin or modern languages at Belmont Hill.
Page 10: Athlete OTI: Will Umscheid ’25
Ben Gong ’26 highlights William Umscheid’s soccer career, and the remarkable teammate and leader he has become as a captain for the varsity team this season.
plan was approved, Mr. Matos said the building process was “pretty smooth.” Belmont Hill did not need a special permit at any point in the construction process. Mr. Matos explained that projects of such size and change often require exceptions. He noted that the lot was built entirely “by right.”
Thanks to the advocacy efforts of Belmont Hill’s Sustainability Team and the work of the Facilities Crew, the beautified parking lot now has twice as many trees as the former woodland. The asphalt in the parking lot is also porous, allowing rainwater to be flushed through it and find nearby tree roots. Above all, as far as parking lots go, the space is beautiful and well-manicured due to the diligence of Mr. Matos and his facilities team.
The parking lot facilitates Belmont Hill’s greater future plans regarding the layout of the academic side of campus. Parking spots were removed behind the Robsham Center and the dorms, allowing for a single drop-off and pickup line ex -
A Tribute to Mr. Mahoney We at The Panel were deeply saddened to learn of Mr. Mahoney’s passing. Among the countless other ways he impacted this community, Mr. Mahoney was an integral part of The Panel, helping the staff find and credit photos for each issue. His excellence in writing was an inspiration for our writers, and, without him, we would not have been able to produce the high-quality newspaper in which we take pride. Considering this, we have dedicated this issue, Issue 3 of Volume 73, to Mr. Mahoney and his incredible contribution to this school community. You can find a tribute to him in the centerspread of this issue (pages 6-7).
tending from the Jordan to the entrance behind the Admissions House. These “missing” spots are currently being built behind the Jordan, making that part of campus look nicer while maintaining the number of parking spots. Now, students who cannot drive do not need to cross into parking before or after the school day. There will also be a new school bus entrance for visiting sports teams to have easy access to the Jordan lot.
The current facilities building next to the bus dropoff and behind the Chapel is being relocated to the new parking lot. This move is the first step to establishing a new dining hall in that space. Next month, a committee will begin meeting to discuss this construction process. The current dining hall will eventually become classrooms or some other form of student support space.
The East Campus Parking lot is the first step in what will surely be an incredible project to better Belmont Hill’s campus. ☐
A Student Publication of the Belmont Hill School
Representative Ryan addresses the Chapel
Courtesy of J.J. Pena ’26
Mr. Mahoney
Dr. Courtney Returns to BH
By Teodoro Rivera-Wills ’27 Panel Staff
As the newest faculty member in the Science department, Dr. Maureen Courtney brings with her more than 15 years of teaching experience and an infectious passion for studying Biology. “It’s my most exciting class!” exclaimed Connor Lynch ’27. Dr. Courtney is originally from Pottstown, Pennsylvania. She attended St. Mark’s High School in Delaware, then moved to Maine as a sophomore, finishing high school at a public high school in Yarmouth, Maine. She attended Boston University as a biomedical engineering major for her undergraduate degree; in her sophomore year, she fell in love with neuroscience and subsequently changed majors. Dr. Courtney graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in physiological psychology. Before returning to Boston University to finish her Masters Degree and PhD, Dr. Courtney started an internship as a research assistant at a neuro-imaging research center in Charlestown shared by Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She began teaching in order to fund her post-graduate studies and because of her love of the profession. Subsequenly, Dr. Courtney worked as
a research assistant for two years. For one more year, she served as a teaching assistant in a physiological psychology lab, studying biology and its effects on the brain and nervous system. Dr. Courtney then taught as an adjunct professor at Pine Manor College, a few towns over in Newton. While serving in her many formative roles, Dr. Courtney explained, “I started visiting my husband’s [former teacher Mr. Courtney ’97] classroom doing presentations and ended up loving it so much that I decided that I wanted to teach at the secondary school level as well.”
Dr. Courtney continued her teaching career at the Berkshire School, the Rivers School, the Hill School, a boarding school in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, and the Cambridge School of Weston. This year, Dr. Courtney will teach three classes: Engineering, Biology, and AP biology. She will also co-advise the robotics team with Mr. Ziff.
Dr. and Mr. Courtney ’97 have three children: Fitz ’26, Pierce ’28, and Lloyd. Her hobbies include going to see live music, doing The New York Times Sunday crossword puzzle, baking, and spending time at their cabin in Union, Maine.
The Panel welcomes Dr. Courtney back to the hill, this time to make a difference in the lives of her students! ☐
Mr. Messina’s Start at BH
By George Carroll ’25 Panel Staff
Mr. Messina grew up in Duxbury, Massachusetts, where he attended his local high school. While a student at Duxbury High, he played football in the fall, wrestled in the winter, and did track and field in the spring. Throughout high school, his favorite classes were history and science. Outside the classroom, he grew up fishing in Duxbury, primarily catching striped bass. In the summertime, Mr. Messina was an oyster farmer, and he worked shifts from 4:00 am to 4:00 pm. Even in the early hours, Mr. Messina said he enjoyed just getting outside. After he graduated from Duxbury, he attended Middlebury College and continued to play football. He chose Middlebury for its academics and the campus’s proximity to the outdoors, and he majored in environmental geology with a minor in education. As a student-athlete, he was selected for the NESCAC All-Academic Team all four years of his higher education. Since Mr. Messina graduated from Middlebury only this past Feb -
ruary, teaching at Belmont Hill is Mr. Messina’s first employment opportunity after college. Mr. Messina first learned about Belmont Hill from a few of his father’s friends who spoke highly of the school. Mr. Williams and Mr. LaLiberte ’14, his former Middlebury teammates, further recommended Belmont Hill to him as a teaching opportunity. So far, Mr. Messina has enjoyed teaching First Formers since both are experiencing the same highs and lows of being new on campus. He also appreciates the tightly-knit school culture: “I like how a lot of people get along with a lot of people here.” He also noted how welcoming Belmont Hill has been as a first job. Outside of Belmont Hill, Mr. Messina enjoys hiking, fishing, listening to music, and skiing. This year, he will teach Form I Science and Environmental Science. Additionally, he will coach the Varsity Football and Wrestling Teams. Belmont Hill is thrilled to have Mr. Messina at the school. We know that he will make an impact across campus and will improve many boys’ experiences on the hill. ☐
Mr. Cibelli Adds to History Dr. DeFraia Joins Campus
By Charlie Largess ’26 Panel Staff
The Belmont Hill community welcomes Dr. Daniel DeFraia, an English teacher and soccer coach who brings a wealth of diverse experiences to Belmont Hill. Originally from the Hudson Valley, Dr. DeFraia has followed a unique path that led him to a career in education. After grad -uating from high school, Dr. DeFraia explored a variety of careers. He initially worked in the restaurant industry and then shifted to investigative journalism as a Steiger Fellow at the Committee to Protect Journalists, where he worked in their journalist assistance program. Following his stint in journalism, Dr. DeFraia decided to explore a new career path, and he taught for six months in China. He described his time in China as “an interesting adventure.” He explained how he appreciated learning about how foreign educational systems worked and how teachers should interact with the different needs of students. Dr. DeFraia noted that his love for discovery, research, and collaborative learning eventually drew him to devoting his career to teaching: “Teaching is an act of discov -
ery with a group,” he explained. “I love the thrill of answering questions and the detective work that comes with it.”
Before Belmont Hill, Dr. DeFraia taught about journalism and media in American History at Boston University and Emerson College.
Dr. DeFraia BH Communications
As Mrs. DeFraia recently began teaching at the International School of Boston, a local independent school, she recommended that her husband apply to teach at other independent schools nearby, ultimately leading him to pursue a teaching job at Belmont Hill. In addition to teaching many English classes, Dr. DeFraia will be very active in Belmont Hill’s extracurricular programs. He coaches First Formers on the Fifth Soccer Team, co-advises the Debate Club with Ms. Zener, and will also advise The Sextant , Belmont Hill’s biannual literary magazine. Outside of school, Dr. DeFraia enjoys playing in a men’s soccer league, conducts research, writes on all sorts of topics, and is a father to his two young daughters, Lillian (6) and Gabby (3).
With his passion for education and unbelieveably diverse background, Dr. DeFraia will certainly make a valuable impact on so many aspects of the Belmont Hill community. ☐
By Tyler Grossman ’27 Panel Staff
Mr. Cibelli joins the Belmont Hill faculty from the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey. Mr. Cibelli will work in the History department, teaching Middle East and China, 20th Century World History, and Native American Studies. He is a Form IV advisor and will coach the Varsity hockey and baseball teams.
Colton Jacobs ’27, one of Mr. Cibelli’s 20th Century World History students, explained how excited he is to have the new teacher: “His energy and enthusiasm make me love history class.”
Mr. Cibelli grew up with two older brothers in Syracuse, New York, where he attended two years of public high school and two more at Frederick Gunn School in Washington, Connecticut. At Frederick Gunn, he was a three-sport varsity athlete, playing soccer, hockey, and baseball. Mr. Cibelli was also the school newspaper’s Editor-in-Chief. His primary sport was hockey, which he continued to play at Skidmore College. He was the team leader in points in his sophomore season, tallying 22 total. Mr. Cibelli again led the team in points as an assistant captain in his junior year,
notching 30. Cibelli was named team captain as a senior, and he again led the team with 12 assists and four goals. He was named to the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) Third Team and was named to the NEHC All-Academic Team three times. At Skidmore, Mr. Cibelli majored in Political Science and minored in history and education. After receiving his Masters in Arts and Liberal Studies from Wesleyan University, he began his teaching career at the Millbrook School in New York, where he taught for five years. He subsequently spent two years teaching at the Lawrenceville School. Mr. Cibelli expressed he started teaching because of “the relationships he built with teachers in his own experiences at boarding school.”
Mr. Cibelli hopes to create these bonds with his new students at Belmont Hill. Mr. Cibelli knew Mr. Phinney through his hockey network, and experienced Belmont Hill’s prowess on the ice through his coaching at Lawrenceville and Millbrook; his brother also teaches at Thayer Academy. The Panel is very excited for Mr. Cibelli to join the Belmont Hill community and make an impact in so many positive ways! ☐
Dr. Courtney BH Communications
Mr. Messina Google Images
Mr. Cibelli Skidmore Athletics
Faculty Fly Overseas to England for IBSC Conference
By Jack Ramanathan ’26 Panel Staff
Over the summer, 16 faculty members traveled overseas to Wembley, England, to join boys’ schools from across the globe at the 2024 International Boys School Coalition (IBSC) Conference. One of the IBSC’s primary missions is to provide opportunities for educators at boys’ schools to work and grow together. This year, the assembly took place at the historic Harrow School, founded over seven centuries ago.
In smaller group panels and workshops, teachers dove into topics ranging from masculinity and gender identity to the pastoral—non-academic and ethics-based—curricula partially utilized at some schools. Belmont Hill contributed to these workshops through three distinct presentations. Mrs. Hamilton and Mrs. Rupley led a workshop on community block and advisory; Ms. Wallace and Mr. Hegarty led a seminar on increasing pleasure reading; and Ms. Schmunk and Dr. Thompson led a conversation
about Family Group and Injury Group. Attendees also heard from conference keynote speakers, including Contender Charlie, a former Shakespeare actor whom Mr. George described as an “entertaining and well-crafted speaker,” who gave a speech about Henry V that reflected on topics concerning leadership, humility, and inspiring people.
After returning from the overseas journey, teachers have a newly revital -
ized vision of how an all-boys school should function, considering the several workshops they participated in while at Harrow. Additionally, teachers have learned more through communicating with other all-boys schools at the coalition. A high involvement of community service was also prevalent among many schools, and reinforced the importance of volunteering at Belmont Hill.
Belmont Hill will have the privi -
lege of hosting the 2025 IBSC Conference. An original member of the IBSC, Belmont Hill has had a prominent role in the conference. When faculty members from other schools worldwide come to Belmont Hill, the community looks forward to welcoming them to our campus. Mr. Schneider best described the excitement to host this amazing event: “Hosting the IBSC annual conference is a huge opportunity for Belmont Hill to showcase our school and the city of Boston and to boys’ school educators from around the world. As one of the founding members of the IBSC, our school has always tried to be an important voice globally in best practices for educating boys—particularly in the area of character education. We expect over 700 delegates to be in attendance, and the program will include keynote speakers, dozens of workshops, a reception right on campus, and a signature social gathering at the Museum of Fine Arts. We hope that a number of our boys will participate as performers, introducers, and ambassadors for our guests.” ☐
Teachers Return from Their Sabbatical Trips
(Written by Bradford Adams ’26, Jayden Lotin ’26 & Jai Somani ’26)
During his sabbatical, Mr. Shen spent time reconnecting with family in China after five years apart due to COVID restrictions and political tensions. His return surprised him in many ways. What he was most amazed by was the country’s rapid changes, including the shift to cashless transactions and the rise of electric vehicles. A special highlight was celebrating Chinese New Year with his mother for the first time in fifteen years, a memorable moment made even more meaningful as his son, Jia-Jia Shen ’29, celebrated the holiday with his grandparents for the first time. While Mr. Shen wished he could have stayed longer, he is excited to return to the classroom and reconnect with students. ☐
(Written by Bradford Adams ’26, Jayden Lotin ’26 & Jai Somani ’26)
During his sabbatical, Mr. Montoya traveled extensively, immersing himself in Spanish-speaking cultures to enhance his teaching. He spent a week in the Dominican Republic, visited his mother in Spain for three weeks, and enjoyed time in Florida. He also led a school trip to Costa Rica with 25 students during March break, enriching their cultural experience. In addition to traveling, Mr. Montoya discovered a new interest in Padel, a racket sport popular in Spain and Argentina, which he played in various countries and at a new facility in Boston. The sabbatical provided him time to refresh and gain new perspectives, benefiting both his personal life and his teaching. ☐
*For the full articles of the Faculty’s sabbatical Trips, visit the panel’s online website*
During his sabbatical, Mr. Fiori focused on his passion for music, working on a jazz fusion album that blends jazz, electric funk, and classical elements. He collaborated with musicians in Brooklyn and Massachusetts, recording rhythm sections for keyboard, bass, and drums. Although the album is still in progress, the experience allowed him to fully immerse himself in music, something he seldom has time for during the school year. Mr. Fiori also traveled to Italy and Greece with his family, visiting historical sites like Pompeii. He also visited music programs at three independent schools and taught future music educators at Berklee, bringing back fresh insights to his teaching at Belmont Hill. ☐
Special Olympics Looks to Continue at Belmont Hill
By T.Z. Snail ’26 Panel Staff
As the students and staff of Belmont Hill have begun to fall back into the rhythm of the school year, so have the Special Olympics on campus. The Special Olympics is an organization that works with over five million athletes and coaches worldwide. The program offers more than thirty Olympic-style sports and over 100,000 competitions and games year-round. Last fall, with the help of Mrs. Phinney, Belmont Hill kicked off its official weekly Special Olympics flag football games, bringing athletes and teams from around the state. This within itself was a great accomplishment, as bringing flag football to the Belmont Hill campus marked the first time Belmont Hill has directly volunteered for the Special Olympics for almost a decade. Over the eight-week season, Belmont Hill students volunteered as referees for games, stocked and manned a snack tent, and, most importantly, created strong connections with
the athletes. According to Jack Santonelli ’26, volunteering with Special Olympics “was an extremely enlightening experience. The athletes wholeheartedly cared about their practices and games and strove to better themselves. I gained very valuable friendships with the athletes, and would many times be swarmed with all ‘my buddies’ trying to talk to me.”
Following the successful fall, Mrs. Phinney, T.Z. Snail ’26, Max Roman ’25,
and Rylan Dean ’26 put in motion more opportunities to volunteer with the Special Olympics program and Belmont S.P.O.R.T. Belmont Hill students helped with floor hockey and basketball in the winter, and swimming, volleyball, and tennis in the spring. Unlike flag football, these opportunities were hosted in various locations around Belmont, and Belmont Hill’s involvement with the Special Olympics began to branch out.
With a host of new events, an influx of volunteers hurried to sign up for opportunities to help out. Groups of three or four students per sport volunteered on weekly schedules to connect with athletes and the program. Belmont Hill volunteers further built the bonds they had made with athletes the year prior. Much work has been put into recreating last year’s success in supporting the Special Olympics. With the first three weeks of the flag football season already kicked off, it is an understatement to say that the fall has been off to a successful start. Like last year, Belmont Hill has hosted weekly flag football games and provided eager student volunteers. The athletes and volunteers interact as if there was no intermission from the summer to fall, and new memories are being made each week. Students, be on the lookout for emails about the program and how to get involved. If you have any questions on the Special Olympics or ways to get involved, please reach out to Mrs. Phinney and T.Z. Snail ’26 for more information. ☐
BH Volunteers with the Belmont Patriots
Shaonan Snail
Belmont Hill Faculty at IBSC Conference in Harrow
Provided by Ms. Wallace
(Written by Bradford Adams ’26, Jayden Lotin ’26 & Jai Somani ’26)
Mr. Shen with his mother Mr. Shen
Mr. Montoya playing Padel
Mr. Montoya
Mr. Fiori and his Family Mr. Fiori
Belmont Hill Sustainability’s Hopes For the Future
By Nathan Zhang ’26 Panel Staff
This year, the Sustainability Club is focusing on a range of new, project-based initiatives to make Belmont Hill’s campus more sustainable. From organizing cleanup events to quantifying the school’s carbon footprint and preparing for the International Boys’ School Coalition (IBSC) Conference, the club has several key goals and projects that will drive meaningful change on campus and beyond.
Last year, the club participated in the James Pener Conference at Thayer Academy, engaging in workshops on environmental topics such as transportation and food waste. This year, the club aims to go further by attending similar conferences and having Belmont Hill students present on topics like food waste, sustainable products, and future initiatives. The club is also considering hosting a sustainability conference at Belmont Hill.
Last year saw successful clean -
ups at Mystic Lake in Medford and the Charles River in Cambridge. The club hopes to expand these efforts this year with more interscholastic collaboration. The Sustainability Club is also
dents and faculty commuting to school via car and bus. To address this, the club plans to conduct surveys and explore potential equipment upgrades to estimate the school’s carbon footprint
launching three new initiatives this year: quantifying the school’s carbon footprint, reducing food waste, and increasing communication through updates in The Panel . Surprisingly, Belmont Hill currently lacks the tools to accurately track its carbon footprint, especially concerning building energy use and the ambiguous numbers of stu -
to identify ways to reduce it. Additionally, food waste has long been an issue at Belmont Hill, and while efforts have been made to tackle it, no initiative has yet been implemented. The club plans to collaborate with Rescuing Leftover Cuisine, an organization that aims to deliver leftover food ingredients to those who can not readily access food to en -
sure that unused food at school is donated rather than wasted. Finally, the club aims to improve its outreach by posting monthly updates in The Panel , keeping the school community informed and engaged in the club’s sustainability efforts.
In June 2025, Belmont Hill will host the IBSC Conference on campus. Such a large gathering raises concerns about waste and environmental impact. The Sustainability Club plans to be actively involved in the planning process to ensure the event is as eco-friendly as possible. The club hopes to showcase the sustainable initiatives undertaken throughout the year.
The Sustainability Club encourages student and faculty involvement to help achieve these goals. Participation in projects isn’t required, but involvement in cleanup events, sustainability conferences, and other initiatives would greatly support the club’s efforts.
The club is eager to make Belmont Hill a more sustainable place. Together, the Sustainability Club can create a greener future for the school. ☐
An Update Regarding Ongoing Global Conflict
By Declan Carroll ’27 Panel
This summer, recent developments in the Middle East and Eastern Europe have heightened escalations in both the Israel-Palestine conflict and the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia.
This July, a Hezbollah airstrike killed eleven Israeli-Druze in the Golan Heights, setting up the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau. In August, Israel struck preemptively against a Hezbollah drone and rocket attack. However, after attacks from both parties, they want to reduce tensions. This summer, Gaza has been very low on food and water as Hamas has rejected cease-fire proposals, and Israel has limited the amount of aid that can be provided. As of September 15, 11 of the 35 hospitals are still somewhat intact due to the attack on medical infrastructure, and the World Health Organization warns that this lack of basic supplies could lead to famine. The displacement of millions of Palestinians in Gaza is a massive problem as both Egypt and Jordan do not want Gazans to enter their countries with fears of war and that they might not be allowed to return to Gaza.
In Ukraine, Russia has captured 200 square kilometers of Ukrainian
territory this summer, focusing intense attacks on Donetsk province. However, the war has been surprisingly back and forth, but there are concerns that Ukraine can’t hold against Russia without American support. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy plans to meet with both presidential candidates, hoping to get their support and end negotiations with Russia. However, the US is reluctant to supply more Western weapons for fear of more escalations from Russia.
In the Belmont Hill community, clubs like Melvoin’s Mensches and Model UN have discussed these difficult topics. Eli Norden ’26, a Melvoin’s Men -
sches club head, shared the club’s vision for the upcoming year. “This year, Melvoin’s Mensches plans to bring in educational speakers and run programming about Israel, its multifaceted relevance, and deep history…Israel is a central part of our Jewish identity, meaning that Melvoin’s Mensches must be a place to discuss this topic.” He emphasized the importance of addressing controversial issues and how the club plans to do so; “I am fed up with the normalization of antisemitism and anti-Zionism, and hope that Melvoin’s Mensches can serve as a medium to discuss Israel and antisemitism…This year, we will represent
multiple perspectives on many historical events, and we hope this will yield further fruitful discussion on campus.” Model UN has also taken an active role in discussing global issues. Alex Laidlaw ’25, Model UN club leader shared a goal that he has for Model UN this year: “Model UN strives to put the war into a global context. We take a look at how the conflict can have broader implications beyond Europe, from which countries are supporting who to the US’s approach to their involvement in the war in Ukraine.” He noted the importance of hearing from both sides of the conflict; “We like to get a couple of videos from news outlets with biases on both sides and then some videos from neutral outlets.” Belmont Hill’s Director of Community and Diversity, Mr. Collins ’93, shared his thoughts on how Belmont Hill deals with such controversial topics with students on both sides of both conflicts: “The main focus is on supporting students and making sure all students feel supported, and those most affected have been heard,” he said. He emphasized the importance of providing affinity spaces for students, offering a place without any fear of judgment. Mr. Collins also highlighted that Belmont’s Hill’s number one goal is to support all students. ☐
Belmont Hill Students Travel Across The World
By Declan Woolbert ’27 Panel Staff
Belmont Hill boys are not just athletes, students, and club members but also globe - trotters who learn best about the world by experiencing history firsthand. Over the summer, three trips were offered to Belmont Hill students. The first of these was a trip to Hawaii, during which students explored the unique ecological diversity of the island. Next, students of all ages traveled to Greece, focusing on the rich classical history of the country and its many famous ancient ruins. Finally, four students visited England, Belgium, and France on the Kenney Legacy trip, exploring several World War II battlegrounds and museums.
During the 8-day Hawaii trip led by Mr. Sweeney and Mr. Trautz, students
went all across the Big Island. They visited the snow-capped peak of Mauna Kea and the rainforests of the Waipi’o Valley. Students stepped within feet of boiling lava, as Hawaii is home to one of the longest continuous volcanic eruptions. Belmont Hill students went camping and backpacking at various sites, including a national park and blacksand beach. In addition, the group participated in a beach cleanup organized by the founder of the Drifters Project, an environmentally focused group of artists. Harry Liu ’27 explained, “My favorite part of the trip was definitely being able to snorkel with sea turtles.”
On the Greece trip led, by Mr. Bracken ’15 and Dr. Davis, students traveled across mainland Greece, observing the most famous ruins and monuments. The eight-day trip started
in Nafplio, near the historic ruins of Mycenae and the Theater of Epidaurus. Next, the students went to Olympia to see the ruins of the Temple of Zeus. Students raced across the original Olympic stadium before heading to Delphi. There, students witnessed the temple of Apollo, the home of the Oracle of Delphi. The trip ended in the capital city of Athens, where students visited the Parthenon, several museums, and ruins. Jack Daley-Demerle ’27 explained that he enjoyed “exploring the city of Nafplio and seeing the Parthenon in Athens.”
The Kenney Legacy Trip, established in honor of Charlie Kenney ’06, is sponsored by the Kenney family and awarded to a small group of rising fifth and sixth formers. This year, Mr. Zellner and Mr. Williams led the trip. The trip began in France as students
walked along the beaches of Normandy, where they learned about the D-Day invasion. Students then traveled to Dunkirk, and then to Belgium, where students examined the battleground of Bastogne. After leaving Belgium, students returned to France to explore the city of Paris and its wartime relevance before leaving for London. There, the group explored the Churchill War Rooms and many other must-sees, including Buckingham Palace and Big Ben. Davis Woolbert ’25 explained, “I loved walking along the beaches of Normandy, especially given it was the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.”
Belmont Hill students got the opportunity to explore many unique locations worldwide through the opportunities provided through the Office of Global Experiences and the Kenney Family. ☐
Belmont Hill Sustainability Logo
BH Communications
Staff
Volodymyr Zelensky Speaking at a Conference
CBC News: The National
October Artist of the Issue: Ernest Lai ’25
By David Luo ’25 Panel Staff
Clarinetist and current senior Ernest Lai ’25 is integral to BH’s music scene. While Ernest is most known around campus for his clarinet-playing prowess, many don’t know that he played many instruments before picking up the clarinet. Ernest played the piano throughout his childhood, but it never really resonated with him. He looked around for other instruments, but he wasn’t able to find anything. When he was 11, he finally took up a second instrument to try something new and expand on his growing interest in music, hopefully finding an intstrument that truly resonated with him and his playing style. Ernest’s process of choosing an instrument was pretty simple. His neighbor was a professor at Berklee who, in Ernest’s words, “could play any woodwind instrument.” He really admired his neighbor’s ability to seemingly master any instrument with ease. This was a great skill that inspired Ernest to try something new. Ernest picked out the saxophone from a wide variety of instruments. Changing from the piano’s concert pitch to the alto sax’s E-flat was no easy task, but he got it done. Shortly after picking up the new instrument, he realized, it wasn’t for him, just like the piano. It seemed like the search would take longer than expected. In search of a new instrument, he consulted his neighbor, who said, “Once you play clarinet, you can play anything else.” The neighbor’s appealing insight gave him a path forward and also the knowledge that even if clarinet didn’t work out, he would be able to apply the skills he
learned to pick up another instrument. These were the words that put Ernest on the path to become the clarinet player he is today. Although he had to change from the alto sax’s E-flat to the clarinet’s B-flat, he persevered and got it done, becoming a very good clarinet player. When Ernest entered Belmont Hill in 8th grade, he immediately joined and became an essential member of the orchestra. In his words, “The orchestra offered a sense of community and helped me do something I love.” His impact was felt right as he joined, and his hard work and dedication to the orchestra have earned praise from many of his peers in recent years. Throughout the years, he has been a mentor to many students, including two students who had just picked up the clarinet. In the words of current senior Adrian Tan
A European Musical Voyage
By Jack Ramanathan ’26 Panel Staff
This summer, Jaiden Lee ’26 traveled across Europe to showcase his musical skills as a cellist. Along with other members of the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (BPYO) - an orchestra group that includes 120 young musicians aged 12 to 21 - Jaiden and his brother Brian ’24 performed in some of the continent’s most famous concert halls, such as the Rudolfinum in Prague, the Philharmonie in Berlin, and the Musikverein in Vienna. This was Jaiden’s second international trip with the BPYO after traveling with the group to South Africa last year.
In almost every performance, over 2,000 listeners attended sold out BPYO concert halls. All concerts additionally received a standing ovation at the end of the performance. Jaiden noted that, by the final few notes of the last two concerts, “everyone in the orchestra was in tears,” including his brother Bri -
an Lee ’24 - an associate principal cellist. The BPYO played classical works throughout their tours, including famous pieces like The Symphony No. 5 by Gustav Mahler, the Schumann Cello Concerto, Op. 129 , and the Elgar Enigma Variations. Throughout the entire international trip, Jaiden played alongside renowned cellist Zlatomir Fung, winner of the XVI International Tchaikovsky Competition and youngest-ever professor at the Juilliard School of Music.
Looking back on the experience, Jaiden remarked, “It was an awesome opportunity to play the music we had been rehearsing for hours and months on end on the greatest stages in the world [as] Europe hosts a lot of the most historically significant music halls, as well as being the birthplace of a majority of the most famous composers of all time.” Jaiden looks to continue playing the cello at Belmont Hill and performing in the school orchestra, and students can look forward to hearing him play on campus at orchestra performances. ☐
’25, “Ernest is definitely a large part of what makes the orchestra successful and a close-knit community. Even when the majority of the orchestra gets a part wrong, you can count on Ernest to play it right.” In more recent years, he has been repeatedly invited to play with the Northeastern Senior District Orchestra with an almost perfect score on the exam. He said, “It was a testament to all the hard work I put in all those years.”
Even with all these successes, Ernest continues to improve his clarinet playing, tirelessly practicing even through college applications and schoolwork.
In the future, Ernest hopes to continue his decorated clarinet career while sharpening his piano skills, stating, “The piano will always be there no matter what.” He recently has also started to learn how to play the guitar.
He said, “I just wanted to try something new and different from what I have been doing before.” With his newfound interest in the guitar, he hopes to continue learning and getting better at playing the instrument soon. With how well his clarinet playing has turned out, Ernest will no doubt become a master of the guitar, given time. This mindset of always trying new things and practicing until he masters it will carry him far and no doubt help him succeed in the future. Of course, Ernest will be playing with the orchestra during his remaining year at Belmont Hill and will continue to be the role model for younger players. Now that he’s a senior, he will be the guy everyone looks up to. Ernest said, “It’s kinda cool that I can be the person they look up to now since I used to look up to the older guys.” ☐
Ensembles Kick Off the Year
By Ethan Xie ’26 Panel Staff
The Belmont Hill Jazz Band is starting fresh with the return of their teacher, Mr. Fiori, following the departure of Ms. Allen. Ms. Allen, known for her leadership and talent, left a lasting impression on the band, but the arrival of Mr. Fiori marks a great return. Despite losing two very skilled seniors this year, the band is excited to welcome four new freshmen, Billy Palumbo ’28 on the trumpet, Tiernan Emmert ’28 on the bass, Ryan Ho ’28 on the alto saxophone, and Brady Yoo ’28 on the baritone saxophone. They will bring a new perspective on music, bringing energy to the ensemble. Alongside them are three juniors—Brandon Li ’26, Ethan Xie ’26, and TZ Snail ’26—who bring valuable experience and leadership to the group. With this new mix of members, the band is starting from a blank slate under Mr. Fiori, ready to share new pieces of music with the entire school.
Belmont Hill’s orchestra program has long been a strength of the school’s music department, known for producing high-quality performances at events and chapels. Many students such as Ernest Lai ’25 and Jaiden Lee ’26 have shown their talent even outside of the school’s orchestra, playing in many concerts including the Northeastern Districts. This year, the band has set high aspirations and goals to not only maintain their skill from last year but to elevate it. With Mr. Fiori’s guidance, they will hone their skills, develop a good chemistry together, and hopefully play at a multitude of events,
Adrian Tan ’25 said “Although we started the year with a bit of shaky attendance, we quickly got back into it. I’m really excited about the talent and work ethic of our orchestra this year. I think we’ll be able to achieve a lot.” The blend of new talent and experienced players fuels a growing sense of excitement and ambition in both the Jazz Band and Orchestra under Mr. Fiori. Both ensembles are very excited to share their work and practice throughout the year with the rest of the school, and The Panel wishes the Jazz Band and orchestra the best of luck in the coming year.
Orchestra Spring Concert Adam Richins
Ernest Lai ’25 at Districts Ms. Allen
Ernest Lai ’25 Performing at Northeastern Districts
Joon Lee
Middle School Jazz Band Adam Richins
Jaiden Lee ’26 Performing in the Elbphilarmonie
Boston Philharmonic
Mr. William (Bill) Dowd Mahoney: A Lasting Legacy of Kindness, Humor, and Guidance
By Executive Staff Panel Staff
On August 18, 2024, the Belmont Hill community lost a cherished man and friend, Mr. William (Bill) Dowd Mahoney, after a brief but hardfought battle with cancer. Remembered by his colleagues as an incredibly kind, funny, and passionate man, Mr. Mahoney was also a communications pioneer and a master of the written word. In honor of his legacy, The Panel has decided to dedicate this issue, Issue 3, Volume 73, to him.
Born in Lexington MA, Mr. Mahoney received his bachelor’s degree in English from Boston College and an M.Ed in educational management, subsequently joining Babson College in 1993 as a senior strategic writer and an admissions officer. In 2000, he became the Associate Director of Marketing Communications for Harvard Business School, a position he held until he arrived at Belmont Hill in 2006.
To his colleagues, Mr. Mahoney was known for constantly being a pillar of support and empathy. As highlighted by Mrs. Taylor, the Assistant Director of Communications who worked closely with him in the Communications Office, “Bill was a kind and thoughtful manager, always attentive to both people and details. I always enjoyed our conversations; he was just as eager to learn about what mattered to us—whether it was women’s sports, the latest milestones with my two-year-old, or whatever was new in our lives.”
Throughout his time at Belmont Hill, Mr. Mahoney frequently shared his lifelong love of sports with our community. A die-hard sports fan (especially of the Red Sox and BC Eagles), Mr. Mahoney often enjoyed talking smack about rival sports teams like the Yankees with faculty colleagues like Mr. Martellini during lunch periods. He was also an ardent supporter of Belmont Hill athletics, constantly cheering on the sidelines of whatever Belmont Hill game was taking place. He established a tradition of taking Dining Hall staff member, Richie Brown, to Red Sox games, highlighting his passion for sharing Boston and Belmont Hill sports with others. He would often take the job of filming games to put on screens around campus, volunteering to run tables at the Graves Kelsey Wrestling Tournament, and engaging the people around him with his sense of humor and infectious laugh -
ter. A tireless fan of Belmont Hill’s arts and sports programs, Mr. Mahoney could always be found on the sidelines - talking with athletes, fans, parents, and alumni. Head coach of Varsity Cross Country Mr. Trautz became good friends with Mr. Mahoney and describes him as “an ardent supporter of our sports teams, and...a champion of the arts, having never missed a play or recital…He was never too busy to lend a helping hand, generous and loyal, quick with a smile, and always the first to ask you how your family was doing or how your weekend went.”
ing the school, and he did so while being a team player and a wonderful manager.” But most importantly, she said, “he modeled humility, empathy, and teamwork. He was supportive of all those around him and made them feel seen.”
In recent years, he interviewed, wrote, and edited an updated website, while posting daily content on multiple social media channels. Mr. Mahoney was also responsible for spearheading the Belmont Hill Bulletin sent out to families and alumni seasonally. In the lead-up to the school’s centennial, Mr. Mahoney master-
During his 18 years as the school’s first Director of Communications, Mr. Mahoney expanded the channels for sharing information about the school with the wider public. Associate Director of Communications Mrs. Hirsch noted, “Mr. Mahoney was a prolific storyteller who constantly found new ways to showcase the story of Belmont Hill, whether through videos on our screens or articles for the Bulletin or website. He took immense pride in represent -
minded the Century of Character book; Head of School Mr. Schneider noted the wide array of platforms through which Mr. Mahoney spread the school’s good news, noting his commitment “to capturing the spirit of this school in new ways; he loved Belmont Hill.”
On Saturday, August 24, Mr. Mahoney’s family, friends, and colleagues gathered at St. John the Evangelist Church in Cambridge to honor and remember his life. Mr. Mahoney is survived by his be -
loved daughter, Gillian, his life companion, Diana MacDonald, and Gillian’s mother, Ms. Elvira Venturina. He is also survived by his siblings, Pat and John, his nieces, Erin, Emily, Emma, and Allison, his cousins, and his godmother. At the service, Gillian delivered a beautiful eulogy, highlighting her dad’s love of the written word and their shared love of Harry Potter. She included the Albus Dumbledore quote, “It is our choices, Harry, that show who we truly are, far more than our abilities,” as a call to those in attendance to celebrate her father’s life through their own actions and choices each day. According to senior Tommy Folan ’25 who attended the service with his family, “The eulogy [Gillian] delivered was incredibly powerful and were words that hit close to home. She mentioned a lot of things that I could relate to on a personal level and talked about how important it is to maintain healthy and happy relationships with your parents. Her powerful eulogy reminded me that nothing is ever permanent in life, and to embrace what you have right now with love and gratitude.” Along with Tommy, other members of the school community also attended including Head of School, Greg Schneider, former Head of School, Dr. Melvoin, and over forty current and former faculty/staff members. Following the service, attendees returned to Belmont Hill and continued to share their memories of Mr. Mahoney and spend time together in the Wadsworth Room.
In short, Mr. Mahoney represented all the most important qualities of an exemplary member of the Belmont Hill community, constantly demonstrating the core aspects of being an excellent leader, colleague, peer, father, and friend. As Mr. Schneider highlighted, “Ultimately his legacy involves words that we cherish at Belmont Hill like character, effort, and caring. In a world where more and more professionals incessantly angle for recognition and new opportunities, just a personal sense of a job well done seemed to be enough for [Mr. Mahoney].” Mr. Mahoney was truly a one-of-a-kind figure who, having often operated behind the scenes at Belmont Hill, nevertheless deeply impacted the people around him. Perhaps Mr. Trautz, his good friend, captured him best: “At Belmont Hill, we often talk about how we model character – Bill Mahoney epitomized a man of good character.”
May Mr. Mahoney forever rest in peace. He was truly an inspiration to all.
“A Man of Good Character”
Mr. Bill Mahoney
“He was always on the sidelines of Belmont Hill games trying to capture the moments that speak to our special culture.” -Mr. Schneider
“Always willing to pitch in, chaperone, or write up a new version of our safety protocols, Bill was often the first to volunteer when extra hands were needed.”
“Mr. Mahoney had a special capacity for patience and kindness.” -Mr. Schneider
“He was committed to capturing the spirit of this school in new ways; he loved Belmont Hill.”
“Mr. Mahoney was a passionate Boston and Belmont Hill sports fan. He followed every Boston team - especially the Red Soxwith incredible dedication.” -Mr. Schneider
“Bill was a kind and thoughtful manager, always attentive to both people and details.” -Mrs. Taylor
“A die-hard sports fan (especially of the Red Sox and BC Eagles), Mr. Mahoney often enjoyed talking smack about rival sports teams like the Yankees with faculty colleagues like Mr. Martellini during lunch periods.”
Photos by: John Gillooly and Adam Richins, in addition to courtesy photos from Mr. Mahoney’s family
Harris Wins The Debate
By Alex Chen ’27 Panel Staff
On Tuesday, September 10th, Donald Trump got the worst smackdown of his political career. Standing in front of 67 million Americans, the former president attempted to remain composed as the debate began. After the first presidential debate, which ultimately sank President Biden’s re-election campaign, Trump’s collected demeanor had been widely praised by advisors and allies in his MAGA camp. His task this time, they told him, was to do it again. He couldn’t do it.
Trump started off relatively grounded. He boasted about his economic successes and the tariffs he would impose on trade if re-elected. He talked about inflation. Then suddenly out of left field, he jumped to immigration. That was the end of his composure.
Within 10 minutes, he had called Vice President Harris, whom he frequently calls “Comrade Kamala” -- a Marxist. 20 minutes in, he had launched into an angry tirade about his crowd sizes. And before the 30 minute mark, he had accused Haitian migrants in Ohio of stealing and eating their neighbors’ pets.
None of that was on the campaign’s agenda for the debate. So what happened? How did he go from tariffs to pet-eating in half an hour?
One thing was clear: Harris was really, really, effective in pushing his buttons, and pushing the right ones too.
According to the New York Times, in her debate training, Harris spent large amounts of time training specifically on how to provoke Trump. That’s why it should come at no surprise that Harris picked crowd sizes as the instrument to poke the bear. “You will see during the
course of his rallies he talks about fictional characters like Hannibal Lecter,” she quipped, with a sly smile. “He will talk about [how] windmills cause cancer. And what you will also notice is that people start leaving his rallies early out of exhaustion and boredom.” With that, a red-faced Trump was off, shouting into the mic about crowd sizes, rather than what he was supposed to be talking about, which was immigration. Within a minute he proceeded to drop the now infamous pet-eating comment, and from there it only got worse. Harris did not let up, and laid more traps for Trump, saying Putin would “eat him for lunch,” and indirectly calling him a “disgrace.” For Trump, who is rarely ever questioned or challenged within his own circle, these comments only further brought out the worst in him. Putting on a wide array of facial expressions that civilly conveyed her reactions, Harris sat back and watched. Across the room, Trump rambled, raved, floundered and flopped. The debate was over. Kamala Harris had won.
Post-debate, Harris’s performance was widely praised, and for good reason. She managed to go on offense while remaining calm. She managed to stay away from the bottomless pit of lies. And she managed to upset Trump while still looking professional. It was the perfect storm and Trump couldn’t stay afloat.
To be clear, this is neither a glowing endorsement of Harris nor an outright condemnation of Trump. An entirely separate article could be written about the policies they have promoted, and an argument could be made for both sides. From the standpoint of debate strategy though, one thing has become abundantly clear: Kamala Harris has found out how to take down Donald Trump. ☐
MOTM: September, 2024
By Jack Ramanathan ’26 and Rhett Curtis ’26 Panel Staff
We are back with a brand new edition of Meal of the Month. For new readers, this is a monthly review and comprehensive critique of all lunches and desserts served in the month prior. We use personal testimonies and advanced statistics to come up with what we deem the meal and dessert of the month. We have sorely missed the feeling of munching down on the terrific food created by Tony Maws, Randi Burger, and the rest of the kitchen staff. Fortunately for the student body at Belmont Hill, their hard work is demonstrated through the vast array of meals from various cultures throughout Sep -
Misinformation in Politics
By Jai Somani ’26 Panel Staff
In 2021, a study conducted by The Washington Post found that our former president, Donald Trump, had made 30,573 false claims since 2017. It isn’t unusual for politicians to mislead or exaggerate; after all, they are politicians. However, few politicians share the same disregard for factual accuracy as does Donald Trump.
For example, excluding the misleading claims and quotations that needed context (levied by both candidates), when it comes to objectively false claims, during the course of their recent debate, Trump made 30 and Harris made 1. That’s one factual lie every 1 minute and 45 seconds from Trump.
When it comes to the country’s economic well-being, the lie that the modern Republican Party is better for the economy still holds fast. Looking at it from an undistorted lens, Donald Trump’s economic plans, both during his presidency and in his future proposals, have raised concerns about significantly increasing the national deficit. His administration’s 2017 tax cuts, which primarily benefited corporations and the wealthiest Americans, were projected to add over $1 trillion to the deficit over a decade. Despite promises of growth-driven revenue increases, the anticipated economic boost failed to fully materialize, leaving a larger fiscal gap. Moving forward, Trump has signaled his intent to pursue further tax cuts and increased military spending without offering substantial plans to offset the lost revenue, which would likely continue to balloon the deficit. His focus on short-term growth and immediate political wins risks burdening the country with long-term fiscal instability.
tember such as the Mexican Bowl. But alas, only one meal can be the victor.
The crown for this month’s best meal goes to the burgers and hotdogs from the schoolwide cookout on the 12th, for reminding us that a simple thing can become extraordinary when made with care. This meal scored an 8.5 out of 10, far surpassing the average rating of 7.125 out of 10. Henry Ramanathan ’26 stated that, “This homey meal brought back memories of summer barbecues and joyful whimsy.”
The race was close though our reviewers scored the Beef Burrito bowls a 7.9 out of 10 citing the customization options like guacamole and sour cream as the X-factor in determining their score.
After each lunch we satisfy our sweet tooths with treats and desserts laid out for us. This month, our panel of food judges has deemed the Rice Chex Crispy Treats, served on the 4th, as the best dessert of September. This sweet dish was presented in a cup - a unique, uncommon presentation in comparison to other desserts - containing a white, sugary coat of cream on top of vanilla chex treats. While the dessert was a bit messy, it was ultimately awarded an average rating of 8.25/10. Ben Gong ’26 described it as “a sweet heaven.”
Overall, the start of the school year has shown flashes of excellence in the dining hall; there have been no major flaws in the kitchen, and the consistency of food quality has improved in comparison to last year so far. Look for us in the next issue, where we will go review the foods for next month! ☐
He’s also just bad at foreign policy. Despite constant claims that foreign leaders respect him, the only truthful statements here were that the incredibly corrupt Victor Orban of Hungary, and the Libertarian Argentinian president Javier Millie (who has destroyed the Argentinian economy, boosting inflation by 200%), respect him. But, if we truly look at the world stage, Donald Trump’s disdain for multilateral institutions like NATO and the United Nations, where he repeatedly criticized member contributions and questioned their relevance, has fostered tensions with key global partners. His erratic foreign policy, marked by a mix of isolationism and aggressive rhetoric, led to moments where NATO and UN leaders openly laughed at or disrespected him, notably during the 2019 NATO summit when world leaders were caught on camera mocking his behavior. These incidents reflected the diminishing respect for U.S. leadership on the world stage under his tenure.
Donald Trump’s immigration policies have been riddled with false claims and misleading rhetoric. Despite the fact that the crime rate is drop -
ping and there are numerous studies showing that immigrants—both documented and undocumented—commit crimes at lower rates than native-born citizens, Trump consistently paints immigrants as a threat to national security. Furthermore, he claims that through government-funded programs, illegal immigrants are robbing the American people of their tax dollars by leeching off the welfare system. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that adding immigrants as both workers and consumers will grow the American economy by $7 trillion and increase tax revenue by $1 trillion in the next decade. In addition, a study conducted by the Libertarian Cato Institute found that for every dollar reaped by first-generation immigrants in benefits, $1.38 is paid to the government. This rings true even for illegal immigrants who pay billions in taxes each year and yet are excluded from almost all federal benefits because, ironically, documentation is needed to receive those benefits. Of course, it would not be accurate to say that this lack of candidness is limited solely to our politicians. Placing emphasis on attaining viewership, many news corporations have begun to appeal to specific audiences. The danger of this diversion from truthful reporting is particularly worrisome to those who use more conservative media. A study by the Pew Research Center found that when it comes to people identifying as Republicans, the majority find media conglomerate “Fox” to be the “news” agency they turn to for trusted reporting. In contrast, those leaning Democrat utilize a far more diverse group of news agencies, averaging 22 sources out of the surveyed possible 30. When it comes to the spread of baseless conspiracy theories, Fox News is up there relative to other accredited news sources. After the 2020 election, dissatisfied political reporters took to restating the President’s false claims about election fraud, legitimizing the accusations tweeted by Donald Trump. After a plethora of court cases and investigations, not a bit of evidence was found identifying voter fraud, save a desperate phone call made by the former President begging the Georgia Secretary of State to find him more votes.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that somehow the conservatives have cultivated an environment in which critical thinking and the use of evidence are actively discouraged in the pursuit of electoral victory. Given the evidence above, it is not untrue to say that most, if not all, of what Trump says to back his campaign is a departure from the truth. So why would we vote for a person who needs to make as many false claims as he does in order to justify his viewpoints? Without a push for the use of facts and logic to inform voters in this country, future elections will likely lead us further down the path towards the debilitation of the United States of America. ☐
Cubano Sandwich BH Dining
DOTI: Classics vs. Modern Languages
By Brady Paquette ’25 and Max Ramanathan ’25 Panel Staff
With the start of school up and running again, the question of class load always seems to circulate in students’ minds. At one time or another, every student at Belmont Hill is tasked with an extremely difficult decision: to stick with Latin or pick up another langauge. This question holds great significance as many will come to realize. The next four years will likely be reminiscent of this decision, detailing potential makeor-break academic performances. With so much flexibility in language selection at a school like Belmont Hill, tackling the controversy between classics vs. modern language is no easy feat.
Max - Classics: While some may argue that Latin and other classical lan guages have no use in today’s world, that is simply not true. 60% of the English language is derived from Latin and 20% is derived from Greek. While no one speaks Latin or Ancient Greek in the modern world, knowing key vocabu lary words in Latin or Greek, especially prepositions, can help expand your vo cabulary. This is exceptionally prevalent in STEM fields and other subjects of ad vanced academia. If you want to go into one of those fields, you will be guaran teed to come across words with Latin and Greek roots; having a background in classics will allow you to adjust quickly to the specific STEM vocabulary. Having an advanced vocabulary is not only relevant in STEM fields. Many standardized tests such as the SAT or ACT will ask questions about vocabulary, and because of the Latin and Greek roots, people who have taken classics tend to do better in these sections. Also, in addition to giving you a leg up on standardized tests, classics help with college applications because it is such a niche area of study and stands out on your transcript.
The Latin track at Belmont Hill also appeals to people who prefer to read over speaking a language. All other modern languages require their students to speak or even write in the language, whereas Latin only requires you to read the language. This means that you do not have to worry about composing essays in Latin or focusing on specific pronunciation that makes no sense paired with how the word is spelled.
Finally, the main reason to take classics: what you translate is part of history. In a modern language course, you learn how to communicate basic thoughts such as what you had for breakfast that day or asking where the library is. However, in Latin 2, you will already be translating Caesar’s Gallic Wars, an actual recount of a series of historical events that culminated in Rome’s rise
ing history. Meanwhile, kids in Spanish are suffering through trying to learn the subjunctive, getting their pronunciation right in French, or memorizing tones in Chinese just so they can properly tell you what their favorite color is.
For those who say Latin is a dead language, that’s like saying why study history—it’s all in the past.
Brady - Modern Languages: As a kid, I hated learning languages. In elementary school and throughout middle school, I took Spanish, a common language among younger students as it provides similar aspects to English in terms of sentence structure and grammatical rules. Recognizing that it was one of the most popular spoken languages in the world, I thought that it would be relevant when I got older. But as my middle school years came to an end, I was tasked with the tough decision of whether to drop Spanish and continue with Latin—or vice versa.
Staff Artist: Will Walton ’25
uments of such historical significance. Even in history courses at Belmont Hill, you do not read about the personal insights of famous historical leaders, instead learning about them from a broader perspective. In Latin 3A, Dr. Davis often hands out ancient untranslated tablet inscriptions that museums or archaeologists have asked for his students to translate. Most of the time, we would be the first to translate that specific tablet, actively taking a part in reveal -
BH Needs Political Diversity
By Brandon Li ’26 Panel Staff
Despite the fact that Massachusetts is one of the most liberal states in the country, Belmont Hill stands out as a more moderate outlier. In a poll conducted by the Podium last spring, 40.7% of Belmont Hill students identified themselves as “left-of-center,” 28.7% as “moderate,” and 30.6% as “right-ofcenter.” This is more balanced ideologically compared to the distribution of political beliefs among Massachusetts adults, which tilts heavily in the liberal direction: 56% liberal, 17% moderate, and 27% conservative, according to a Pew Research poll. It should be noted that teenagers tend to be more liberal than adults, which indicates that if other high schoolers around Massachusetts were interviewed, the liberal tilt would be even more pronounced.
One potential way to explain Belmont Hill’s moderate bend could be the fact that it is an all-boys school. Young men have consistently been found to be more conservative than young women, and the gap between the genders has significantly grown from 2020 to now. A recent poll of the Harvard student body found that among male students, 32% identified as Democrats and 29% as Republicans. In contrast, 44% of female students identified as Democrats
and 18% as Republicans. This is in line with what can be observed about Winsor, one of Belmont Hill’s sister schools, which has more of a liberal political identity. As Angelina Fang ’26 of Winsor stated, “[Our school] is generally seen as liberal, and the majority of our student body agrees with that as well.”
There is no doubt that political diversity is beneficial to a student body. Regardless of the reasons behind this increased ideological diversity, Belmont Hill has a more even balance between liberal and conservative students than many other high schools in Massachusetts. This presents a unique advantage, as political viewpoint diversity allows conservative students to engage in open, unfiltered dialogue without the fear of being the minority voice, and it offers undecided students the opportunity to hear many different viewpoints rather than adopting a simplistic political monoculture due to its majority presence. When interviewed, many members of the BH community expressed their appreciation for the political diversity on campus. Logan Marra ’26 stated, “I think the political diversity at Belmont Hill is good. We live in Massachusetts, which is more liberal, so BH being more conservative opens your eyes to different perspectives.” Jaiden Lee ’26 agreed: “I think generally a healthy mix of opinions is always beneficial to environments
Modern languages are simply more culturally relevant in today’s world. You’re able to learn about a vast array of cultures. If you travel when you’re older (which you probably will), you’ll be able to apply what you learned in a classroom setting to a real-life society rooted in history and tradition. Studying abroad in college is a core experience for many students.
Learning a language is fairly impractical if there is no spoken aspect or dialogue to it. Latin consists of transcribing old texts with the hope that you’ll find which subjunctive declaration you would use to describe a horse. No one cares. If you take Chinese, for example, you can learn about a simplified and traditional dialect that is read, written, and spoken in places like China and Taiwan. Practicing memorization in terms of speaking and then translating in your head can also help you with study methods for other subjects, such as history or vocabulary. Going to an actual place where you can listen
like the Belmont Hill community, and it’s important to foster productive discussions.” It is important for the Belmont
and speak to people will also progress your knowledge and ability in that language much faster than having to write out direct translations. The idea of being fluent in a language is foreign to Latin students in today’s day and age. A more obvious point is that modern languages are actually more fun to learn. I’m sorry, but who actually enjoys taking Latin? Sure, it looks good on a college resume. And maybe you can be the first one to raise your hand when someone asks what ‘cum laude’ means. Meanwhile, I’ll be traveling the world with my multilingual speaking skills, talking, and learning about people who are still alive. For the record, Latin is a dead language. Because you are not dealing with listening, speaking, or writing text, reading comprehension is essentially the only focus and thus loses a more interactive audience.
Plain and simple, it’s easier. Studies have shown that modern languages are easier to grasp, especially for younger students. This partly relies on simple word-to-word translation. Latin has declensions, subjunctives, and various other word fragments, making the foundation of crafting sentences much harder to engage in. Max kindly points out authors like Virgil and Caesar. As these are important figures in history, the texts that derive from them are deliberately difficult. These highly educated people saw writing as a form of high intellectual art and only wrote for a very small and highly aristocratic audience. Try reading Hobbes’ translation of Thucydides and you will see that while the prose is brilliant, it is difficult even for an English native. Couple this with teachers who are invested, super cool, and provide really good food. It is clear to me that I made the right choice in taking a modern language throughout my Belmont Hill career. If you’re a second former on the brink of making this pivotal decision, I know which one I would choose. ☐
Hill community to encourage unibiased dialogue rather than shutting it down. ☐
Editor-In-Chief
Online Editor Brandon Li ’26
Arts Editor
Adrian Tan ’25
Sports Editor Ben Gong ’26
Visual Media Director
Nathan Zhang 26
Alejandro Laidlaw ’25
Executive Editors
TZ Snail ’26
Jaiden Lee ’26
Assistant Editors
David Luo ’25
Eli Norden ’26
Bradford Adams ’26
Will Hennigar ’26
Ethan Xie ’26
Will Achtmeyer ’26
Staff Artists/writers
Davis Woolbert ’25
Ben Adams ’25
Andrew Hildebrandt ’25
Faculty Advisors
Paige Wallace
Juliette Zener
News Editor
Jack Ramanathan ’26
Opinion Editor Brady Paquette ’25
Back Page Editors
Alex Tosi ’25
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.
Athlete of the Issue: Will Umscheid ’25
By Ben Gong ’26 Panel Staff
Will Umscheid ’25 has been an integral part of the Belmont Hill Varsity Soccer team as captain, both serving as a role model to younger players and motivating the team with his leadership. Will started playing soccer when he was five years old in a local program for kindergarteners, coached by his dad. He joined his first club team in 4th grade. This season, his teammates elected him as captain due to his exemplary leadership, work ethic, and devotion to the team.
Will’s greatest personal achievement was qualifying for the national tournament over the summer with his club team. On a personal level, he noted that it was the recognition he received last year after the Belmont Hill fall season. When asked about his favorite moment on the soccer team, Will stated, “It’s really hard to single out my favorite moment from the past few years. I really enjoy all the team dinners and just spending time with the guys after practice.” Though for soccer games, his
favorite moments were Belmont Hill’s win over Andover this year and the opening win over Bridgton last year. Will’s contributions to the team have certainly been recognized by his teammates. Fellow captain and teammate Blake DaCosta ’26 stated, “He brings a sense of calmness into the locker room.
It really gets the guys dialed in and calm before a game. Leadership– sometimes it’s not always what you’re saying, it’s how you do it– it’s leading by example.” Will’s ability to lead by example has also had a tremendous impact on the rest of the team, especially the younger players who look up to him. Max Christiano ’28 de -
XC Season Ramping Up
By William Achtmeyer ’26 Panel Staff
The Belmont Hill Cross Country team opened their season by attending the Bobcat Invitational in Lee, NH. Returning for their second year at the race, the varsity squad finished second with two runners in the top ten overall— most notably with Will Trautz ’27 finishing in fourth place. The junior varsity team took first place as well.
The team went to Brooks two weeks after, taking the JV race by a landslide, taking the top 15 places. The Varsity team also showed a strong performance, losing by only one point. The week after, Belmont Hill lost narrowly to RL in both the JV and Varsity races but expects a strong comeback in their next race against BB&N, Govs and Nobles.
Led by captain Davis Woolbert ’25, anchored by a strong underclassmen core, and bolstered by newcomers such as Samuel Leviton ’28, the cross country team is looking to once again challenge for the top steps of the podium at the ISL Championship as well as the NEPSTA Championship. The JV team is also aiming to build upon
the success that it saw last season, winning the ISL junior varsity race.
JV runner Eli Norden ’26 says, “As bottom dog on JV, I can say we’ve been working really hard every day and improving every day. I’ve been enjoying the season so far. The sport is gritty and really represents BH character. We’re gonna take JV and V championship.” ☐
scribed the example that Will sets for the team: “He has a very good work ethic, he tries really hard at every play. His effort is always really high, and he’s always really pumped up. Especially for the younger guys, we’re going at it full speed for every play, so I think he really helps us with that.” Whether it be for practice or games, Will helps set the tone for the team. Blake added, “He brings a good mindset to every single thing that we do… Being around him I strive to better myself, just because you can see how hard he works.”
Will has put his 100% into the Belmont Hill varsity soccer team as a senior, captain, and valued teammate, and his contributions cannot be overstated. When asked about the future, Will responded, “Right now I’m focused on enjoying the rest of my senior season and helping the team achieve as much success as possible. I know I’ll keep finding opportunities to keep playing soccer in my future.” The Panel congratulates Will Umscheid on his tremendous success at Belmont Hill over the last few years and wishes him luck for the rest of the season and future pursuits. ☐
Soccer Season Preview
By Ben Gong ’26 Panel Staff
This season, Belmont Hill’s Varsity Soccer Team is set to build on last year’s efforts, under the continued leadership of Coach Montoya and new captains Blake DaCosta ’26 and Will Umscheid ’25. With a strong core of returning players, the team is looking to maintain a competitive presence in the ISL and make a push for the New England tournament.
When asked about the team’s goals, Coach Montoya stated, “The goal is to finish near the top of the ISL behind Milton and get an invitation to the NE Tournament.” Similarly, Blake DaCosta ’26 shared that top 2 and contending for the league and making New England Playoffs are primary goals. He also added that building a good team culture is also a team goal. Regarding positives for the season, Coach Montoya noted, “The positives are that we have a well-knit team. Everyone plays hard for each other, and we get everyone to contribute. It’s all about team effort.”
Moreover, Blake DaCosta ’26 stated, “For the younger guys, [a positive is] coming off the bench and being able to provide help and give those starters a rest
when they need it. Also, they’re willing to learn. Furthermore, the leadership from the older players on the team is really good. I think it’s reflecting on the younger players.”
A key improvement this season, according to Coach Montoya, is the team’s depth. “We have four players that can come off the bench and keep the same level of effort and skill. This will keep players rested and healthier throughout the season. We do not just rely on 11 players.” This depth will allow the team to maintain intensity for the full ninty-minute game, a focus that the team looks to improve upon in comparison to last year. Blake Dacosta ’26 added, “The energy that we’ve brought into practices– the intensity– has gone up. The intensity is pretty high during practice, and guys are constantly competing.”
The Belmont Hill varsity soccer team has already begun the season strongly with a winning 4-2 record. The Panel congratulates Coach Montoya on reaching the extraordinary accomplishment of reaching the 300-win milestone in his tenure as head coach of the Belmont Hill varsity soccer team, and also wishes him and the rest of the varsity soccer team the best of luck for the rest of their season and in their pursuit of the ISL Championship this season! ☐
Varsity Football Electrically Takes to The Field
By Jai Somani ’26 Panel Staff
As Belmont Hill gears up for the 2024 football season, Coach Fucillo is focused on building a strong, cohesive team ready to compete week after week. With the departure of last year’s seniors, this season marks a new start for the program—one that is centered around emerging leaders and continued growth. The spots last year’s seniors left are in the process of being filled, and thus the team is beginning to resume its dominant role in the ISL. These changing roles are further shown by the additions of a couple of new members to the coaching staff, including former Middlebury offensive lineman Mr. Messina, who also teaches science at BH.
The team battled St. Sebastian’s in the rain for their first game on Sep -
tember 21, and came away with a hard fought 10-7 win. The Loop was in full attendence and they flooded the field as soon as the final buzzer rang. Then, in the second game of the season on September 28, the team blew out St. George’s in an emphatic 36-7 victory.
“We have a lot of talent across the board, but the most exciting part is seeing how the team gels together,” Coach Fucillo said. “We lost some key players from last year, particularly on the offensive and defensive lines, but I’m confident in the guys stepping up to fill those roles.” Coach Fucillo believes the team has the talent to compete at a high level, but he’s keeping the focus on a week-by-week mentality. “We don’t want to look too far ahead,” he said. “Every Saturday is a championship for us. It’s about executing, staying grounded, and embracing the process. Winning takes a lot of things to go right,
and we need to focus on each day.”
The development of team culture is at the forefront of Coach Fucillo’s approach this season. He believes in having players take ownership of the culture in the locker room and on the field. “I want the team to run the culture, not me. Our captains and seniors are doing a great job keeping the tradition alive,” he said. “It’s about fostering an environment where players respect and trust one another, and they’ve really embraced that.” Coach Fucillo emphasized that leadership comes from every corner of the locker room. “A great team has leaders in all sorts of roles,” he said. “It’s not just the captains. Every player contributes to the culture, whether vocally or by example.” In regards to student support, Coach Fucillo simply implores The Loop to “just bring the juice.”
Finishing off with the line, “It’s
not just about wins and losses,” Coach Fucillo says, “It’s about building a program where every player leaves with something special—an experience they can carry with them for life.” He discussed how it’s not about how you play but the character and legacy you leave on the field and those that surround you. Additionally, when asked about how he was feeling about the start of the season, and whether he was dialled, ready to go out there, and win, running back Marcus Griffin ’26 had this to say: “In all things, we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37).”
“There are no easy games in this league,” Coach Fucillo said. “We need to stay healthy and take it one game at a time.” With strong football programs throughout the league, Belmont Hill faces stiff competition each week. Preparation and health will be key factors in the team’s success. ☐
Will Umscheid ’25
Garrett Zug ’29
Will Trautz ’27 Adam Richins
NFL Season Beginning: Insights and Surprises
By Jackson Hurd ’26 and Ben Gong ’26 Panel Staff
The first two weeks of the 2024 NFL season have been filled with many surprises. Teams like the Buccaneers (2-1), Vikings (3-0), Saints (2-1), and Steelers (3-0) have gotten off to good starts, while teams like the Ravens, Bengals, and Rams have had a hard time realizing their potential with 0-2 records to start the season. To add to the start of the season, the NFL has some unexpected players taking the leap to stardom, like Saints starting QB Derek Carr (33), and Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield (29), who have been instrumental in their teams’ successful starts to the season. In particular, Derek Carr helped the Saints put up astronomical scoring numbers with over
40 points in each of the first two weeks of the season. Additionally, Vikings QB Sam Darnold has impressed many doubters, leading Minnesota to a blowout win against the Giants and a hard-fought win against the 49ers, and then another blowout against a strong Texans team. While some of the Veteran QBs have been on fire, some of the young QBs around the league have had a hard time starting the season. 1st pick in the 2024 draft Caleb Williams has started off slower than
most expected with 2 interceptions 0 touchdowns and around 250 yards in the first 2 games of his career. Last year’s 1st pick Bryce Young has looked even worse with 3 ints in back-to-back blowouts and was benched after a 26-3 to the Los Angeles Chargers. Rylan Dean ’26, when asked about Bryce Young, said “I think it’s a great choice to bench him, I think his time in Carolina is done.” In the subsequent game, 36-year-old Andy Dalton threw 319 yards for three touchdowns
The 2024 NFL season has been an unexpected but entertaining start, and we look forward to keeping you up to date on the action in the weeks ahead. ☐
The Downfall and Future of Bryce Young
By Charlie Maws ’26 Panel Staff
Many NFL quarterbacks share a common story: they fall vastly short of the expectations that they had when they were drafted. The history of the NFL is riddled with players who never lived up to the hype, but the quarterback position has far and away the most names on that list.
Why? Being a skilled quarterback requires two important things that other positions typically do not: playing with confidence, and a skilled roster around them.
Bryce Young seems to be a prime
example of a QB lacking these factors. Recently benched after one full season plus two games under center, his team, the Carolina Panthers, is devoid of any offensive talent whatsoever to support Young and has already gone through two head coaches in the season-plus since Young was drafted. He was selected with the first overall draft pick in 2023 out of the University of Alabama with high expectations, having won the Heisman Trophy in 2021. But his performance in the NFL has been far from that level of production. In his rookie season, Young threw for 2,877 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, good for a very
poor quarterback rating of 34.1. And it’s not just the numbers; watching him play, he makes poor decisions with the ball and cannot make high-quality throws.
When asked about Young’s situation, Jack O’Brien ’26 said, “I think at Alabama, he was surrounded with skilled players… if you gave him a better team, I don’t know how good he would be.” He also contrasted this situation to that of C.J. Stroud, the quarterback who was drafted with the pick after Young and has found success with the help of a very strong Texans team in front of him.
Many people feel that he was thrust into the starting role too ear-
ly. The Panthers have no players talented enough to help him. He is in a situation that could never work out, leading many to believe that he would have benefitted from not immediately being the starting quarterback and instead sitting until both he and his team were ready for his arrival as a starter. There is nothing to say that Bryce Young was destined for failure – coming out of college, he was a very highly touted player with a bright future in the NFL. But now, many would call him a broken quarterback. It would take a drastic change to save the career trajectory of Bryce Young. ☐
College Football Season Update
By Will Hennigar ’26 Panel Staff
The first five weeks of the college football season have featured dozens of surprises that most fans never expected. There have been preseason favorites dropping many spots in the ranking or even out of the AP Top 25, some teams surprisingly climbing the ranking from being previously unranked, and of course some of the same old powerhouses maintaining their dominant grip on the sport year after year.
Many fans have been shocked by the collapse of Florida State this season, who got out to an 1-3 start after
being ranked 10th in the preseason AP polls, with all of their losses coming to unranked opponents, including Georgia Tech, Boston College, and Memphis. This came as a shock, as FSU was one of the best teams in college football last season, and was “snubbed” from the college football playoffs. When asked about FSU’s poor start to the season, fifth former Jackson Hurd ’26 said, “FSU has looked like the worst team since the 2016 0-16 Cleveland Browns.”
The Seminoles have seemed to have imploded from the inside largely due to poor quarterback play by D.J. Uiagalelei, and the Seminoles seem to have checked out on the season and already moved on to planning for next year.
Boston College on the other hand, started out the season surprisingly well, putting themselves on the map after a huge upset over 10thranked FSU to begin the season. The Eagles were 24th ranked going into week three against a tough opponent in 6th-ranked Mizzou. BC lost a tough one-score game in the end but proved they could compete with some of the best teams in college football. BC was able to narrowly beat Michigan State on September 21st, 23-19, scoring a touchdown to take the lead in the waning minutes of the game. After winning the red bandana game, BC moved to 3-1. Texas has been dominant this season, deserving of the ranking of
number one in the polls, leaving many fans to wonder if this is the year Texas will win the national championship, or will another team rise to take away the Longhorns grip on the NCAA.
A Recap of The 2024 Summer Olympic Games
By Ethan Xie ’26 and Justin Li ’26 Panel Staff
The 2024 Summer Olympics has now concluded, with thrilling events, records broken, and unforgettable moments. Some highlights were broadcasted across television and others were more niche to their sport. This Olympic year, as Jackson Hurd ’26 puts it, “was one of the best ones” because of how close “gold medal results [were]” and because of its “epic storylines.”
One of the standout highlights of the U.S. national team was its rowers, consisting of Nick Mead, Justin Best, Michael Grady, and Liam Corrigan. The Americans took the gold in the men’s straight four for the first time since 1960, edging out New Zealand by just 0.85 seconds. Rowing student-athlete Rhett Curtis ’26 remarked, “Truly a race to watch, and being a rower myself it certainly inspired me to push harder and cement my spot on the Belmont Hill Rowing team.”
Now on a more comedic note in the Olympics, the sport of breakdancing debuted as an official Olympic sport for the first time. Australian breakdancer ‘Raygun’ became a worldwide meme for her remarkably sub-par skills. While Australia didn’t secure a medal, their performances certainly put breakdancing across the map, as many students in Belmont Hill including Eita Fuse ’26 expressed that “it was quite humorous.”
Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikec also became a worldwide meme, however, this was because of his stellar performance despite a nonchalant nature. His calmness and lack of assistive equipment besides his glasses made him a worldwide sensation. Soon to be referred to as a “hitman” for having one hand in his pocket during competition, Jack Dragoumanos ’26 remarked, “I think the Turkish guy was pretty dialed. Definitely had some practice perchance.”
American sprinter Noah Lyles also made headlines, securing gold in the men’s 100 meters by a hair. His win added to a
string of U.S. track and field successes at the games, contributing to the country’s strong medal tally. Lyles’ victory was particularly notable as he managed to fend off strong competition and outrage from his, “World Champions of what?” interview when discussing the NBA champions.
The US Men’s National Basketball Team pushed through tough competition to put on a show in the finals. After tough exhibition matches against South Sudan, snatching the win by just 1 point, and Germany, who lost by 4 points, the future of the team was not looking promising. However, the star players proved their talent and put on a show when it was needed. An avid basketball fan, Jackson Hurd ’26 explained how this “was the most talent-filled Olympic [basketball] tournament of all time.” The Greatest of All Time Lebron James cemented his unarguable longevity as one of the greats, and Steph Curry shot down jumpers and three-pointers as the definite Greatest Shooter of
All Time to be crowned champions over France in a jaw-dropping 98 - 87 point win. The Paris Olympics were truly a spectacle. With the help of social media, many niche sports and heartwarming moments were shared with millions, and excitement was provided to many watchers. The US won the most medals 126 (40 gold medals) with remarkable performances across the board. China, who managed to tie the US in gold medals, came in second with 91 total medals. However, the dominant US performance shouldn’t take away from the amazing stories and moments created from this year’s Olympics, a true spectacle. ☐ in the Panthers’ first game of the season, putting Young’s future into further doubt. On the defensive end, the youth seem to be the ones that are dominating the league. The 2nd year Lions duo, Aidan Hutchinson and Brian Branch have both had electric starts to the season. Hutchinson leads the NFL with 5.5 sacks with 4.5 of them coming in their loss against the Buccaneers, while Branch has excelled in pass coverage with a season leading 5 pass deflections and an int to go with it. Patriots 2nd year DE Keion White has made a massive impact on their first win of the season with 4 sacks and a forced fumble to begin his season.
Derek Carr Google Images Sam Darnold Google Images
Ryan Williams Google Images
