The Panel - Volume 72, Issue 3 - September 28, 2023

Belmont Hill Begins 100th Fall with Radical Change

By Executive Staff ’24 Panel Staff

Sitting in the Chapel on August 28th, Belmont Hill boys were surprised by a number of changes to school policy, namely the instantly infamous NoPhone Policy. Last Friday, another shock arose as mumblings of new Loop regulations were confirmed during Mr. Tahan’s opening Athletics Chapel. We, as the Executive Staff of The Panel, believe that it is our duty to address our opinion about these specific changes, as it seems like you cannot walk through the halls, eat a lunch, or spend a free block without the topics being brought up.

First, the No-Phone Policy. Leaving the Chapel that first day of school, we remember being initially frustrated with the change. Phones have been allowed on campus for longer than any student has been on campus, and their use was previously a privilige granted to Upper School students. Mr. Bradley instituted an initial “warn -

ing period,” which was more necessary than we thought when we found myself almost involuntarily pulling my phone out of my pocket. Over the course of the last few weeks, it has been a controversial topic, to say the least, but we ultimately believe that it is beneficial to the school. As much as it has been nice to use our phones freely over the past few years, any Upper School student can admit that the policy of “reasonable use” was not followed to the letter. Additionally, while you now have to ask for permission, if there is a genuine reason to use your phone, you will be able to use it. Overall, phones have been invading upon Belmont Hill. We do, however, miss the many good uses out of them. Students could freely communicate with one another about club meetings, changes in schedule or study sessions. On the flip side, taking the recent dance party last Friday as an example, Mr. Zellner pointed out, “That was the best example of [The No-Phone Policy] I’ve seen. No one was recording, it was

just a chance for guys to mess around and have fun. That’s what it should be.”

Even with the benefits of free phone usage, we believe that the No-Phone Policy will probably be for the better of Belmont Hill as a school and a community, as unpopular of an opinion it may be.

Now, the recent changes to the Loop. The Loop is one of the most memorable parts at Belmont Hill. As the front page article from The Panel Volume 61 Issue 3, featured below due to its pertinence to current events, put it, “The moment our teams step onto the field, rink, or court, everything changes. The discontinuous patches of student surge together forming a rising tide of loud, raucous, blue-attired Belmont Hill boys known simply as The Loop.” The article perfectly encapsulates what the Loop was – we seriously recommend reading it – before it was reformed last Friday. Traditions and staples of the Loop, like going shirtless and painting yourself blue, have now been banned. Emails, videos, and

shirt designs have been closely monitored, and there has been much frustration among the student body and particularly from the Sixth Form. Last Friday, we overheard one of our classmates say, “Belmont Hill says it’s all about tradition, but it feels like they change [The Loop] every other year.” We can agree. While certain changes have been necessary, the Loop reforms feel like just another item on the list of grievances that are altering the nature of what Belmont Hill once was. A changing schedule every year and lunch room uncertainty do not help to ease these tensions. All in all, we feel that Belmont Hill is and has been undergoing a period of change in our years here and it has felt tumultuous. Whether the end result will be positive for the school and student body has yet to be fleshed out, but we can only hope that students are consulted and have a voice in the future of such a valued and treasured part of our community. ☐

Seniors and Teachers Return From Kenney Legacy Trip

By Alex Laidlaw ’25 Panel Staff

You can feel the pulse of history at Omaha Beach. 79 years since that fateful June day, scars remain on the now peaceful northern coast of France. Standing there, overlooking the sea, the group was taken aback by the site. Here and everywhere they traveled, the ghosts of Europe’s darkest hour shook the group, providing a jarring experience.

Named after the late Charlie Kenney ’06, the Kenney Legacy Trip takes students and teachers across Europe to learn about World War II. Honoring Kenney’s service and devotion to his country, the trip, which is fully funded by the Kenney family, allows students and teachers to grow a deeper

appreciation for the sacrifices made to keep our country free. This year, Four students, Max Glick ’24, Luke Trevisan ’24, Haden Bottiglieri ’24, Cole Sparks ’24, and two teachers, Mr. Williams and Mr. Bracken ’15, embarked on this journey through Europe.

The trip lasted 10 action-packed days. Starting in London, the group visited the Churchill War Rooms and Bletchley Park. After two days in the UK, the group took the train to Paris, where they toured the Paris War Museum. From there, they drove to Belgium, visiting World War II battle sites such as the Battle of the Bulge. Then, on the coast of the North Sea, the group began traveling west, visiting Dunkirk and Normandy on the way. Finally, back in France, the

FROM THE ARCHIVES: 2012

team made their way back to London and, eventually, the United States.

For the students on the trip, the sites provided a jarring realization of the fragility of freedom. Moreover, it offered them a greater appreciation

for the sacrifice so many soldiers gave. For Max Glick ’24, the American Military Cemetery in Normandy was the most impactful site on the trip. Overlooking Omaha Beach, the cemetery is filled with a seemingly endless number of crosses, truly highlighting the scale of the battle. Standing in this solemn memorial, Max was taken aback: “I definitely gained an appreciation for soldiers, both past and present, for allowing us to be free.” Similarly, when asked what site he found most striking, Mr. Bracken paused for a moment, before stating, “The WWI cemetery at Belleau Wood.” Like Max, it was the scale of the cemetery that startled him. Even though he, as a history teacher, is incredibly knowledgeable on the subject, standing in the cemetery made the statistics of lives lost feel “real.”

Every day, the group came together for dinner. As they ate, they reflected on the sites they had visited. For Mr. Bracken, this was the best part of the day. Mr. Bracken was fascinated with how each person got something a little different from every site.

Overall, the 2023 Kenney Legacy Trip continued its legacy of providing a moving and thought-provoking experience. The power of the trip could be heard in the voices of the participants. The group would like to thank the Kenney family for making this experience possible, and Charlie Kenney ’06 for his willingness to serve his country. ☐

Pages 2-4: News

Page 5: BH Photos

Page 6: Arts

Page 7: Playlist of the Issue

Page 8: Opinions

Page 9-11: Sports

Page 12: Fun

Members of the Trip Mr. Bracken

Ms. Celine Pak Joins Belmont Hill

By Brian lee ’24 Panel staff

Belmont Hill is thrilled to welcome Celine Pak, the school’s newest teaching fellow in the Classics department. Teaching Latin Alpha and Latin Gamma, Ms. Pak is also actively involved in extracurricular activities beyond the classroom, lending a hand to Mr. Conway with the Middle School newspaper and assisting Mr. Doar and Mr. Chittock with Boys of the Book. She also has plans to establish a Certamen team at Belmont Hill, which could participate in a national competition delving into all things Latin, from the language to mythology and history. As a Form II advisor, she is also dedicated to providing guidance and support to her students, fostering their growth and development.

Ms. Pak grew up in Newton, Massachusetts, spending her elementary-school years at the Brimmer and May School in Newton. She then went on to attend Boston University Academy for high school where she was involved in the literary magazine and served as an admissions tour guide. However, it was her involvement in the Community Service Club that left a lasting impact, teaching her the value of “character formation and the impor-

tance of small, repeated acts of kindness rather than one grandiose gesture.”

Ms. Pak attended Haverford College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a small liberal arts school where she majored in Comparative Literature and Classical Languages. While not officially part of any sports team, she developed a passion for running and swimming, both of which she continues to enjoy today.

Following college, Ms. Pak served as a teaching assistant at Haverford College, where she taught Ancient Greek to college freshmen. This experience allowed her to share her passion for languages and classical studies with eager young minds. When asked about other formative life experiences, Ms. Pak recalled her teaching at her alma mater in 2018-2019: “Although BUA is a very different school than BH, one thing that they share is that they’re both schools where the adults care deeply about the children in attendance. Working at BUA was the first time I got to see the ‘adult side’ of a school that cares very deeply about its mission, and I fell in love with the job. With both jobs at BUA and Belmont Hill, I’m often reminded of the Latin word ‘cura,’ (care) which is a word that pops up everywhere in Cicero. It’s cura that I see at Belmont Hill, both from the teachers and the boys: a commitment to knowing and

BH Welcomes Mrs. Nimjeh

By Duncan Kilbride ’24 panel staff

Ms. Nijmeh is one of the 13 esteemed incoming staff and faculty this year and will be taking over for Ms. Richards as the new Director of Academic Support. In this role, she has numerous responsibilities including communication and coordination with a team of peer tutors who support other students throughout the week, meeting with students herself to help them stay organized and on track with their school work, and speaking with teachers and parents to find solutions when a student experiences challenges in the classroom. Her favorite aspect of Belmont Hill so far has been getting to know and work with students one-on-one. After graduating from San Francisco State University with an undergraduate degree in English with an emphasis in literature, she continued on to get

Mrs. Simmons

seeing each boy on an individual level, but also, more importantly, a love of that duty--the knowledge that this is a shared commitment between all of us.”

We are extremely excited to have such a passionate educator on board, who brings not only a love for Classics, but also a dedication to instilling a sense of care and community within Belmont Hill and its students, teachers, and faculty. As she embarks on her journey as a teaching fellow, her commitment to education will undoubtedly enrich the lives of both students and colleagues alike, and we look forward to the positive impact she will certainly have on our school community. ☐

By Noah Farb ’24 Panel staff

Mrs. Simmons joins Belmont Hill as a Business Office Associate. Specifically, she will manage student billing, the bookstore, and provide the business office with other financial support.

Mrs. Simmons grew up in Arlington, graduated from Arlington Catholic High School and the College of the Holy Cross with a BA in Economics/ Accounting. Her path to Belmont Hill has taken a few turns, having previously worked for the accounting firm Ernst and Young, Lahey Clinic, Harvard University, and Saint Raphael Parish and School in Medford. When asked what she is most excited about, she mentioned being a part of the “special community at Belmont Hill and the new friendships [she] will gain.” She hopes to use her “experience and skills to make positive contributions to the business office and to the Belmont Hill community, while maintaining the high standards of Mrs. Donahue.”

At home, Mrs. Simmons has five kids, ranging in age from 14 to 20. Her nephew, Kevin Simmons ’23, is a recent graduate of Belmont Hill. With experience in different fields, Mrs. Simmons is sure to provide lots of help in many different ways at Belmont Hill. ☐

Ms. Allen Joins Belmont Hill

her first master’s degree in special education from San Francisco State University. She is currently working on a second master’s degree in educational leadership and administration through Arizona State University.

Ms. Nijmeh will certainly bring invaluable experience and professionalism to Belmont Hill’s Academic Support teams as she has been in the academic world for her entire career, and even started a tutoring company while in high school and college. She also has spent seven of the last ten years of her career at all-boys high schools in California. “Being at Belmont Hill,” Ms. Nijmeh says, “feels very familiar to me.”

Outside of school, Ms. Nijmeh enjoys various forms of crafting, from making her own jewelry to crocheting. She also loves to cook, and recently picked up gardening. The Panel is so excited to have Ms. Nijmeh at Belmont Hill and to see how much she can help make Belmont Hill a better place!

By Ethan xie ’26 and adrian tan ’25 panel staff

Born in California, Ms. Allen recently graduated from the Berklee College of Music in 2023. As a child, she moved constantly between Anaheim and Yorba Linda. She is the oldest child in a family of five children and is the first person in her family to earn a B.A. (Bachelor’s in Musical Education with a minor in Psychology).

Going to Skidmore College for a Summer Jazz Intensive was a formative life experience, where she heard and met some of her musician heroes, which convinced her to pursue a career in music.

For fun, she likes to read, draw, play most outdoor activities or games (usually softball/baseball), go rock climbing, and go for walks while listening to music. Of course, she also plays music in her free time but doesn’t lump it in with “hobbies” be-

cause it feels more serious than that to her.

At Belmont Hill, Ms. Allen will be directing and conducting many of the ensembles, including Orchestra, Middle and Upper School Jazz Bands, and Rock Band. Furthermore, Ms. Allen has talked about plans for a pep band and a possible musical festival (inviting other ensembles to come to BH and perform alongside our ensembles). Although these plans have not yet come to fruition, Ms. Allen is extremely excited about all the possibilities within our current music program and the endless new options it presents.

Ms. Allen wishes to make the best out of each ensemble while reaching out to broaden students’ horizons. Although at the moment, she is only here for a year, she is happily open to extending her stay and is looking forward to making lots of connections with students, teachers, parents, and faculty! ☐

Mr. Lopez Joins Belmont Hill As Admissions Associate

By Lev tolkoff ’24 panel staff

Belmont Hill welcomes new faculty Mr. Lawrence Lopez-Menzies to the community. He hails from Connecticut where he attended the Brunswick school. From there he attended Yale University for undergrad, earning a degree in political science with a focus on Chinese international relations. He then attended Columbia University for graduate school where he earned a masters in clinical and counseling psychology.

Mr. Lopez previously worked in education at a youth development program in Dallas, Texas working with young adults ages 18-24 preparing them for corporate workspaces, while also tying that in with a local community college. Additionally, he lived and worked in Shanghai, China as a guidance counselor for students looking to study abroad for college in the United States.

Having started rowing in high school, Mr. Lopez went on to row at Yale on their 2nd varsity eight. While he was there he posted a 2k time of 5:59, a feat any rower dreams of, put -

ting him in an elite category in the rowing world. He also coached crew at a school in Greenwich, Connecticiut, winning multiple national championships with the women’s team.

As an admissions associate, Mr. Lopez will be working both as an admissions officer and towards making Belmont Hill a more accessible community for more people. He will use his grad school experience to help out in the counseling office to provide additional support for students. Mr. Lopez will work with Mr. Collins to bring back SAFE, a student organization intended to focus on inclusion and community.

Finally, Mr. Lopez will be teaching Middle East and China in the spring and coaching basketball and rowing.

Mr. Lopez hopes to offer Belmont Hill a fresh set of eyes as we move forward as a community in the realm of diversity, equity, and inclusion. He wanted to, “Thank (the community) for having me, I’m excited to be here, but please save me some cookies at milk and cookies.” The Panel welcomes Mr. Lopez and is excited to see the success he will have this year. ☐ Mr. Lopez-Menzies

John Gillooly

Ms. Pak John Gillooly

Hagedorn and Keefe Study in South Africa

By Eli Norden ’26 Panel Staff

This summer, James Keefe ’25 and Henry Hagedorn ’25 embarked on their leg of the Belmont Hill-Bishops Diocesan College exchange program. Last fall, as part of the tenth year of this transcontinental partnership, Henry and James hosted Ben Anderson, who marked his stay at Belmont Hill by delivering two incredible Woodbury speeches. Bishops College is an allboys high school in Cape Town, South Africa, in the suburb of Rondebosch.

James arrived at the end of Bishops’ vacation before the beginning of its term. He enjoyed hanging out with Ben and his friends during this time. James described his highlights as “meeting other people. . . particularly from many different backgrounds and ethnicities,” alongside trying many new foods like biltong,

dried and cured meat, and crocodile meat. He also enjoyed playing rugby against the Paarl Boy’s High School, the third-best rugby school in the nation.

Henry, on the other hand, enjoyed a very different experience. Arriving a week after James left, he enjoyed Bish -

Mr. Vargas Teaches Physics

By Brandon Li ’26 Panel Staff

Mr. Vargas joins the Belmont Hill community this year as a Teaching Fellow for the Science Department. This year, he will teach Physics and IPS, while serving as a Form VI advisor alongside Mr. Doar. Given his background in neuroscience, Mr. Vargas will also assist with curriculum development for Dr. Goldberg’s biomedical engineering course. On the athletic side of campus, he currently coaches 5th soccer and plans to get involved with music at Belmont Hill.

Growing up in the Dominican Republic, Mr. Vargas attended a small K-12 Christian school in the city of Santiago. Throughout high school, he played on his school’s varsity soccer team and “was always interested in biology.” Additionally, he played the double bass for the National Youth Symphony Orchestra in the Dominican Republic. After graduating, Mr. Vargas attended Dartmouth College, where he majored in neuroscience and took chemistry and public health policy classes as part of a pre-medical track. He was very

active as a student researcher, conducting research for a campus neuroscience lab for many years. In addition, he played the bass for Dartmouth’s symphony orchestra.

In his free time, Mr. Vargas enjoys playing in local soccer pick-up games, practicing his bass, and making an effort to work out “at least four times a week.” Although he wants to complete his education at some point and go to medical school, he is looking forward to the experiences that his time at Belmont Hill will bring: “I came to the United States with the intention of becoming a doctor, [so] going into education right now might be a little bit of a detour, but it’s still going to help me out in the end, and I’m really grateful to be here at Belmont Hill.” ☐

ops’ school-organized trip to Robben Island, swimming and kayaking with seals and penguins, and going to the Andersons’ beach house every weekend. In school, he loved his Afrikaans language class and playing rugby; Henry played against Rondebosch Boys’

High School, whose incredible student section has gone viral on social media.

Both Henry and James expressed surprise at the Bishops boys’ good-natured teasing about their accents and their common misconception that every school in the United States has experienced a mass shooting. Additionally, Henry and James were surprised to learn about the common South African occurrence of load-shedding— when the power in entire regions gets turned off for specific amounts of time because South Africa lacks sufficient power stations and generators nationwide. They both described that it was very odd to be in town when the traffic lights do not work, and everybody just has to figure out what to do at every intersection.

When asked if they would recommend the exchange to current Form III students, James said “100%,” and Henry remarked, “It was incredible.” ☐

Ms. Chiu Joins Belmont Hill

By Bradford Adams ’26 and Henry Ramanathan ’26 Panel Staff

Belmont Hill is proud to announce the arrival of Ms. Chiu, a valued addition to our campus community within the Modern Langauge department for the upcoming academic year. She joins us as a one-year teaching fellow, filling in for Mr. Shen who is on sabbatical. Her responsibilities encompass teaching Chinese 1 and 4, as well as the more advanced levels of Chinese 4 and 5. In addition to her teaching role, Ms. Chiu will assume the role of a dedicated coach for the middle school cross-country team, and she will be lending her support to Dr. Tift’s advisory. When asked for her favorite thing about Belmont Hill so far, Ms. Chiu replied, “I think this is a very professional school because not only the teachers but the faculty and staff really care about their students and are giving all their energy to make the students better.” Ms. Chiu also expressed her gratitude for the hard work and dedication of the students, stating, “I really like the atmosphere. The students are great,

they always prepare for my class, they do the homework, and they try to engage in class activities, and teaching at Belmont Hill has been a very good experience.”

Originally growing up in Taiwan, Ms. Chiu brings a wealth of experience, having previously taught Chinese at Salem State University. While at Salem State, she taught part-time, but now she has the opportunity to immerse herself in full-time teaching. She is a member of the New England Chinese Teacher Association and holds a Master of Applied Linguistics Studies in Foreign Languages from UMass. Beyond her professional qualifications, Ms. Chiu has a passionate love for running, making her an ideal fit for coaching the middle school cross-country team this fall. Furthermore, she is a devoted mother to Sylvia, her daughter. Ms. Chiu’s enthusiasm for teaching aligns seamlessly with the values we uphold here at Belmont Hill. We are confident she will be an exceptional addition to our educational community. We extend our warmest wishes for a successful and fulfilling year of teaching, Ms. Chiu! ☐

Mrs. Hamilton Becomes Dean of Teaching at BH

By Will Hennigar ’26 Panel Staff

Mrs. Hamilton has taken the new position of Dean of Teaching in her 28th year of service to Belmont Hill after heading Belmont Hill’s Middle School for thirteen of those years. In reflecting on her experience as Director of the Middle School, Mrs. Hamilton says that she loved being a part of the beginning of a student’s journey here. Some of her favorite Middle-School traditions include Greek and Roman Field Day, the Thanksgiving Turkey Drive, and the Form II trip to Washington, D.C. Mrs. Hamilton is very proud of the eight core words she selected in collaboration with the Middle School Senate. Those words are respect, effort, teamwork, responsibility, leadership, empathy, courage, and integrity, which can be seen on the bottom floor of Melvoin. During her first year in the role, the Middle School transitioned from the old Howe building to mobile educational units on the chapel lawn, which served as the Middle School building for one and a half years. She is grateful

that the students and teachers together were able to make the temporary space feel like a home before moving into the bigger and more modern Melvoin Academic Center. Some of the more challenging elements of her former position came during the COVID-19 pandemic. The isolation made it harder for the strong sense of community at BH to be present during that time. Furthermore, Mrs. Hamilton was excited to take the role of Dean of Teaching and Learning so she can focus on supporting the new teachers, as well as the returning ones. The goal of this new role is to be sure there is a support system in place for the adults. She says “the men and women on this faculty, on this staff, on this admin team are simply wonderful human beings and I am grateful to learn and laugh with them.” During her time so far at Belmont Hill, Mrs. Hamilton is grateful for the multiple opportunities she has had and continues to enjoy, including being an English teacher, an advisor, a coach, and a theater director. She is also grateful for the relationships she has formed at Belmont Hill, as they are what make this school so special. She is looking to pay forward the

support she received from colleagues such as Mr. Martin, Mr. Cressey, Dr. Melvoin, and Dr. Goodband, as well as many others. She is thrilled to have Mr. Sullivan as the next Middle School

director. The Panel thanks Mrs. Hamilton for thirteen years as Head of the Middle School filled with dedication and kindness, and looks forward to what the future holds for her. ☐

Mrs. Hamilton John Gillooly

James and Henry at the Bishops College Henry Hagedorn ’25 and James Keefe ’25

Mr. Vargas John Gillooly

New Counselor: Mr. Liston

By Jayden Lotin ’26 Panel Staff

Mr. Liston joins Belmont Hill as a new school counselor, replacing Ms. Ginsberg, who left in June to pursue private practice. He wants to help students and families with their problems and plans to continue working as a school counselor and in private practice, staying engaged in education and mental health.

Mr. Liston grew up in suburban northern California. He was introduced to independent schools through a PG year at the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey, and his time at Lawrenceville led him to Colby College, where he majored in Performing Arts while also playing Varsity Lacrosse. At Colby, Mr. Liston also came to know Mr. Feldman. Before joining Belmont Hill as a school counselor, Mr. Liston had previous experience working in Boston Public Schools, in boarding schools, and in administrative roles. During his time as Director of Counseling and Wellness at the Rivers School, he met Ms. Schmunk, and they hoped to work with each other someday. When she called about a position opening

at Belmont Hill, Mr. Liston jumped at the chance. He aims to be a resource to students, families, and faculty to help students navigate challenges more efficiently and pursue wellness. Mr. Liston also wants to help students leave Belmont Hill feeling lighter and better equipped to handle life’s curveballs.

Mr. Liston’s life at home is centered around his wife, Delphine, and their two daughters, ages 10 and 13. He is a committed and experienced school counselor who values positively impacting students’ lives, helping them navigate challenges, and fostering wellness within the school community. ☐

New and Improved Lunch

By Jack Ramanathan ’26 Panel Staff

Under the new management of Mr. Maws and FLIK Independent School Dining team, the revamping of the Dining Hall has been a resounding success. Over the summer, the location of the salad bar and deli bar were moved to decrease the wait time for students. Last year, congestion in lines was a large problem that students often faced, resulting in less time to sit down and eat. The Dining Hall staff hopes that students will now have unimpeded access to a more diverse food experience.

Mr. Maws noted that students previously lacked excitement and interest in trying new meals. He is focusing heavily on improving the quality of the food while also providing students with healthier and more nutritious lunches. When he was a student at Belmont Hill, Mr. Maws noted that “much of the quality could have been better, the freshness could have been better, and the variety could have been better.” Now as a faculty member, Mr. Maws is aiming to change those very issues.

One of the first actions that he took upon arrival was to deep-clean the kitchen, enabling the staff to prepare fresh and quality ingredients. After “gutting out” the entire kitchen, Mr. Maws concentrated on bringing the deli and salad bars together in the center of the room to accompany the large size of the student population. The former chef also commented on a secret “hidden-gem” of the Dining Hall: the sauces at the salad bar. He believes that students can get creative and add certain sauces to entrees to complete their meals.

Mr. Maws outlined his three main priorities for improving the Dining Hall experience: providing each and every student with the necessary foods, ameliorating the quality of each meal, and spreading the message of why each change is so important. Although acknowledging that nothing can be perfect, he mentioned that students should have the best experience possible. Mr. Maws values all of the student feedback greatly and is looking forward to reading reviews that students have posted on Veracross. If any student wishes to leave their own review, they can simply head into the website and click on the Dining Hall tab. ☐

Luke Guleserian ’24 Spends Summer in Kazakhstan

By Duncan Kilbride ’24 Panel Staff

This past summer Luke Guleserian ’24, embarked on a 7-week trip to Kazakhstan. He first became interested in the trip after an email from Ms. Zener advertised this opportunity to learn a new language in a foreign country. The National Security Language Initiative for Youth is a State-Department-sponsored program with the goal of educating youth on languages critical to American foreign policy. Around 450 students, each learning one of 10 languages, participated in the program this year. When he applied, Luke had little experience in speaking or reading Russian (besides a summer of Zoom classes through the same program in Russian), but had always had a fascination with the language. This, combined with his interest in the Russian region’s complex history and culture, eagerness to travel the world, and excitement to meet new people who shared similar interests, made Luke a perfect candidate for the trip.

After his acceptance, Luke traveled to Washington, D.C. for orientation in the

Luke Guleserian ’24 in Kazahkstan

last week of June. There were a total of 15 other students in his group ranging from a freshman at Ohio State to a junior from Oklahoma. When the group finally arrived in Kazakhstan, they were greeted by beautiful landscapes and friendly people

Luke Guleserian ’24

(many of whom had never met an American before). During Luke’s 7-week stay, he attended Russian classes from 9 AM to 12 PM every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. In the afternoons, Luke immersed himself in various cultural clubs like

the Music Club and the Movie Club. Every Tuesday, the group went on smaller excursions in the city to venues like the Museum of Musical Instruments or a soviet war museum. On Saturdays, they went on grander excursions out of the city to various national parks and other cultural landmarks. On one occasion, Luke made a Belmont Hill oar on a rug made of sheep wool which he still has. Although this trip was the longest he had ever been away from home and contained countless hours of studying and practicing, Luke claims he would do it again in a heartbeat. At the end of the trip, he was evaluated by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) to be on the high end of intermediate in Russian, a tremendous accomplishment in such a short amount of time. He is continuing to study the language with a private tutor outside of school and plans to keep taking classes when in college. Luke vigorously recommends this program “for anyone who wants to reach outside their comfort zone and explore the world.” ☐

Mr. Sullivan Becomes the New Head of the Middle School

By Will Hennigar

Mr. Sullivan has been at Belmont Hill for 16 years and has worked in many different roles, including Director of Financial Aid, Head Form III and IV Advisor, Math Department Chair, and head coach of the varsity lacrosse team. This year marks his first as the Head of the Middle School. Mr. Sullivan thanks Ms. Hamilton for the incredible job she has done and states that the bar for this position has been set very high. He believes that it makes sense to pivot on what your role is at the school about every five years in order to challenge yourself. His favorite part of the new position so far has been working with all 202 middle school boys and running middle school lunch. The most challenging part has been learning the names of every boy, especially due to

the fact that Mr. Sullivan has primarily worked in the Upper School for the last three years. Mr. Sullivan has been surprised by the amount of logistics that occur behind the scenes every day. This includes the amount of emails he has to respond to, scheduling meetings, and making sure everything is running smoothly. He gives credit to Mr. Peck who knows every student in the middle school and where they should be at all times. Mr. Sullivan’s favorite school tradition is milk and cookies, as he thinks it is great to see the entire school come together for a quick snack. Additionally, he likes the 4 pm study hall and the process of returning to school dress code after sports to get extra help, be in a club, participate in theater, and do homework. Furthermore, Mr. Sullivan likes the Form Trips that happen at the beginning of the school year, as well as the Form III Turkey Drive and the Form II DC Trip. Mr. Sullivan’s fondest

memory as chair of the math department, his previous role, was their ability to navigate the spring of 2020 and then the 2020-21 school year. He was proud of the teamwork that went into making sure students were still learning, even though it was challenging and exhausting. He felt incredibly fortunate to have been a small faction of such a great team during that time. When coming to Belmont Hill every day, Mr. Sullivan looks forward to, as he puts it, “everything.” He loves the tremendous culture of working hard, having fun, and the fast pace that is ingrained in our school. We thank Mr. Sullivan for his sixteen years of hard work and are excited for this new chapter in his already storied Belmont Hill career. ☐

’26

Panel Staff

Mr. Sullivan John Gillooly

Mr. Liston John Gillooly

Sampson Wilcox Illuminates the Landau Art Gallery

By Jaiden Lee ’26 Panel Staff

Recently, a new showcase was spotlighted at the Landau Gallery, exhibiting abstract and colorful art from a professional artist for all visitors to enjoy. For newer students who might be unfamiliar with the gallery, the Landau Gallery at Belmont Hill is one of the top trademarks of the school’s art locations. It is a professional art gallery that spotlights current working artists, and often holds a diverse student display of work and talent from classes or individual projects. All shows or receptions held in the Landau Gallery are open to the public for viewing and enjoyment.

The showcase present in the gallery is that of professional artist Sampson Wilcox, a visual artist and designer, based in Midway Studios in Boston. Mr. Wilcox is also active in graphic design and other media work for the Research Laboratory of Electronics at MIT. His personal statement reads: “I rely on the practice of walking to think about my projects and the problems I am solving in my work. My current paintings are focused on largescale canvas and mural applications.”

After even a few observations of his work in the gallery and online, it is clear that Mr. Wilcox’s art style is abstract, colorful, and often utilizes smooth and

wavy lines. Many of his pieces are pleasing and aesthetic to the viewer’s eyes.

In the Landau Gallery, the artwork displayed is both abstract and grandi -

ose, with one painting only utilizing colors of gray and white on a significantly large canvas, while another contrasts blue, gray, and white on a smaller

vertical canvas, giving off the impression of wavy smoke making its way around the frame. Yet another painting combines almost every color imaginable, with striking contrasts of red, green, yellow, blue, white, black, and gray, almost giving off the vibes of graffiti art in a tangled mess of abstract art.

Several of Mr. Wilcox’s pieces have been recognized in major exhibitions and publications. These works include: “Gaudi” in the Mayor’s Gallery in Boston City Hall (2019), “A HighLift Micro-Aerial-Robot Powered by Low-Voltage and Long-Endurance Dielectric Elastomer Actuators,” as the cover artwork in Advanced Materials in Weinheim, Germany (2022), “Reasserting U.S. Leadership in Microelectronics - A White Paper on the Role of Universities,” as Design and Creative Direction for National Initiative in MIT (2021-2022), and “Vergangene Zukunft - In the Future” in the Atlantic Wharf Gallery in Boston (2018). Although he is based in Massachusetts and most of his work is displayed within the region, his work has also crossed international borders, as in the case of Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Sweden, and more. If any students, parents, or faculty have not yet had the opportunity to go check out the current artwork hanging in the Landau Gallery, it is definitely recommended to go visit as soon as you can; it is well worth the time. ☐

Artist of the Issue: Julian Rodriguez-Montgomery ’24

By Henry Buckley-Jones ’25

Panel Staff

Julian Rodriguez-Montgomery ’24, also known as Rafi, expresses his creativity as a photographer, sculptor, and illustrator. However, Rafi wasn’t always an artist; before his Introduction to Photography class, he did not consider art an option for himself. However, in the class, he grew inspired by Mr. Duarte’s work and passion for the subject and began to pursue photography. He describes “falling in love with film and falling in love with the darkroom” during the COVID year. While he expressed that digital photography is easier and more accessible, he enjoys “the physical space” and “experience of the darkroom” more than Photoshop.

Before Rafi’s introduction to photography, his “only form of expression was sports,” but soon, “photography and art became another thing to fulfill [himself].” Rafi’s story speaks to the reality that trying new things can improve our lives dramatically and that a new passion may always be around the corner. Currently, he isn’t working on any specific photo project, but he is reflecting on his creative process. For Rafi, ideas are constantly forming and changing, but everything is intentional once he starts work on a project. An example of a project he worked on recently involved balloons. He began with an idea web for photos, then recruited specific people as models and staged them in particular poses and settings. Such intentionality is partially because film is expensive and

hard to work with but primarily due to the passion and dedication Rafi has for his work.

His inspiration comes from many places: artists whose work he admires, such as Mr. Duarte and Ms. Bradley, Instagram, and daily life. He is also very aware of the impact little things have on him as an artist and described that he feels slightly changed even after something small, like trying a new food or talking to a new person.

We can expect to see some of Rafi’s work in an upcoming gallery this spring, possibly as part of a collaboration. He is exploring new mediums like ceramics, drawing, and even crochet–some of which we may also see in the coming months. The Panel is excited to see where Rafi’s creativity and artistic passion take him and wish him the best in his future pursuits. ☐

Barbie Movie Review Starring Actress Margot Robbie

By Daniel Xie ’24

The past summer was marked by numerous cultural phenomena, including the legendary double-feature films of Barbie and Oppenheimer. Grossing over $1.4 billion since its release, the highest ever for a female director, Barbie made waves across the planet, using the imagery of a toy many grew up with to bolster its cultural relevance and global impact. With its incredibly colorful set design and intricate costumes, and bolstered by its star-studded cast of actors, including leads Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, and musicians, like 7-time Grammy winner Billie Eilish, the movie aimed to cement itself in the societal discourse of the summer.

While the plasticky design of Barbieland might suggest a relatively shallow, childish plot, the film, in reality, tackles head-on many of the issues women deal with in the modern

day. Barbie approaches the issue of modern beauty standards, for example, by emphasizing the fear that the main character, Stereotypical Barbie played by Margot Robbie, has for the cellulite on her body, when in reality, the entire concept of cellulite being a “disease” was made up by the Vogue magazine.

On the other hand, Barbie explores the concept of patriarchy in its rawest form as Ken, played by Ryan Gosling, establishes his infamous Mojo Dojo Casa House, replacing the wom -

en-run Barbieland with his naive idea of a male-run society. The film explores the pain that both the Kens and Barbies feel when they live in a world where their opinions are silenced and ignored for the benefit of the other gender, which culminates in the powerful speech given by one of the characters in the final moments of the film’s rising action.

Another important aspect of the film is the role that the Mattel corporation and its CEO, portrayed by Will Ferrell, play in Barbieland. The rela -

tionship between the company and the Barbies is highlighted by the Barbie’s belief that their own existence is acting as a force of empowerment for girls and women in the real world. In reality, Mattel, the manufacturer of Barbie dolls, is run by an all-male board whose goal of profit leads Barbies to have the opposite effect on their customers. In addition, the film has the added nuance of the fact that, after the events of the movie have concluded, nothing in Mattel’s power structure changes.

Ultimately, Barbie is a summery, bright movie with a meaningful, and arguably nuanced, plot that directly confronts many of the issues of a male-dominated society. It aims to show that both men and women suffer in a world where one group’s opinion is suppressed, and that, while many of the characters are portrayed as caricatures, the various topics discussed are incredibly modern and culturally relevant. ☐

Sampson Wilcox Displaying Mural

Sampson Wilcox Website

Barbie Movie

Google Images

Panel Staff

Belmont Hill Artists Daniel Duarte

Images from Belmont Hill Homecoming Football Joe Fiumara and Mason Iandiorio ’26

T.Z. Snail: A Musical Study at the Mozarteum University

By T.Z. Snail ’26 Panel Staff

Salzburg, Austria, home to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, was my home for two weeks this summer. It is a Baroque-styled city flanked by a foreboding mountaintop fortress, gardens alive with the sound of music, and rich historical sites exuding an extravagant musical aura. The Mozarteum University, located next to Mirabellgarten (where some scenes from The Sound of Music were filmed), was founded in 1841 by Mozart’s widow Constanze Weber Mozart. As an acclaimed school of music, it attracts students worldwide. Mozarteum offers masterclasses at their summer academy, while the city celebrates “The Salzburg Festival,” the largest classical music festival in the world. World-renowned professors teach the masterclasses, and students must audition by submitting a number of performance pieces from different composers and styles in different eras and I was lucky enough to be admitted to Professor Ya-Fei Chuang’s masterclass.

I spent most of my time during the first week inside the university, taking lessons, studying, and practicing. It was during the 13 hours a day I was there, that I came to know students from around the world. Each student had a unique playing style, and I learned how each piece could be expressed. Professor Chuang was a

fantastic teacher who fine-tuned my technique and playing skills and taught me to perform confidently and expressively to wow the audience. On Friday, I was fortunate enough to be able to perform at the university, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The nervousness and exciting anticipa-

Vienna, I returned once again to Salzburg. Instead of playing, I focused on listening to and learning from the talented musicians as they fielded their professors’ critiques. Each professor had their way of teaching, notably Professor Robert Levin. When I first entered his classroom, I was shocked

a whole new way of conceptualizing music to me. He even let some of his students play on an antique Fortepiano to express how the music sounded hundreds of years ago. Two weeks flew by, and I was left reflecting on the culture, food, music, and attractions Austria had provided. The masterclass served me in many constructive ways. I not only progressed significantly as a pianist, but was introduced to the drastically different lives of students who weren’t from Boston. During these interactions, I learned more about their cultures and shared my experiences as a hockey player, rower, fisherman, and, most importantly, a Belmont Hill student: experiences many of them had no sense of. I will never forget showing videos of the Loop and hockey games at our home rink, and seeing the utter shock on the other pianists’ faces as they tried to comprehend how a sport could be so physically scary, yet so entertaining and exciting to watch. Thank you, Austria, for such an amazing experience. ☐

T.Z. performing at Mozartium University

tion, the crowd of my fellow students, and the room’s ominous presence all contributed to an experience I will never forget!

After a weekend-long excursion to

Snail Family by his humor and patience. He taught enthusiastically, laughing, singing, and even acting out what the music entailed. His vibrant and unique teaching style opened up

Schedule Change? New Y and Z Blocks Make No Sense

By Luke Guleserian ’24 Panel Staff

What are Y and Z blocks? It’s a question that has stumped many of Belmont Hill’s greatest intellectuals since their institution just weeks ago. On Sunday, September 17, Will Walton ’25 wrote, “Drawing and painting club in Ms. Bradley’s room at Y block tomorrow. I don’t know when Y block is but be there.” I think that pretty much sums up the student body’s sentiments regarding this abrupt schedule change.

As I understand it (but I probably still don’t), the old 1:35 period has become Y Block. Often clubs will meet during this time or students can grab their first or second lunch. Z Block is more of the same, taking the place of the old 2:15 period. The only difference I see is that these blocks will now have official names: there is no change other than the nomenclature and ran-

dom bells that will sound at 2:10 and 2:15.

Changes to the Upper School deal more with the required sit-down lunch period, which occurs during X Block on Tuesdays and at 1:40 on Thursdays. Therefore, there is no longer a Tuesday or Thursday X,

sports commitments - so why the change? It should be noted that on Thursdays, the only opportunity to get extra help is at Z Block, at 2:15. The maximum number of chances for extra help on Thursdays is twice: at Z Block or if your free period is on Thursday and the desired teacher is also available at that free period - which is statistically unlikely. Juxtapose this with Mondays and Fridays, when you could have up to four periods to meet with your teacher - X, Y, Z, and your free block. This is not to mention that Friday is quite often a test day and students like to review with their teacher the day before a test.

Sit-down lunch BH Communications

which I and many others find frustrating. Many teachers are not available at 1:35 or 2:15 for extra help because of Middle School

The fact that we just skip Y Block on Thursdays and go straight to Z Block doesn’t help students understand the already overcomplicated schedule. So my question is - why? I simply do not understand what needed to be changed from the previous system. This new system only seems to add more confusion to an already packed day. ☐ The new schedule Plan of the Week

Belmont Hill’s New Artificial Intelligence Policy

By Alex Zhang ’26 Panel Staff

Recently, the increasing popularity of AI technology through ChatGPT and similar generative AI apps has led our school to create a policy regarding the use of such tools in educational settings. In the recently updated 2023-2024 student handbook, it now reads, “Students at Belmont Hill may not use AI generative tools like ChatGPT for school work, homework, or assessments unless their teacher has given them explicit instruction to do so. Using work generated in part or in whole by any AI tool will be considered a violation of Belmont Hill’s honor code and will result in a disciplinary response.”

After reading this short policy to a couple of Form IV students, both agreed that the policy is vague. To start, the policy prohibits the use of work generated by AI tools in homework, but doesn’t clarify all uses of artificial intelligence. For example, does it mean that students cannot use ChatGPT to proofread their work? Is there a difference

between using a tool like Grammarly and ChatGPT? The word “generated” in this context implies ONLY that individuals are not allowed to copy and paste ChatGPT responses into their work. What about to draft ideas, or to gather basic background information such as one can find on Wikipedia? These are questions that many students and faculty have and continue to consider. While neither of the students interviewed condone cheating, they assert that there are instances where ChatGPT could be used without violating the Belmont Hill honor code.

The rise of generative AI technology in the near future is inevitable and will likely be applied everywhere very soon. As Belmont Hill aims to preserve the strict academic integrity that has been a hallmark of the school since 1923, it finds itself at a crossroads. There are two paths our school can take. The first is that the school can ban the use of ChatGPT and generative AI completely. Block the website from computers and change the policy to explicitly say that ChatGPT (or other similar systems)

can’t be used at all. However, this policy won’t achieve much as most students have access to VPNs on their laptops. The second option is to invite students and faculty to develop more clear protocols about constitutes “fair use” vs. cheating when it comes to use of generative AI technologies. Increased participation in the policy development process will increase buy-in and improve the policy overall. That being said, as the technology is evolving so quick-

ly, a school policy can’t possibly cover every possible use of ChatGPT. Inevitably, there will be specific disciplinary cases that will need to be handled on a case by case basis.

If the administration takes the proper steps, generative AI can be harnessed to help students study, instead of being viewed as an impediment to learning. Many well-known online resources like Quizlet and Khan Academy have already implemented generative AI as a tool. There are many other examples where AI generative technology is used as a learning tool for students. The school should allow students to use these sorts of tools instead of banning AI generative tools completely.

The growing impact of AI technologies can’t be ignored. However, the current policy’s vagueness leaves room for interpretation and raises questions about the boundaries of AI tool usage in academic settings. The question remains: can Belmont Hill find a balance between maintaining academic integrity and accepting the potential benefits of AI? ☐

T.Z. and his brother Snail Family

Athlete of the Issue: Nicholas Andersen ’24

By Brady Paquette ’25 and Cooper Tarlie ’25 Panel Staff

As a two-sport varsity athlete who is committed to continuing his athletic career at the Division I level, Nick Andersen, ‘24 is a valued member of both the football and baseball teams at Belmont Hill. This past summer, he committed to play D1 baseball (his main sport) at the College of the Holy Cross. Nick has been a valuable member of the varsity baseball team for three years. So, this fall marks Nick’s final season of playing football having played tackle football since 2nd grade (and flag since pre-school), Nick feels the weight of this season on his shoulders. Formerly a quarterback, he made the switch to wide receiver because it “came naturally” to him. With the advantage of his height and quickness, the wide receiver position set him up for greater success in the past couple of years. When asked about his favorite memories of BH football, Nick quickly jumped to the nature of brotherhood and the close-knit bond of the team. Even though it’s not his main sport, Nick is extremely grateful that he played, and he will hold onto the lessons he learned as he moves forward.

The football team, under the new head coach, Coach Fucillo, has high

hopes for the year. Nick spoke on behalf of the team stating that they “are very lucky to have someone with experience at all levels leading our team, such as Coach Fucillo.” The goal is to make a bowl game. While the team didn’t have much success last year, Nick believes that “the program is in good hands under Coach Fucillo.” With talented leadership and coaching, Nick reflects on his athletic career through Belmont Hill and can’t believe where he is at.

As a senior, Nick looks to be a role model for all rising athletes trying to

New NBA Tournament

By Ben Adams ’25 and Andrew Hildebrandt ’25 Panel Staff

The NBA has introduced a novel in-season tournament scheduled near the start of the season. The NBA season, known for its considerable length, often experiences lower ratings at the beginning of the year due to the relatively lower stakes involved. This tournament will take place from November 3rd to December 9th and, similar to the World Cup format, will include both a group stage and knockout rounds.

The group stage will feature six groups, each containing five teams selected randomly based on their performance from the previous year’s records. In this stage, every team will play two home games and two away games against the other four teams within their group. Upon the conclusion

of these matches, the victor of each group will progress to the knockout stage, along with a wild card team selected from each conference. In case of ties in the group stage standings, tiebreakers will be determined as follows: head-to-head record, point differential, total points scored, and regular season record from the previous year.

The knockout stages will consist of single-elimination games leading up to the championship. Importantly, every game in this stage, except for the championship match, will count towards the teams’ regular 82-game season. The ultimate prize for the winner of this tournament will be the inaugural NBA Cup. The NBA has already implemented regulations to try to prevent players from resting when healthy. It will be intriguing to observe how this tournament unfolds from various perspectives. Hopes are high that this tournament will provide the spark the NBA needs to keep fans entertained. ☐

find their way. He knows how younger kids on the team put the seniors “under a microscope… watching what they do and how they react,” as he remembers his younger years. Some of the older guys Nick looked up to included athletes like Mike Ahonen ’23 and Jack Winnay ’23. Now in their shoes, he strives to be

students through the peer leader program, he has shined a light on what it means to be a true Belmont Hill student-athlete. When asked about his academic workload, Nick states that he “balances playing both varsity baseball and football by doing my schoolwork when I need to and focusing on sports outside of school.” With the support of Belmont Hill and his teammates, Nick shares his love for his school mentioning that he “finds it pretty easy to balance it all because baseball and football are in different seasons and Belmont Hill is structured for us to succeed.”

After graduation, Nick looks forward to joining the baseball team at Holy Cross. He is excited about the combination of a prestigious education and the opportunity to start on the field from “Day 1.” Nick also plans to maintain his strong relationships and friendships with his Belmont Hill classmates given that Holy Cross is only a short drive from home.

as influential a role model as they were.

However, the star-struck catches and game-winning touchdowns are not all that Nick cares about. By participating in Advanced Action Research last year and giving back to the younger

The Panel staff and all of the Belmont Hill community wish Nick good luck in his future endeavors and can’t wait to see what he does next at Holy Cross! ☐

MLB Season Review

By Bradford adams ’26 Panel Staff

The long and demanding MLB season is finally winding down. With October and the playoffs drawing near, it’s time to recap what transpired this year and offer some predictions for the postseason. Prior to the season’s commencement, the Mets, Padres, Yankees, Cardinals, and Guardians were all anticipated to secure playoff berths. They had successful 2022 campaigns and made significant additions in free agency. However, fast-forward to the present, and every one of these teams is destined to miss the playoffs. Notably, the Mets and Yankees, who collectively spent a billion dollars, have been profoundly disappointing. The Mets even traded two Hall of Fame pitchers, Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer, in a cost-saving move. In stark contrast, the Orioles, Reds, Rangers, and Diamondbacks have enjoyed

remarkably successful seasons. These teams finished far from the playoffs last season, but the Reds, Diamondbacks, and especially the Orioles have been invigorated by newly called-up prospects who have performed admirably, resembling seasoned veterans. While numerous teams have had outstanding seasons, only one will emerge victorious in the World Series. My predictions for the playoffs go as follows: The Blue Jays will defeat The Twins and the Rangers will beat the Rays in the AL Wild Card. The Phillies will defeat the Cubs and the Diamondbacks will defeat the Brewers in the NL Wild card. In the ALDS the Astros will beat the Rangers and the Blue Jays will defeat the Orioles. In the NLDS the Braves will defeat the Diamondbacks and the Phillies will defeat the Dodgers. In the ALCS the Blue Jays will defeat the Astros. In the NLCS the Braves will beat the Phillies. The winner of the World Series will be the Atlanta Braves. ☐

Lionel Messi Dominant Start at Inter Miami

By Ben Gong ’26 Panel Staff

American soccer took a massive step forward when the greatest soccer player of all time joined Major League Soccer. Compared to leagues in other parts of the world, especially the Premier League and Europe, the MLS has traditionally been insignificant, irrelevant, and low quality, attracting very low viewership. However, after Inter Miami, the worst team in the league, signed Lionel Messi, the MLS was thrown under the spotlight immediately.

As soon as Messi signed for Inter Miami, there was anticipation. How would the greatest player of all time fare on the 56th best league in the world? The ensuing events played out as many expected. Messi led rock bottom Inter Miami, winless in their last ten games, to their first ever club trophy, the Leagues Cup. He scored ten goals, pro -

vided four assists, won the Top Scorer award, and won the Best Player of the tournament award. In just seven games, he became Inter’s season top goalscorer and also their greatest player of all time. Messi’s impact went far beyond the pitch. Apple TV subscriptions had a 1,690% growth on the day he made his Leagues Cup debut (CNN). Just last summer, Apple signed the MLS to a 10year, $2.5 billion deal to stream matches internationally, which was Apple’s first major sports deal. Thanks to David Beckham (president and co-owner of Inter Miami) and Miami’s ideal location and lifestyle, Apple’s deal just got exponentially better. After Messi’s arrival, not a seat is left unoccupied in any stadium he enters; Argentina, Barcelona, Miami jerseys with ‘10’ on the back flood the stands; tickets to an Inter Miami game that were sold for $50 are now being resold for $5,000. But what does this mean for the USA? Soc -

cer has been a neglected sport in the U.S. for decades, and has only recently begun to gain popularity. With the MLS gaining attraction and bringing in stars like Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, the league’s publicity has also attracted many foreign viewers. When people around the world want to watch their favorite players play in this rapidly growing league, investments also pour in. Through more invest -

ments and increasing popularity in the sport, talented soccer players in America can develop better, and the USMNT will have a brighter future. The rise of soccer in the USA also improves the talent of high school and college soccer. With the amount of athletic talent that USA has already exhibited in other sports, they certainly have the potential to be a dominant force in the most popular sport in the world. ☐

Nicholas Andersen Adams Richins

Lionel Messi Google Images

Belmont Hill Cross Country Season Preview

By Fitz Courtney ’26 Panel Staff

As the year begins to ramp up. both the academic and athletic sides of campus light up with that fresh energy, the sports teams’ sparks start to fly once again, in particular, this year’s cross country team, led by captains Miles Sandoski ’24 and Aaron Stanger ’24 is ready for the Fall season. After a fourth place finish in last year’s ISL Championship, the cross country team has a lot to prove for the upcoming season. For this team, however, the season preparation started in June, with a vigorous training plan created by Coaches Trautz, DeCaprio, Gorman, and Harder. Both Varsity and JV runners worked together and practiced at student-led captains’ practice. Varsity runners ran five times a week throughout the summer, building a strong base that will definitely help once the season begins. To further build on this hefty running base, seven Belmont Hill runners attended Berkshire Running Camp, an intense but worthwhile camp which spends a full week working hard to prepare runners for the upcoming season. Captain Aaron Stanger discussed his opinions on leading the team to success, “Miles and I both plan on leading the guys by taking that mentality we had last year; that includes racing

in a pack, training in a pack, but also being a pack off of the course as well. As long as we can stick together I think we can improve as a team.” This idea of “the pack” is not new, and this name refers to the group of varsity runners who are all able to finish within 10-15

With so many Belmont Hill runners so close in proximity, this is a deadly attribute which will without a doubt allow for much success for this team. Despite the exciting ISL competition in the near future, the Belmont Hill cross country team was fortu -

seconds of one another from the second best to seventh best runner. In cross country this is not a typical accomplishment, and frequently runners are spread out between thirty seconds, up to a minute between each runner.

Soccer Season Preview

By Ben Gong ’26 Panel Staff

This season’s varsity soccer team looks to improve upon last season’s progress under the leadership of Coach Montoya and captains Alex Vittal ’24 and Sean Scales ’24. When asked about the team’s goals for the season, Coach Montoya said, “our goal would be to make it to the New England tournament and to be in the top eight teams in New England. As far as the league goes, we want to be competitive and finish in the top three.” Going into preseason, Belmont Hill was ranked 8th, but “we want to prove everyone wrong.” Captain Alex Vittal echoed this, “Our team goal for the season is to make the NEPSAC playoffs with a dominant performance in the ISL.”

When asked about what the team

will improve on, Alex said, “A big improvement we are looking to make is to close out games that we should win. We had many games last year where we saw ourselves lose leads in the last second, which led to big ties in mustwin games. This season we are looking to play the full 90 and close out every game.” Coach Montoya stated, “The biggest difference from last year is that we have great team chemistry.”

In the first game of the season, the team already pulled off a hardfought 2-0 victory against Bridgeton Academy through goals scored by Jack Bartlett (’26) and Alex Vittal (’24). As of September 23rd, Coach Montoya’s varsity Soccer team has a record of 2-11. The Panel wishes Coach Montoya and the rest of the soccer team luck for the rest of the season and in their quest for the ISL Championship. ☐

nate enough to receive an invite to the 2023 Bobcat Invitational, in Lee, New Hampshire which took place on Saturday, September 9th. With big name public schools such as Oyster River, Bedford High, Exeter, and more, it was

without a doubt a competitive field. Before the race, Coach Trautz was asked about his thoughts on the race and he mentioned, “I am excited for the Bobcat Invitational, there will definitely be some great competitors, but if we are able to fit into the top four or top five teams I think we are in a great position.” Going into the race it was no secret the course for the Bobcat Invitational was difficult; however, the Belmont Hill cross country team blew the New Hampshire public schools away. Winning both the boys varsity and JV overall races, it was an incredible win for the team and a great way to start the season. Captain Miles Sandoski really pushed through for the varsity team by placing ninth overall in a time of 17:50, and “the pack” backed up his strong performance with five runners finishing within 15 seconds of one another. For the JV race, Davis Woolbert stole the show placing first overall in 19:47 with a whopping 43 second lead before the second place runner even crossed the finish line. As the season starts out competing against other ISL schools, main competitors to be looked out for include Nobles, Roxbury Latin, and Middlesex, all of which finished ahead of Belmont Hill in the previous years ISL Championship. The Panel wishes coach Trautz and the Cross country team good luck with their season. ☐

Patriots Season Predictions

By Connor Mackey ’24 Panel Staff

Two games into the 2023 NFL season for the New England Patriots, a lot of hope has already been lost. With bad offensive line play and terrible turnovers, many Patriots and NFL fans are already writing this team off and wondering how bad it is going to get for them this season. Will they turn it around? Or will they have a top-10 pick come springtime?

Here is my prediction for the rest of the 2023 Patriots regular season: I see this team having a very similar year to their 2021 season where they started off iffy but put together a big streak of wins in the middle of the season. Even with some shaky offensive play to start this season, I think the Patriots will start to smooth it out as

they have already shown some promise in the first two games despite falling short of victory. They also still have a top-10 defense led by Bill Belichick. Given this, I do believe that this team has the ability to turn around their season because of their schedule and the potential they have shown, but it is on them to accomplish it. Time will tell what this team can do. For the remainder of the Patriots games this season I predict that they will win their games against the Jets, Saints, Raiders, Commanders, Colts, Giants, Chargers, Steelers, and Broncos. I also predict that they will lose their games against the Cowboys, Bills, Dolphins, and Chiefs. My final record prediction has the Patriots finishing with a 10-7 record. Hopefully the Patriots turn around their tough start and have a successful season. ☐

Deion Sanders College Football Era Has Arrived

By Mathew Flaherty ’24

Panel Staff

Without a doubt, the most remarkable story in college football this year has been Coach Prime (Deion Sanders) and what he has accomplished thus far at the University of Colorado. Before being named the head coach at Colorado, Sanders kicked off his collegiate coaching career at Jackson State University in 2020. Prior to his coaching days, Deion was a stellar athlete himself. Collegiately, Sanders tallied 14 interceptions as a cornerback at Florida State and was also a vital member of the baseball team. Deion went on to have a career in the NFL, earning himself a spot in the Hall of Fame in 2011, and at the same time, from the years 1989-2001 (excluding ‘96, ‘98, ‘99), Sanders was crushing baseballs in the MLB on the side.

In 2022, the Buffaloes amassed

an unimpressive 1-11 record. The transfer portal was undoubtedly the most important tactic that Sanders utilized to breathe new life into a program on life support. Headlining the group of guys he brought in were Sheduer Sanders, one of his sons and star quarterback, and Travis Hunter, a top-ranked cornerback/wide receiver recruit. Both of these players played for him at Jackson State, and each had an outstanding 2022 campaign. When he initially entered the portal, many suspected that Hunter would eventually end up at Florida State, one of his top choices out of high school. However, Hunter disregarded the NIL figures from FSU and plenty of other major programs and decided to follow Coach Prime to Boulder. Also following him to Colorado was Sheduer, his son and record-breaking quarterback. These two were bought into what Coach Prime was building, and they wanted

to continue to have a seat at the table.

This season, Colorado football has had an unbelievable start. In their season opener, despite being 21-point underdogs and heavily overlooked, the Buffaloes upset the 2023 National runner-ups, TCU 45-42. Colorado was led by the new faces of its program: quarterback Sheduer Sanders and two-way star Travis Hunter. In just the first game of his Power-Five playing career, Sheduer was 38/47 in the air with 510 yards and four touchdowns, breaking records and already putting himself on Heisman watch after only one game. On the other hand, Travis Hunter was also remarkable. On offense, he amassed 119 receiving yards while tallying 11 receptions. On defense, Hunter had three tackles and a pivotal interception. With this historic win under their belts, many wondered how Colorado would respond the following week with a meaningful game in

their home stadium against Nebraska. However, the Buffalo train stayed on the tracks and did not look back. Sheduer followed up his record-breaking performance with another outstanding game, as he was 31/42 passing for 393 yards and two touchdowns. Their other star, Hunter, also had another great game, recording four solo tackles on defense and three more receptions for 73 yards on the other side of the ball. The Buffs ended up beating Nebraska 36-14, many now fully buying a one-way ticket to Prime Land.

The Colorado Football program has shattered expectations. Along the way, Coach Prime has developed a Heisman candidate who also happens to be his son at quarterback and another Heisman hopeful in Hunter. No matter what occurs from here on out this season, the Coach Prime era has already made its mark on College Football history. ☐

Belmont Hill Cross Country Adam Richins

Jake Bobo ’18 Makes Seattle Seahawks Roster, Scores TD

By Brady Paquette ’25 & Nathan Folker ’25 Panel Staff

On March 15, Jake Bobo ’18 ran a 4.99 second 40-yard dash, while the average time for an NFL receiver is 4.48. Yet, Jake utilized his typical hardwork approach to realize his dream.

Jake Bobo was born on August 4, 1998, in North Andover, Massachusetts. After 7th grade, his family moved to Arkansas, and then back to Concord, Massachusetts. After returning to Massachusetts, Bobo enrolled in Belmont Hill.

He grew up in a family of athletes. Bobo’s father, Mike, is 7th on the all-time passing list for the Georgia Bulldogs and is currently their quarterback coach and offensive coordinator. Jake’s mother, Casey, played hockey at Dartmouth, and his grandfather, Keith, played football for SMU, before the Cowboys drafted him in 1974.

Considering his family’s athletic prowess, it’s no surprise that with his hard work, Jake found success on the gridiron. Bobo broke out for the Sextants his sophomore year, catching 30 passes for 652 yards and 5 TDs. To bolster his profile further, he earned AllISL honors in both basketball and track while earning 1st team All-ISL in football. Jake added two more seasons of 30+ catches, 500+ yards and 5+ TDs. By the

end of his high school career, Bobo was considered a consensus top 6 prospect in Massachusetts. When asked what he thought about Bobo, Coach Butler said, “he is very talented but also very intelligent. He works incredibly hard, and he is always the last guy to leave.” Bobo has used his work ethic and his intelligence to excel in higher levels of football despite his slower 40-yard dash.

Following this incredible run at Belmont Hill, Jake took his talents to the next level, competing for the Duke Blue Devils. After a productive freshman campaign with flashes of brilliance, Bobo injured his shoulder and missed the first three games of his sophomore season. Nevertheless, he played 8 games, starting 2. In battling through the injury he proved the character he had always shown and was awarded the Mike Suglia award. Jake broke out his Junior year, starting all 11 games, and leading the team in receiving yards, hauling in 32 catches for 358 yards and a TD. Named a captain as a senior, Bobo posted 74 catches for 794 yards and a TD, earning him Third Team All-ACC honors.

Following his senior season, Bobo made a monumental decision for his football career. On December 14, 2021, Jake Bobo transferred to UCLA. Bobo continued turning heads, leading the Bruins with 57

catches, 817 yards, and 7 TDs, earning honorable mention All-Pac-12 honors by the coaches, and second team all-conference by Pro Football Focus. Following a special season at UCLA, Bobo set his sights on the NFL Draft. Jake never backed down from a challenge, but in his draft preparation, this quality may have hurt him. On UCLA’s pro day, where the best players try to prove themselves to NFL scouts, it was cold and raining. Against his agent’s advice, Bobo ran the 40 yard dash and posted a 4.99, a time less than two tenths of a second faster than noted speed-demon Tom Brady. Bobo was not drafted, but persevered and signed with the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent. It is worth noting that Jake dominated academically just as much as athletically. As a Junior, Bobo earned Boston Herald All-Scholastic honors. At Duke, he was an Academic All-ACC selection and a CoSIDA Academic All-District choice following both his Junior and Senior years. At UCLA Bobo was selected to the first-team 2022 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District and All-America football teams, earning a spot on the Fall and Spring 2022 Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, and being named a finalist for the Pop Warner College Football Award.

Jake’s work ethic is equally evident on the football field. Star Sea -

hawks wide receiver DK Metcalf commented on Bobo’s work ethic and skill, and Seahawks fans have fallen in love with Bobo too, creating the #MoreBobo. Bobo backed up Metcalf’s comments, with a great preseason performance. In week 1 of the preseason, Bobo led the Seahawks with 55 yards receiving on 3 catches for a TD. In week 2, he finished 2nd on the team with 43 yards on 2 catches, and in week 3, he again finished 2nd on the team with 27 yards on 2 catches for a TD. Pete Carroll said of his performance, “He’s done great. He hasn’t just done well on a few plays in the games, he’s done well in practice throughout. So he’s been really steady. It’s not a surprise to see him play like that in games.” Things were looking good for Bobo, but a spot on the Seahawks 53 man roster still was not a guarantee. On August 29, Bobo made the Seahawks roster and realized his dream of becoming an NFL player. He’s still a backup, but on September 17, Bobo caught his first NFL pass for 3 yards in a Seahawks win. The next week, on September 24th, Bobo caught a crucial 4th-quarter five-yard touchdown in the Seahawks 37-27 win over the Carolina PanthersFrom the Panel Staff and Belmont Hill as a community, we wish Jake Bobo good luck with his football career! ☐

Boston Red Sox Disappointing Season Recap

By Nathan Zhang ’26 Panel Staff

The Boston Red Sox are ending the season on a dismal note. The organization has seemingly given up and now has their eyes on next season as a chance for playoff success. On September 14, 2023, the Chief Baseball Officer of the Red Sox, Chaim Bloom, was fired after his disastrous tenure spanning from 2020 to 2023. However, many positive upsides to the 2023 season brought hopes for future success in Boston’s beloved sports franchise. First, the Red Sox’s farm system has improved significantly since 2020. Homegrown players like Jarren Duran, Triston Casas, and Brayan Bello have all had impressive seasons, flashing their true potential on the baseball field. Until his season-ending toe surgery, Du -

By Adrian Tan ’25 and David Luo ’25 Panel Staff

A new era of Belmont Hill football dawns this year with new Head Coach Anthony Fucillo who joins the school after years of coaching college football. With all signs this year pointing to a great season, Coach Fucillo highlights the importance of “winning the day” and not only trying to win the game; instead, he wants the players on the team to develop skills and leadership that they can bring to the real world and the rest of their lives. Coach Fucillo aims to create a culture inclusive to everyone. He said, “Our culture is based on that in terms of no man left behind and … treating others with respect and treating our spaces with respect.” He and Cal Peterson ’24 both mentioned the importance of team chemistry and focusing their attention on making sure the team really comes together. Addition -

players, giving them significant league experience. Among these are players who have been great on the Triple-A WooSox, the minor league affiliate for the Red Sox, Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela. Abreu worked his way up the Astros farm system, eventually making it to Double-A before being traded to the Red Sox. On the Woosox, he hit .274 with 22 home runs. After Duran’s toe injury, Abreu was called

up and immediately made an impact, with 20 hits in his 54 at-bats. Rafaela is among the top prospects in the MLB, having played in the All-Stars Futures game last year. He has currently recorded a hit in a third of his at-bats. Despite the small sample size, he has strong potential as a versatile fielder and hitter, with two home runs in back-to-back games against the New York Yankees. ☐

ran maintained an impressive .295 batting average, with even higher numbers during his hot streaks in the summer. His performance this year was a substantial improvement from his performance last season. At the plate, Triston Casas started slowly. Still, he improved significantly, leading the league in most batting statistics two weeks after the break. Casas launched home runs well over 400 feet often and showed off his capacity both in the batter’s box and the field. On the mound, Brayan Bello has had appearances that show his capability to become a great pitcher under the mentorship of Red Sox legend Pedro Martinez, with 127 strikeouts and a 3.71 ERA. As the season nears its end, the Red Sox have been bombarded with player injuries, including many star players. Taking advantage of these woes, the Red Sox have been developing Fenway Park Google Images

New Era of Belmont Hill Football Dawns Under Fucillo

ally, Cal said, “Other than that, we’re getting a lot of reps on team offense and defense. Getting a lot of new kids in. Making a lot more plays this year.”

When asking Cal about the recent scrimmage against Thayer, the expectations were coming in high and the game ended well with a 24-0 scoreline at halftime as Cal mentions, “The first half we had three touchdowns, got all the extra points. The defense definitely needs improvements. We definitely have to come together in the linebacker group for future games.” After the scrimmage, Coach Fucillo mentioned that the team had too many penalties and how those penalties could really hurt in the future. He also stated, “We are always working on fundamentals and ball security and making sure that we don’t fumble as much as we can.

Whether you win or lose, I think it never looks as good as it is, and it’s never as bad as it is. We’ll take a look at the

film and improve on those small things that we can take care of going into next week.” As the season is starting, a new coach is also taking the position of a prominent figure on the football team.

The football team has had three respective coaches in 3 years, which may be a little tricky, as Cal says, there is still some merit to having different coaches. He stated, “I think that having different coaches is also a great experience, as you get to experience different coaching styles and adapt to them.” Even if there have been many coaches over these few years, Coach Fucillo is off to a good start, with the players only having positive things to say about him. For example, Cal also said, “Fucillo is an awesome guy. I didn’t know what to expect when we first interacted with him, but now he’s one of the best coaches. He gets straight to the point and tells you what is going to happen and what you need to improve on. He’s

an all-around great guy who you can talk to about football or anything else.” Ahead of the game against Lawrence Academy. Coach Fucillo said, “I think we have a tough opponent, and I think they’re really good and they’re probably one of the favorites to win the league this year.” Unfortunately, the final result was not what the team hoped for, but there were lots of moments to learn from. Cal is also looking forward to the home game against Sebs, talking about how the team needs to come out the gate hard, and how his confidence in the season and the team increased after the scrimmage. Overall, Coach Fucillo looks forward to seeing the players daily and strives to improve the team. He looks forward to the exhausting practices and seeing the players work tirelessly to improve their craft. Ultimately, the team is off to a promising start to the season, and things are looking up for the new coach and fresh squad. ☐