Select Board Designates Belmont Police Chief Screening Committee; Q&A With A Member

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Photo: Mark Paolillo returns to serve on his second Police Chief Screening Committee

The Belmont Select Board on Wednesday, Oct. 22, selected the final three seats on the 2025 Police Chief Screening Committee, to fill the position after the retirement of Chief James MacIsaac.

MacIsaac, who announced he was leaving on Aug. 7, is now the director of Campus Safety and Security at the Middlesex School in Concord, MA. Assistant Belmont Police Chief Mark Hurley was named the department’s interim head by the Select Board on Aug. 21.

The members of the Screening Committee are:

  • Didier Moise, president of Belmont Against Racism and a member of the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee,
  • Mark Paolillo, former four-term Select Board member who served on the last Police Chief screening committee in 2019,
  • Roy Epstein, former two-term Select Board member,
  • Patrice Garvin, Belmont Town Administrator,
  • Dr. Jill Geiser, Belmont Schools Superintendent,
  • Thomas Browne, current Chief of Police in Burlington,
  • Mauro Lance, Formally on the Board of Directors, current member of the Foundation for Belmont Education and the YMCA of Metro North.

Some residents put in their two cents into the selection process.

Ira Morgenstern, Precinct 7, voiced his “concern” about the makeup of the [screening] committee as it ignores the problems created from the department’s “poorly handled exit” from the Civil Service system in 2024.

“I ask the Select Board review the candidates for the selection committee and get feedback from the police rank and file” before it finalize that committee,” he said. Garvin corrected Morganstern saying it was incorrect to say the removal of civil service created the level of vacancies in the department, as the last three hires under the town’s Civil Service have left, each keeping their civil service positions.

The board each were the recipiants of an old fashion “poison pen” letter – which has a rich history in Belmont politics – directed at Epstein, “impugning … his integrity and honesty.” But this old-timey spitball to influence the board was cast aside with a collective eyeroll.

“Even when I disagree with [Epstein], I’ve ended up respecting him more. I absolutely meant that as an extremely high compliment,” said Matt Taylor, board chair.

Mark Paolillo knows something about Police Chiefs: He’s the son of one, Cambridge Police Chief Anthony Paolillo, and he help hire Belmont’s most recent chief, James MacIssac, as the head of the selection committee. Paolillo gave his view on the process facing the committee and what he’ll be looking for in a candidate during the break in the second night of Special Town Meeting.

Belmontonian: What’s your expectations being part of this committee, having been a veteran of the previous one?

Paolillo: “I think we’re going to find the best candidate possible. I don’t know whether we’ve gotten direction from the Select Board as to whether it’s just internal candidates or external or both. When I was on the screening committee (in 2019), my colleagues, Adam Dash and Tom Caputo, and I established the criteria that we were looking for, the type of individual that we wanted to assume this responsibility. We agreed to look at internal candidates first, And we thought, if we don’t find those qualifications, we’ll go external. So it sounds to me as though I haven’t been told that this is both internal and external. I think that’s the right approach.”

Belmontonian: What qualities and qualifications are you looking for in a candidate?”

Paolillo: “I’m looking for someone that can do the job, similar to what Chief McIsaac did and also Chief Paul McLaughlin. I think what’s so important within our town, because it is such an activist community, is someone that reaches out to the community, listens to the concerns and has a presence in town. And particularly individuals who are empathetic to what’s taking place at a national level. We’re all against, of course, any ICE agents coming into our community and trying to do what they’ve been doing in other communities. I would hope that would be someone who would listen to our concerns about that as well.”

Belmontonian: There has been talk about low morale in the department. Will having someone who can tackle that a priority for the committee?

“I think that’s absolutely the case. I don’t know what the situation is, but if there is a morale issue, I think that’s what a new person needs to address. I’m really concerned about that. I don’t know where the new [salary and benefits] negotiations are at this time. Perhaps that’s part of the issue that’s taking place here. If it hasn’t, that needs to be settled. I think we need to address that matter. These men and women put their lives in line every day for our for our public safety, and I think we need to sort of ensure that they’re taken care of. The new chief, whoever that might be, understands that needs to be addressed.”

Backup Goalie, And Team’s ‘Engine’ Leads Belmont High Girls’ Soccer By Andover, 2-1, For 12th Win

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Photo: Belmont High Girls Soccer first-year goalie Ruth Christensen came off the bench to secure a 2-1 victory over Andover

On Saturday afternoon, Oct. 18, Belmont High Girls Soccer first-year goalie Ruth Christensen got one of those opportunities young players wish for – a chance. After Belmont’s starting senior ‘tender received a knock 10 minutes into the game against non-league Andover, Head Coach Jemmy Cange didn’t hesitate putting Christensen into the game to preserve the team’s early 1-0 lead, thanks to Belmont’s scoring sensation and Middlesex League MVP-candidate senior co-captain Danica Zicha.

“It’s like I said at the beginning of the season, we’re going to have a smaller team than most so everyone is waiting to step in when they get the call,” said Cange.

And on the first play after the restart, Christensen was digging the ball from the back of the net, as Andover’s outstanding forward Ava DeLuca scored off a corner to tie the game 1-1. But Christensen was already thinking about the next opportunity to show Cange she was prepared for the challenge awaiting her.

“It was my first play, but I knew I had to be ready for the next one and the ones after that,” said Christensen.

Minutes after giving up the equalizer, Christensen’s fellow 9th grader, midfielder Mackenzie Teirney, directed a centering pass into the net for what would be the game-winning goal in Belmont’s 2-1 home win against the Golden Warriors (4-4-5).

After the goal, Christensen settled into her role, making a pair of goal-saving full stretch saves, while directing the defense as Belmont (12-2-1) played down a player after a Marauder was issued a rarely shown red card in the later stages of the game.

“I just take small things, like, my first save after the goal. I missed that first one but then you have to think, ‘Yeah, but I made that save on the next one.’ I just focused on the little positive things, and that helps you build your confidence,” said Christensen.

“When we have a little injury there and injury there, everybody step up, and that’s a good thing to see. [Christensen’s] a freshman and she came in in a big game and make a lot of great saves at the end and gave us the victory,” said Cange.

A game against a tough opponent from a different league is typical in the upcoming post season tournament, said Cange.

They’re a physical team. I told the [the players], these are the teams that is going to be in the playoff, that’s going to be ready to play. They’re going to fight,” he said.

A key for post-season success will come from the center of the field and a big part of that will be veteran senior center midfielder Madison Dubois.

“She’s the engine of the team. We rely on her to take possession of the ball. She knows her job on the team and how to get our team going. [Dubois] has been doing this all year. I’m so proud of her,” said Cange.

The Marauders chalked up its 12th win of the season finding themselves 7th in the MIAA Division 1 Power Rankings and 16th in the latest Boston Globe Top 20 poll.

On a seven game unbeaten streak (6-0-1), Belmont enters the final week of the regular season about to face a “Murderers’ Row” of Middlesex League opponents: Monday, Oct. 20 at home against Arlington (8-2-4) which defeated the Marauders, 4-1, in what Cange called “our most disappointing game.” Wednesday, Oct. 22 the team travels to League leaders Lexington (11-3-1) before finishing Monday, Oct. 27, at home against traditional rivals Winchester (11-2-1) which they beat 3-1 earlier in the season.

“Arlington beat us the first time, and now they come into our home. It’s gonna be a good, physical game. It’s always good to play against good competition in Arlington, but we’ll be ready on Monday,” he said.

Belmont Health Dept To Provide Free COVID, Flu Vaccines For Under/Un-Insured Residents

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Photo: Belmont’s Health Department will provide vaccines for those who are under- and uninsured.

The Belmont Health Department has a limited number of Flu and COVID vaccines available for underinsured and uninsured children and adults.

“Underinsured” are for those who have health insurance, but it does not cover the cost of vaccines. Vaccines will be administered by appointment only.

Call the Health Department at 617-993-2720 or email dneylon@belmont-ma.gov for more information and to put your name on the waiting list.

Once we receive the supply of the vaccine, residents will be contacted to schedule an appointment by appointment only.

The vaccines will be offered at: 

The Homer Building, 2nd Floor 

19 Moore Street

Under and Uninsured vaccine opportunities 2025

Belmont High Field Hockey Prepares For Tough Week By Beating One-Loss Newburyport, 5-4

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Photo: Belmont’s Gigi Mastrangelo scores her second of three goals in Belmont’s 5-4 win vs. hosts Newburyport, as Kendall Regan (18) and Nora Dolan (10) celebrate.

On the last shot of the game with visiting Belmont, Newburyport Field Hockey’s Sadie Aiello scored on a penalty corner with no time remaining on the game clock. Immediately the Clipper players erupted in an uproarious celebration with a jubilant group hug on the field akin to what occurs after a landmark last minute victory.

The Belmont players gathered around sophomore goalie Zoe Bruce bewildered by Newburyport’s reaction. Some Marauders even looked up at the scoreboard to make sure they hadn’t lost track of the score. The final was indeed 5-4, with the “five” for the visitors.

“Hey! You won,” said Belmont’s head coach Jess Smith to her subdued players. And as they left the field, Belmont was taking home this season’s 11th victory, handing Newburyport (10-2-1) its second loss as the Marauders scored the most visiting goals against the Clippers since before the pandemic.

But for the Clippers, a leading Division 2 squad ranked 18th in the Boston Globe Top 20, playing up to the Marauders was a victory in itself. “We lost, but it felt like such a win for us in so many ways,” said Newburyport coach Shannon Haley, in a local media outlet.

For the Marauders, the trip back to Belmont from Cape Ann came with a hard decision between teammates: a stop for Shake Shack or Chic-fil-A. (Shake Shake came out on top.)

“This was a great test for us because in the tournament you’ll end up traveling to an away game playing against teams you’ve probably never met,” said Smith. “They played out of their minds, falling behind three times away from home but coming back each time right way. It shows we are more than just a second half team.”

After Friday’s game, Belmont Field Hockey’s record is 11-1-0, a program’s best after 12 contests, as the Marauders reached 5th in the Boston Globe Top 20 poll and the Div. 1 MIAA Power Rankings, both all-time highs for the team.

After a two hour venture during Friday’s rush hour, Belmont arrived late and had little time to prepare for a well attended game as it was to support breast cancer awareness. And the Marauders would fall behind in the first three minutes as Olivia Wilson scored the first goal of her hat trick off the initial penalty corner of the game. Belmont would soon take over the momentum with percision passing down the right sideline and would tie the game from junior Gigi Mastrangelo scoring at six minutes from in close for the first of her own hat trick.

It appeared Belmont took the lead from senior all-star midfield MacKenzie Clarke from her trademark reverse backhand shot but the goal was denied as a referee ruled it was hit from the wrong side of the stick, the first of several hitting violations against Clarke. The Clippers retook the lead early in the second quarter off a penalty corner when Wilson tipped a shot by Bruce. But Newburyport’s advantage would only last 25 seconds as Kendell Regan slotted a shot just outside the right post. One again, Wilson scored from the penalty corner with 4:06 in the second only to be countered three minutes later by Mastrangelo.

Belmont solitified its reputation as a second half team as the Marauders dominated the third quarter by controling the midfield. Despite having Clarke sent off for two minutes after a serious infraction, Belmont didn’t allow the Clippers from crossing the midfield, ending with Mastrangelo scoring her third coming from a penalty corner. Newburyport pushed up the field in an attempt to find the equalizer only to be exposed by a Belmont breakout which ended with Clarke feeding forward Nora Dolan who slotted in the game winner midway into the fourth quarter.

“It was a great game. Our defense [seniors Niamh Lesnik and Caroline French, junior all-star Elsie Lakin-Schultz, and first-year centerback Kate Townsend] was so solid, not giving up a goal from the run of play. [Bruce] came up big in the fourth quarter, knocking balls out of the air and being strong with her pads.”

The accolades the Marauders have earned will be challenged in the penultimate week in the regular season as the Marauders face a pair of strong opponants. The first a return fixture away at Reading Memorial (8-3-2) on Tuesday, Oct. 14. Belmont took the first match, 2-1, on Harris Field. The Marauders will take another long bus ride to meet 17th-ranked Dover-Sherborn (12-1-0), rated third in MIAA Div. 3, on Friday, Oct. 17.

What’s Open/Closed On Indigenous Peoples’ Day In Belmont

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Photo: Indigenous Peoples’ Day is Oct. 13

Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which is celebrated annually on the second Monday of October – this year Oct. 13 – is a federal holiday and observed by the Town of Belmont celebrating Native American peoples and commemorates their histories and cultures.

Curb side trash and recycling pickup will be delayed by one day due to the holiday.

What’s Closed:

  • Belmont Town offices, Belmont Public Library and Belmont Light are closed.
  • US Postal Service will not deliver mail and post offices are closed.
  • Most banks; although branches will be open in some supermarkets.

What’s Opened:

  • Retail stores
  • Coffee shops
  • Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts
  • Supermarkets and convenience stores
  • Establishments that sell beer and wine are also allowed to be open.

MBTA: Holidays such as Juneteenth, Columbus Day, Indigenous Peoples Day, and Veterans Day do not have modified schedules; all services will operate on their regular schedule.

As Negotiations Reach Inflection Point, School Committee Chair Calls To ‘Keep Our Schools Open’

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Photo: School Committee Chair Meg Moriarty at the Butler Elementary School

Days before an Oct. 9 public forum hosted by Belmont’s educators union to discuss the stalled salary negotiations on a new teachers contract, the leader of the town’s School Committee came before the Select Board to provide its prospective on where the talks stand, and asking the town’s administrative body to provide “additional guidance” to resolve the current impasse.

School Committee Chair Meg Moriarty said the committee’s “goal is a contract that values our educators and sustains strong schools while staying within reoccurring, predictable revenues.”

But with a significant pay gap separating the two groups, Moriarty also directed her comments to the Belmont Education Association as the prospect of a labor action grows by the day.

“Many of our students lived through the years of disruption during COVID. They need stability and consistency in their learning, and we owe it to them to keep them in our schools, keep our schools open, and keep learning uninterrupted while the adults work through this process,” she said.

Moriarty said the committee “has been very transparent and honest with the school community” by providing regular factual updates, recapping sessions, sharing proposals and data. The committee has presented “multiple salary offers” made with “the knowledge of the financial constraints” facing the town.

In the past two years, the town’s budget has provided the schools a shrinking level of revenue increase.

“Compensation remains a major issue,” said Moriarty, revealing the committee has proposed Fiscal Year ’26 [pay] raises across all units that are competitive with neighboring and peer school districts, that keep Belmont’s top salaries “among the highest in our comparative districts and beyond.”

While the committee’s raises are “sustainable” within future schools budgets, “by contrast, the BEA’s latest proposals call for about $1.2 million more in Fiscal Year ’26 and more than $5 million more over the three years of the contract.” To meet the association’s demands would “almost certainly require cuts to staffing levels and programs, increasing workloads to those who remain and at the heart of all of this are our students,” she said.

Moriarty acknowledged that Belmont’s nationally recognized schools are due to the community’s commitment to its educators and students. And “we need to get back to the important work, the work of teaching and learning, and keeping our focus on our students.”

“These negotiations are taking far too much time and energy away from that shared mission,” she said.

Moriarty then turned to the Select Board to ask for guidance in the negotiations, specifically “whether you expect the School Committee to stay within the [budget] allocation provided to us, or whether you see any other paths forward.”

“The School Committee remains committed to good faith negotiation and to a contract that values our educators, is good for our students, and sustains Belmont schools for the long term. Verbal or written guidance, once you have time to discuss on an agenda, is appreciated by the School Committee,” said Moriarty.

While the Select Board’s counsel will likely be forthcoming at its next meeting in late October, one board member made her opinion known on Monday.

Board Member Elizabeth Dionne said the board has received “a number of e-mails from parents asking the town to acquiesce to the educator’s contact demands. She said that “often times parents are not aware” that “approximately 70 percent of the budget goes to support schools and 30 percent of the budget goes to support town services.”

“We have consistently been cutting positions on the town side while adding positions to the schools which we acknowledge the need for,” said Dionne. “I’m not saying they’re unnecessary, but … the town and its residents have been very, very generous about supporting schools. We value our schools. I don’t see that the town can afford anymore.”

Mini Market Makers Adds To Selection At Belmont Farmers Market

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Photo: Some of the participants in the inaugural Mini Market Makers event at the Belmont Farmers Market

There will be more than the standard fare being sold at this week’s Belmont Farmers Market.

On this coming Market Day, Thursday, Oct. 9, besides the cornucopia of fall produce, baked goods, meats and prepared foods, patrons will have the opportunity to purchase hand soap, paper airplanes and … slime from vendors between 8 to 12 years old participating in the Farmers Market’s inaugural Mini Market Makers Day.

Mini Market Makers Day
Thursday, Oct. 9, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The Farmers Market will be open from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The Mini Market concept began when Market volunteer Merri Suzuki said her 9-year-old daughter was inspired to raise money for her school, the Carroll School, by selling a rather unique product. “She loves slime,” said Suzuki of the mixture of household items that acts like both a solid and a liquid.

And with the help from her best friend, Suzuki’s daughter asked if they could sell her home made goo at the Farmers Market.

“I had them work on a business plan together to present to the Market Committee, and the committee loved the idea,” said Suzuki.

And that initiative proved to be the impetus that led to five additional young entrepreneurs asking to sell their own crafts at the market, including handmade jewelry, 3-D printed items, crayons, Pride-themed crafts, hand soaps, and paper airplanes. [See the complete list of Mini Market Makers here] Just like Suzuki’s daughter, most of the kids are donating the proceeds to a cause of their choice “which is exciting,” she said.

Using a similar program run by the Lexington Farmers Market as a template, Suzuki said each participant were asked to present a formal business plan once they were accepted, answering questions such as what was the product, why were they doing it, and what was the price point of their product.

As for the Market, “they said ‘let’s give it a try for this one year, and see how it goes,” said Suzuki.

Suzuki emphasizes the goal of this venture is to empower the kids and give them a taste of running a real business.

“When my daughter and her friend were doing their plan for slime, they were like, ‘this is hard!’ We really made it a very short, cut and dry, process, but they still had to answer hard questions, like calculating the profit from their sales.”

On Thursday, the kids will be located at three tables under a vendors tent. Suzuki helped prepare the kids for the big day by answering their questions and will be there to support them during the event. At the end of the day, “we’re going to do lessons learned, like what went well, what didn’t go well, and what would you do differently going forward,” she said.

And the future business leaders were eager to get started, said Suzuki. “The ones that I’ve spoken to so far are very excited.”

Lace Up Your Skates: Belmont Sports Complex Opening Day Is Sunday, Nov. 16

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Photo: It’s ready to open on Nov. 16.

Get ready to lace up your skates! The official opening of the Belmont Sports Complex has been announced.

“We circled the date of Nov. 16,” Patrice Garvin, Belmont Town Administrator told the Select Board at its Monday, Nov. 6 meet. The announcement comes as the ice surface is being established and set at the $32 million complex, seeing the return of skating and hockey since 2022 when the former facility was closed after multiple mechanical failures forced the shut down of the former rink.

“We’re working on an opening ceremony and then an event” for that day, said Garvin, who is working closely with Rink Manager Erik Harrington. While admitting they haven’t worked out all the details, Garvin said the preliminary plan is for the day to start with a gathering in front of the complex at 1 p.m. An official opening ceremony will follow with tours of the interior. The day concludes with a public skate at the Viglirolo Rink.

“That’s the date we’d like to do,” said a hopeful Garvin.

Work To Start On Revamping Playing Fields West Of Harris Field, Softball Diamond

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Photo: The West of Harris Field play grounds and the former varsity softball diamond

Six years after ground breaking on the Belmont Middle and High School, the town has approved a plan to reconstruct the playing ground known as West of Harris Field, which is the final work required to complete the School’s campus.

On Monday, Sept. 30, the Select Board award the West of Harris Fields renovations contract to MJ Cataldo Inc. of Littleton for $765,000. The project will renovate the fields and softball diamond West of Harris Field, create a shot put circle and sector as well as putting up new fencing.

According to Belmont DPW Director Jay Marcotte, work on the project will begin in November.

The project started as a Community Preservation Committee request simply to redo the long-time softball field. In May, Belmont Town Administrator Patrice Garvin and Belmont Schools Superintendent Dr. Jill Geiser presented an CPC application seeking $429,000 to redevelop the former varsity softball field at the far end of the BMHS campus adjacent to the new Belmont Sports Complex and the MBTA commuter rail tracks.

While the softball renovation was being considered, the Municipal Skating Rink Building Committee in charge of building the rink was using the JV soccer field, located next to the softball field, as lay down area for steel and material for the rink’s construction. Using the lay down area was on condition that when the project was completed at the end of 2025, “the construction manager would put the field back as it found it,” Garvin told the board.

“So when we started looking at the softball field, we realized there was some economies of scale that we could potentially capitalize on in regards to taking two projects and making it one to be bid out,” said Garvin. “So we really wanted to take what was approved at Town Meeting and elevated to another level.”

Working with Mark Haley, the chair of the Building Committee, the DPW, and the landscaping firm Activitas Inc., the town created construction bid documents for a single project, “hoping for a better price.”

“So this is really an effort between what we were able to appropriate from CPC, the Rink Building project through the construction manager, and the DPW to make the best projects we can,” said Garvin.

The funding sources for the project are CPC and the Rink Building Committee, along with some Revolving Field Funds, said Marcotte.

Twelve construction firms bid on the project with Cataldo coming in a low bidder, said DPW’s Marcotte.

Belmont High Girls’ Swimmers/Divers Looking To ‘Deep Sweep’ To Middlesex League Title

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Photo: Belmont High’s Elizabeth Guevara heads towards victory in the 100 fly vs. Wakefield

After a recent meet, an official declared Belmont High Swimming Head Coach Lulu Emmons to be “the Queen of the Deep Sweep.” In swimming, a “deep sweep” is when a team’s athletes place in the top spots in each event. Even if they don’t win, for example, placing in the next three spots throughout a meet can be a back-breaker for an opponent. 

And Belmont has some bittersweat history involving “deep sweeps”: Ten years ago, despite winning five events to one, Belmont could not match the depth of Bishop Feehan High School which went on to win the 2015 Div. 2 state championship over the Marauders, 314 to 293.

So Emmons is happy to have the title bestowed on her.

“The depth that we have this year is absolutely amazing. I have not had this depth since my first couple years of coaching as an assistant,” said Emmons, who has been on the Marauders coaching staff for eight years, the past four in the top post.

That depth showed up in Belmont’s upset victory over defending Division 1 state champions Acton Boxoborough, beating the traditional powerhouse 98-88, at Higginbottom Pool on Sept. 19.

“That was exciting. That was a lot of fun. Girls did great. And that was unexpected, because we were coming right off of a tough loss against Lexington,” said Emmons, a four point nailbiter.

Belmont currently holds a 4-1 dual meet record.

That ability to have runs of high placements is due to size and commitment of Emmons’ squad, numbering more than 50 student athletes which allows Belmont to carry a full varsity squad including three divers and also a JV squad.

“But we try not to use those terms,” said Emmons of two seperate squads. Rather, she tries to have everyone see themselves as “being maroon and blue,” because she want everyone to feel like they’re contributing and being part of the team, she said.

The quality shows as more than 10 swimmers have qualified for the Division 2 sectional championship meet including eight who qualified in the first meet of the season.

“So right off the bat, we were locked in, plus all of our relays have qualified. Most girls have at least two events that they qualify. So we have at least 10 athletes that have qualified for one or more of their events. We’re still working on a couple of those state cut times, but we have got a squad going.”

The Brain Trust: Belmont High Swimming Head Coach Lulu Emmons (left)

Every good team requires at least one swimmer who can hit the wall first. This year’s highlight reel includes senior Elizabeth Guevara, who is swimming for Belmont for the first time this year. Coming from the club swimming system with Revolution Aquatic, Guevara has state qualified in all the free style events at 50, 100 and 200 yards. Her versibility shows in qualifying in the 100 butterfly, the 100 backstroke, and Emmons believes she might have a time for the 500 yard free.

“She has everything to be a great swimmer,” said Emmons, being very humble, a great athlete who takes good direction. “Even though she is one of the top swimmers, [Guevara] hasn’t been on this team for that long, so she understands that she’s still earning her spot on the team,” said Emmons.

On the other end of the grade level is first year diver Maggie Han, who qualified for states and leads a full contingency of 1-meter divers – including Grace Fagan and Cecilla Held – into contests.

And the heart of the team is its junior class “which is one of our strongest across the board,” said Emmons. “Summing Chan (back-stroke), Karen Tao (freestyle), Reina Yano (500 free), Sophia Bufano, Ahana Shama (breast-stroke) are all phenomenal swimmers. All have qualifying times.”

Belmont will be tested in two very tough league dual meets remaining in the league schedule: Winchester on Monday, Oct. 6 at Higgenbottom and away to Reading, Oct. 16 to finish the season.

Belmont’s Carolin Sweeney wins the 100 breast-stroke by 0.15 seconds vs Wakefield.

“I know that Reading and Winchester has a couple of good girls. But I’m feeling really confident that those are both going to be pretty winnable meets,” said Emmons. “My thought process is always put up a strong lineup, always making sure that even if I’m not going to get a first place finish, I’m going to work and get a second, third, fourth place, or some variation of that, because it’s those depth points that really count. They really add up.”

Following the duel meet season, Belmont heads to the Middlesex League Championships at Bentley with high expectations.

“My top goal is to win,” said Emmons, knowing she has the upper hand gooing into the meet as diving results will be included in the team totals. “because now that diving counts towards the meat, “That’s an automatic for a second, third place finish for us. So we’re going in with at least 100 points.” But Emmons will be there to prove that her team is not just relying on the meet’s first event. “My goal is to definitely get Lexington at League’s because I firmly believe that my girls have the ability to beat that team. So the goal is to beat Lexington and win by more than 100 points.”

The team will then head to the MIAA North Sectionals on Nov. 2, at MIT’s Zesiger Pool and the Division 2 State Championships on Nov. 9, at Boston University’s Competition Pool.

“We finished at States last year third. [Belmont, with 200 points, finished behind Wellesley (384 pts) and North Andover (225 points)] So I would love to get second at states. That would be amazing. I would love to finish really strong at North Sectionals (6th in 2024) as well. Anywhere above fifth would be great sectionals,” said Emmons.