Belmont High Boys and Girls Wrestlers Step Up At 44th Annual Brendan Grant Memorial Tourney

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Photo: Three for three as Belmont’s girl grapplers – (from left) Head Coach Craig Janjigian, Ava Svistunov, Eva Cohen, and Clarise O’Neil – each grab medals at the 44th annual Brendan Grant Memorial Wrestling Tournament.

For more than 10 hours, the six mats on the Wenner Field House floor were busy on Saturday, Jan. 4, filled with approximately 500 wrestlers from 21 high schools across eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island participating in the 44th annual Brendan Grant Memorial Wrestling Tournament.

Over the near half-century, Belmont High has had its share of wrestlers who used the early-season meet to springboard their season toward divisional and state championships. And this edition, Belmont—which came ready to compete in all but one weight class—was well represented throughout the two days.

In Saturday’s Boys’ competition, Jonathan Doban took the 144 lbs. title with relative ease via three pins and a majority decision. His championship run came after he was sidelined for a week with the flu.

Jonathan Doban

Luke Coelho went to the mat six times to capture 5th place in the 138 division, losing to the eventual champion (Charles Phillips from East Providence) and the third-place medalist. In his final match of a long day, Coelho took the match the entire three rounds to ground out a 4-1 decision.

On Sunday, it was an impressive haul when the second annual Girls’ tournament was held. In the round-robin event, where each grappler wrestled four times in her weight division, a pair of Marauders dominated their classes.

Defending MIAA Division 1 state champion Ava Svistunov (114.3-118 lbs.) dropped just a single point – in her final match with Woburn’s Racia DeSousa – in her four matches, each ending with a pin in the first round. Svistunov came to the meet, winning the prestigious George Bossi Lowell Holiday Tournament at 107 lbs.

Ava Svistunov

Second-year wrestler Eva Cohen (118.7-120.6 lbs.) was equally impressive without dropping a match with three falls. Rookie Clarise O’Neil (112.6-114.1 lbs.) took home two wins while losing one of her matches by a single point to pick up a third-place medal.

Senior night for Belmont High Wrestling will be Tuesday, Jan. 28, vs. Melrose.

More Than Three Dozen Belmont High Musicians Earn Placement In NE Senior District Festival On Jan. 8-11

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Photo: Belmont High musicians will participate in the MMEA Northeast Senior District Festival, Jan. 8 to 11, 2025.

The Massachusetts Music Educators Association holds its annual District Auditions across the state for students to be accepted into honors Bands, Choruses, Orchestras, and Jazz Ensembles. Northeast Senior District Auditions for high school musicians were held on Saturday, Nov. 16, at North Andover High School. 

This school year, 91 students from Belmont High auditioned for at least one MMEA-Northeast District Ensemble, and 13 students auditioned for more than one. These students practiced for several weeks and months leading up to audition day, putting in hours of work on their own with their ensemble directors in school and many with private music teachers outside of school. 

This year, 43 students were accepted to perform in the MMEA Northeast Senior District Festival, which will take place from Jan. 8 to 11, 2025.

The fact that ninety-one of our high school students took the chance to audition for Senior Districts speaks to how highly our community values music and the arts as a part of our student’s lives,” said Arto Asadoorian, Director of Visual and Performing Arts at Belmont Public Schools.

“There are few communities in the state where these many students perform at a Senior District level and where these many students feel prepared and brave enough to audition in person for Honors Ensembles,” said Asadoorian. “Our music faculty is proud of every single student who auditioned for Senior Districts this year, for their time, effort, and preparation, and for representing Belmont High School’s music department in a very positive way.”

The student musicians honored to perform at the senior district festival include:

* Denotes students who have earned recommendations to audition for the MMEA All-State Festival

  • Max Abouzeid, trumpet
  • *Peter Aloisio, trumpet
  • *Parker Brookins, trumpet
  • *Sophia Bufano, trombone
  • *Noah Chin, cello
  • *Mark Chumack, trumpet
  • *Eli Coleman, bassoon
  • *Bethany Eagar, French horn
  • *Sophia Edrington Martinez, chorus
  • Sam Engler, string bass
  • Brendan Han, viola
  • Lynn Han, violin
  • *Hank Hicks, bassoon
  • Derek Huang, trumpet
  • Ethan Kim, trombone
  • Hanna Kim, flute
  • Barnabas Kwak, clarinet
  • *Caroline Lafkas, chorus
  • *Daphne Lee, violin
  • Sunho Lee, cello
  • Lauren Lin, viola
  • *Daniel Liu, violin
  • Austin Mann, chorus
  • Henry Moriarty, clarinet
  • *Stella Ovcharova, timpani
  • *Ryan Park, jazz trumpet
  • *Hailey Peck, violin
  • Andrew Quinn, cello
  • Lili Rigoulot, euphonium
  • *Fiona Rodriguez-Clark, cello
  • Luka Rozgic, string bass
  • *William Sattler, chorus
  • *Marcus Sendzik, viola
  • *Liam Sinclair, chorus
  • Sophia Sun, clarinet
  • William Sun, alto saxophone
  • *Ken Takayama, jazz tenor saxophone
  • *Rayna Thomas, chorus
  • *Qingyin Yang, clarinet
  • *Hibiki Yoshikawa, trombone
  • *Yolanda Yu, flute
  • *Evan Zhang, clarinet
  • *Emily Zhou, flute

A Spotlight Now On Belmont High Wrestling As Program Grows In Numbers, Competitiveness

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Photog: Belmont High’s Josh Hartley celebrates pinning his opponent in the 165-pound bout in the season opener vs Reading Memorial High

After several decades in the dark, Belmont High wrestling is now under the spotlight.

And that’s an actual spotlight, the Wrestling Mat Light, a 500-watt LED bulb that illuminates the competition circle with 50,000 lumens, that now hangs from the ceiling of Wenner Field House. 

And there’s a good reason for the program to be seen in a new light. Under the leadership of Belmont Head Coach Craig Janjigian and his assistant Andrew McCahill, wrestling attracted an ever increasing number of athletes who dedicated themselves to the sport.

The program had not presented a complete competitive roster since the golden age of Belmont wrestling in the early 1990s when the Baghdady brothers and cousins led the program to individual and team titles. Now with 45 student-athletes on the roster, the program matches the size of some of the strongest state programs.

“I think last year was our first year with a full varsity lineup, and this year we do have another full varsity lineup, and each one of those kids have been getting better and better,” said Janjigian.

The squad’s new found popularity was evident when the Marauders hosted Reading Memorial in the season’s opener. The parking lot was filled, and the stand was crowded as fans entered a dark Wenner Field House, with a single light illuminating the mat. Music blared during the pre-match warm-up, while the score and time were projected on the fieldhouse wall.

In the opening match, the second (or third) generation of Belmont’s vaunted wrestling family hit the mat as first-year Romy Baghdady started the dual match with an exciting 106-pound bout that went the distance, ending at 7-9.

Belmont’s Romy Baghdady

In the following contest, Belmont’s reigning state Div. 1 champion junior, Ava Svistunov, took on her male opponent. (Duel meets allow for co-ed competition since most teams don’t have many female wrestlers). After a guarded first round, Svistunov dominated the second round with speed and grappling prowess, winning via pin. [On Dec. 21, Svistunov pinned her female opponent to take the 107-pound title at the prestigious early-season George Bossi Lowell Holiday tournament]

Unlike past seasons when Belmont would win one or two of the matches, the squad has developed experienced grapplers that are competitive in nearly all weight classes and especially in the middle weight divisions. Will Babcock (150) won in the first round on a quick pin, while Ryan Murphy (157) followed with a big 5-0 third round to win his match. Josh Hartley (165) battled in a high-scoring bout and was leading 10-8 in the third when he used his height advantage to get enough leverage to pin his Reading opponent.

Belmont’s Ava Svistunov

When Enzo Passos (215) pinned his Rocket competitor, the Marauders came into the ultimate bout down by a single point, 33-34, a margin against Reading that hadn’t been seen in recent memory. Ultimatley Belmont would come up seven points short, 33-40.

Belmont’s varsity grapplers at the opening of the season included Max Devitt (120 pounds), Rayan Azhari (126), Walter Pressey (132), captain Luke Coelho (138), who took his match to overtime, Jonathan Doban (144), Max Lewie (175), Jack Papazian (190), and Will Lockwood (285).

Belmont will host the annual Brenden Grant Tournament: Saturday for Boys and Sunday the Girls, Jan. 4 and 5.

Yet it’s not just the wins the wrestlers attained or the popularity the sport has achieved that Janjigian sees as the program’s most valuable asset.

“It’s certainly the participation but it’s also the enthusiasm. There’s a clear sense of joy that the kids are having. That’s my whole thing because it’s one of the most demanding sports you can do, and if you’re not having fun doing it, what are you doing? I like to see the vast majority of the team actually having fun doing it. It is something that I’m very proud of.”


Opening Day For Belmont High Hoops an Up (Girls) and Down (Boys) Affair

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Photo: Belmont vs Melrose

It was an up-and-down result for Belmont High’s Hoop teams on their opening day of the 2024-25 Boy and Girls’ campaign on Friday, Dec. 13. While the Marauders Girls romped past Melrose, the Boys wasted the efforts of a pair of impressive sophomores as the Raiders took home the victory from the Wenner Field House.

Boys: Melrose 51, Belmont 47

Belmont Head Coach Darren Martinez didn’t sugarcoat his team’s opening performance losing to a solid – but hardly great – Melrose squad. It needs to improve everywhere.

“There’s a lot to be learned on both ends of the floor, individually and as a team. We just had a lot of self-inflicted wounds that hurt you, I expected a little bit of sloppiness. I wish we would have come prepared, but just like I’ve always told you past couple of years, players win, coaches lose. So that’s on me,” said Martinez.

But Martinez saw a few sparks of optimism during the game, pointing to a pair of sophomores in Brayden Dargon and Pete McLaughlin who led the Marauders in scoring with 15 and 8 points.

It was somewhat understandable that the season opener would get off on a as Melrose (1-0) ran off to an 8-2 lead in the first four minutes only to see Belmont (0-1) go on a 9-0 run behind the slick play of Dargon to finish the first quarter up 11-8.

But just like that, the Raiders said “Hold our Gatorade” and matched Belmont’s surge with one of its own, an 11-0 spurt to snatch a 19-11 lead after 3:31 into the quarter, an advantage it would not give up for the remainder of the contest. Belmont did bring the deficit back to two, 21-19, but would trailed 23-19 at the half.

The third quarter saw the lead stay steady in the four to five-point range as Belmont’s guard kept the Marauders in range with a pair of knockdown jumpers as the Raiders entered the final eight minutes leading 37-32. Once again Belmont began hitting their shots and when Will Murphy hit a corner three with six minutes to cut the lead to a single point, it appeared Belmont had grabbed the game’s momentum for a late-game charge.

But Melrose’s senior big man Owen Mujalli would do what senior captains are expected in the final moments: put the team on his back. Mujalli first stole a cross-court pass and drive for two, then hit a spinning jumper for a deuce, and finished with a line-drive three to give Melrose a critical six-point spread, 47-41, in the final two minutes.

Belmont would fight back with a two-from Williams with 25 seconds remaining cutting the lead to a single possession, 50-47. But an apparent clean steal from a Belmont double team was blown as a foul, much to the noisy consternation of the Belmont Girls team watching in the stands. Mujalli – who scored 10 of his game high 18 points in the fourth – knocked down one of two from the charity stripe and ended the game with a defensive rebound.

“I’m gonna challenge my upper class and my juniors and seniors to be leaders and step up and help the young guys. To have sophomores step up like that is great, but I don’t think any great team is relying on sophomores to carry them,” said Martinez.

Next up for the Marauders will be an early season traveling two miles to historic rival Watertown on Tuesday, Dec. 17. It will be played at Watertown Middle School.

“The team showed its potential at times in the game, but they need to be better prepared mentally and physically for future games, especially against tougher opponents like Watertown, that’s for sure,” he said.

Girls: Belmont 70, Melrose 21

It was all smiles as the Girls’ Marauders entered Wenner Field House after the crimson and white dismantled the host Raiders by nearly 50 points, 70-21. “We beat them. Period,” a Marauder said emphatically describing the game between two mismatched Middlesex League teams.

Senior point guard Gabby Orfanos scored a game-high 18 points which included four threes, and sixth-player extraordinaire senior Brynn Connolly added 11 points. First-year Sarah Geller, who third-year head coach Shantell Jeter is high on after the preseason, started the game and knotted eight points.

Gabby had a real breakout game to show what she can do in every game while having a freshman on the floor to start tonight was also another message that we sent,” said Jeter.

Each of Belmont’s 14 member squad got a chance to get on the court in the game which Belmont outscored 22-1 in the first quarter.

“It was a good team effort,” said Jeter. “While they didn’t really have too much we still had a lot of opportunities to work on” a lot of our stuff” including a chance to mix and match lineups. Jeter also praised the team’s defense, producing a handful of five-second calls

Belmont will host its first home match against Watertown on Tuesday with tip-off at 6 p.m. said the Raiders will provide a much stiffer opponent this time around.

“We’ll have to be more intense. We gotta turn up every game,” she said.

0:18


Like about this game. I’m sure I’ll find some good things as well. When we listen and when we played together, when the ball moved, we got good shots.


yeah, we showed spurn to what we can do, and a lot of that is, you know, the bench has to be ready to play. You know, the starters played a lot in the second half, and a lot of it has to be with guys kind of not being ready, maybe nerds for the first game, a little bit of jitters.

I have to get them prepared, but they have to themselves, be mentally and physically prepared as well, so hopefully we bounce back on Tuesday, but it’s not going to be any easy against Watertown mastery.

Belmont High Football Thanksgiving Day Game vs Watertown (v.102) At Home

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Photo: Belmont will host Watertown for the 102nd time on Thanksgiving.

Belmont High continues its century-long Thanksgiving Day rivalry with neighboring Watertown as the two sides meet at Belmont’s Harris Field, Thursday, Nov. 28 at 10 a.m.

It’s a game Watertown has circled on the calendar after suffering the most lopsided result in the 101 games played when the Marauders beat up the Raiders, 47-0, at Watertown’s Victory Field. Watertown leads the series, 50-46-5.

It’s been a rebuilding year for both teams as the Raiders come into the match at 3-7 while the Marauders – who lost their two varsity quarterback within the first 15 minutes of the opening game against Shawsheen Tech – come in at 2-8.

Tickets for the game will be online only – in fact, your phone will be used to enter the stands. Go to https://gofan.co/event/2331689 to purchase your tickets. Prices are $10 for adults and $5 for students.

Historic Run Ends As Belmont Field Hockey Fell To Andover In State Quarters Match

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Photo: Belmont coming off the pitch at halftime at the quarterfinals of the MIAA state championship

A brilliant sun was just setting on a crisp fall day as the final horn sounded over Lovely Stadium in Andover as the players of Belmont High School Field Hockey slowly made their way to the sideline. Many just wanted to hold on to their teammates while others stared down at the field. They wanted more time together, to continue the season, win just once more.

But the cold reality was the season had just ended, as Andover came away with a solid 3-0 victory over the Marauders in the quarterfinals of the MIAA Division 1 state championship.

Belmont Head Coach Jess Smith only regret was that for the first time in 21 games, the Marauders didn’t bring their A game to a contest which they needed to be their opponents equal.

“It was not our day,” said Smith “Things didn’t fall the way they needed to. It’s like a basketball; we were hitting the rim and the ball just keeps coming out.”

“Some of those players that could elevate their intensity a little bit, it just didn’t happen,” she said.

Not that 5th-seed Belmont didn’t have its chances. In the first quarter, the Marauders were banging on the 4th-ranked Golden Warriors door. Five times they drove the ball within seven meters of goal. The first opportunity came just a minute-and-a-half into the game when a ball squeezed through Andover’s goalie Lucy Baker’s pads only to be stopped on the goal line.

While Belmont had a 10-6 shot advantage and 10 penalty corners in the 60 minutes, each chance would go wanting. And Andover would prove ruthless, scoring on its first two shots all within 90 seconds in the first quarter. The initial goal at 8:28 by Ella Sewall was one of the rare times this season the defense were out-of-position and missed a critical opportunity to clear the ball from in front of first-year goalie Zoe Bruce. The Warriors second tally from Avery Pitts at 6:51 came from some top-notch passing on a penalty corner.

Senior co-captain Ana Hopkins – who centered “The Wall”, Belmont’s outstanding back line along with junior Neamh Lesnik and sophomore Elise Lakin-Schultz – felt that going behind so early on the road put the team on the back foot.

“We were confident coming into it but no one was expecting [Andover] to so quickly bang those two goals. Once our team gets down, we were kind of like … ,” said Hopkins shrugging. “I don’t think we had it in us today to come back.”

While Belmont saw solid performances from center back Hopkins. first year mid Mia Smith and junior captain Mackenzie Clarke, who attracted double and triple teams, the Marauders couldn’t capture the same momentum which they could find during its 16 game winning streak which included wins against top 10 opponents Reading and Winchester.

While Belmont did push forward in the third quarter, coming close on a shot that barely skipped by the far right post, Andover packed the middle of the field with players stifling the Marauders centering passes from the wings. A late goal in the fourth quarter – a well-placed shot from Caroline Samaras that snuck inside the left nearside post – was the coup de grâce for any Belmont comeback.

Smith said the disheartening ending to the season doesn’t take away from a historic year for the program: a Middlesex Liberty Division title – capturing the crown for first in nine years – and records for wins (18) and shutouts (13) – lead by Bruce who didn’t pick up the game until this year – along with scoring 93 goals while surrendering just 18.

“We did a really good job this year,” said Hopkin, who is one of five seniors on the team. “I’ll miss it forever.”

“In all honestly, it’s a great year. We made it further than we ever thought back in August when we worried we were a .500 team,” said Smith. “The nice thing is it’s a young team and now they’re going to expect this from themselves coming into next season. I think they’ll be really motivated for it.”

Belmont High Volleyball On Seven Win Run As Marauders Enters A Gauntlet This Final Week

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Photo:

After coming off a “season to remember” last year – finishing 15-2 and wearing the Middlesex League Liberty crown for the first time – the 2024 campaign for Belmont High Girls’ Volleyball was, at best, underwhelming. For a team that returned a slew of veterans from Head Coach Jennifer Couture’s championship squad, the Marauders stumbled out of the blocks going 4-6 for September.

One big reason for the slow start was the loss of graduating senior Bella Radojevic who was the team’s offensive stalwart who could be relied on to ring up points in bunches. While Couture’s defensive set up is solid, finding the right combination of a new “go to” outside hitter and a steady setter from a group of candidates who were not-as-tall as the players they were facing across the net proved frustrating.

“So we have (junior) Sadie Boaz as our middle [blocker] and she is amazing (18 attacks, nine kills and no errors against powerhouse Melrose), but we are not swimming in starting level middles and [an outside hitter]. We were switching players from other positions to see what could fit where,” said Couture.

“This year is one of those years where we have what we need to do well, but we’re still figuring some things out,” she said.

And soon after a loss to Burlington, all the pieces fell into place as the Marauders are coming off a 7-0 winning streak to up its record to 11-6. Stepping into the hitters role, junior Wuyee Ke (one of nine juniors on the 15 player roster) leads the team averaging 20.5 kills in the last two games with a rocket of a shot which has translated into 50 serving aces this season. Much of Ke’s success comes from the steady hand of returning setter junior Sophia Qin.

Belmont’s team foundation is built on the D. Junior Erin Dailey has become a presence as its defensive specialist who is the team’s top ranked server (7 aces while placing 26 of her 27 serves in play in a clutch performance against Concord-Carlisle which Belmont won 3-2) Add Boaz blocking skills – she is joined up front by sophomores Yekaterina Polina and Stella Ivkovic – with senior Gabrielle Hashioka who leads the team in digs and the Marauders’ defense with the best in the Middlesex League.

And they will need to be at their best during the final week of the regular season as the Marauders will be heading into a gauntlet of top teams beginning with a visit Tuesday, Oct 22, by 14-3 Lexington who defeated Belmont 3-2 in September. On Thursday, the opposition just gets tougher as league leaders Winchester, sporting a 15-2 record, welcomes the Marauders. The Red and Black also defeated Belmont, 3-2, when they met earlier. To finish the season, Belmont travels to a strong D-3 Wayland squad, (11-4) who handed the Marauders a 3-0 defeat at home.

At 11-6, Belmont will make the post season as they currently sit 26th in the MIAA Division 1 Power Rankings.

Sweet 6! Belmont Girls’ Rugby Romps To Sixth Consecutive State Title Over Weymouth

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Photo: Co-Capt. Mia Taylor lifts the state championship trophy after Belmont won its sixth consecutive title, defeating Weymouth, 80-0, on Saturday, June 15, at Curry College.

In a near flawless performance of top-flight rugby, Belmont High School Girls Rugby secured its sixth consecutive MIAA Division 1 state title, romping past a young, scrappy Weymouth squad, 80-0, at Curry College on Saturday, June 15.

The victory continues Belmont’s dominance in the tournament. The Marauders have won every championship game since 2017, when Belmont scored 17 unanswered points to defeat Algonquin Regional High School 17-14 in a true nailbiter.

Belmont HIgh School, the 2024 Div. 1 Girls’ Rugby State Champions

According to Kate McCabe, who started the varsity team a decade ago and has led the squad to each of its half dozen championship victories, it has been “a privilege” to coach what she and her players have created both this season and as a program.

“No one’s showing up because I’m so much fun to hang out with,” said McCabe. “It’s the players that made a family and a system that people feel empowered to be a part of even when they come in knowing nothing about rugby,” she said.

For senior outside center and co-captain Mia Taylor, the victory culminates in a personal three-peat of state championships.

”This team is just incredible. Every day, I’m excited to go to practice. I love these girls so much,” said Taylor, who will soon be off to UC San Diego, where she will continue playing rugby.

Belmont senior Mia Taylor on her way to a hat trick.

While Belmont came into the game unbeaten in 2024, having defeated Weymouth 26-12 in the first match of the season, the Marauders have had its handful with the Wildcats. In its past two encounters, Weymouth kept the matches close until late, including holding the lead early in the 2023 state semi-finals.

Belmont was anything but dominant in the first five minutes, losing its first four possessions on a series of miscues and nerves. But McCabe allowed the team seniors to take care of adjustments on the pitch.

“The coaches didn’t talk to you,” McCabe told her team after the game. “Nobody stepped onto the field. We let you lead, and you played off each other that whole time. Your voices were heard, and they were repeated together, supporting one another. We could not be more proud.”

Belmont’s stellar backline defending shut out Weymouth

Belmont dominated the defensive side of the ball. The front eight prevented Weymouth from putting in a positive phase, with the Wildcats inside Belmont’s 22 meters just once in the first 35 minutes. Belmont’s backs – led by senior wing Ally Caputo and junior Robyn Tonomura-MacDonald – never allowed Weymouth’s swift wings and full-back to break free turning the corners.

Senior lock Sally Amer secured her brace, scoring in the 15th and 23rd minutes, with the first a 10-meter run when she ran over two defenders before lunging into a try. Her second was more impressive: stealing a Weymouth scrum and moments later taking a straight line to try for the five points.

It didn’t take long for Belmont to right the ship, with Taylor grabbing her first try on a run around the right side after nine minutes. It was left up for Belmont’s senior fly half and kicking specialist Lucy “Buzz” Kabrhel to nail the two-point conversion from the most acute angle for the 7-0 lead.

Belmont senior wing Ally Caputo on her way for the team’s fourth try against Weymouth

Moments after receiving the kick, Caputo discovered a crease in Weymouth’s front line and streaked 60 meters for Belmont’s fourth try of the half. Three minutes later, Kabrhel found herself with a meadow of space and slalomed into try. With her conversion, Belmont would enter halftime with a 33-0 lead.

Despite being up by five tries, a rugby advantage is never secure as the scoring team receives the ball after a try and can dictate the game. But Belmont would allow the Wildcats just a single drive close to its try line before senior prop Olivia “Liv” Mann propelled herself to try after Belmont ran a master class in bringing the ball down the pitch. Taylor would throw down a brace within six minutes to complete her hat trick, and the rout was on. Mann, senior lock Abby Hill, junior “Number 8” Sadie Taylor, and Becca Michaud finished the scoring.

With Kabrhel’s 11th of 13 conversion kicks sailing through the uprights, the referee blew his whistle, and Belmont would celebrate its most dominating performance of the five previous state finals.

“It’s a long game, and over the course of the playoff run, we tell them, ‘You play the very best that you have. Give it your all, put it all on the field.’ And today, you can see people were just running as hard as they possibly could, and it was really beautiful to see,” said McCabe.

When Taylor was presented with the state championship trophy, she immediately started jumping up and down, her smile as bright as the sparkling late spring sunshine, expressing everything she and the team were feeling.

“My senior year meant so much to finish it here with every one of my teammates. I’m going to miss this so much,” Taylor said as she carried the trophy off the pitch.

Belmont High Girls’ Rugby Back For Sixth State Title Game Vs Tough Weymouth Squad

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Photo: Belmont Girls’ Rugby in the title game again

Belmont High Girls’ Rugby will seek its six consecutive MIAA Division 1 state championship this Saturday after the Marauders made quick work of Lincoln Sudbury Regional, 71-5, in the state semi-finals match held at Harris Field, June 5.

The undefeated and top-ranked Marauders (7-0) will meet a scrappy third-seed Weymouth squad (5-2) in the title game taking place at 2 p.m., on Saturday, June 15 at Curry College in Milton. The Wildcats sprinted away late from Algonquin Regional in its 60-29 semifinal victory.

Tickets can be purchased at GoFan.com

After an early scare in which Belmont thwarted a Lincoln-Sudbury push deep inside Marauder territory, it was all Belmont as the team pilled up 35 points in the first 20 minutes as it shut out the Warriors in the first half. Junior Robyn Tonomura-MacDonald totaled four of Belmont’s 11 tries while playing stellar defense.

Saturday’s game will be a rematch of the first match of the season which Belmont waited late before pulling away. After scoring two tries quickly, Weymouth came within two – 14-12 – at the half. Weymouth held the advantage for most of the second half before two outstanding long run tries by Mia Taylor gave the Marauders the 27-12 victory.

Belmont Girls’ Lacrosse ‘Bright’ Star Reaches Century Mark

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Photo: Belmont High Girls Lacrosse’s Niamh Lesnik with her teammates celebrating the sophomore reaching 100 goals.

The game played Monday afternoon didn’t go Belmont’s way, a 9-8 overtime loss to Wayland. But in the fading twilight of Harris Field the team had something to celebrate: midfield Niamh Lesnik reached 100 career goals in the first half.

Niamh accomplished the milestone as a sophomore, a feat realized against top-rated Middlesex League competition while performing in the dual role of a two-way midfielder.

JLesnik joins her team mates from last year, Belmont’s “Nickel and Dime” attack pair of senior Mary Mullan and junior Tess Desantis, who reached the century mark in 2023.

(Just so you know, this is how to pronounce Niamh – which is Old Irish for “bright” – from America’s favorite Irish actress.)