Belmont HS PAC Presents The Musical ‘Mean Girls’ March 16-18

By Leave a Comment

Photo: “Mean Girls” is coming to Belmont

The Belmont High School Performing Arts Company presents the High School version of the hit Broadway musical “Mean Girls.”

The hit 2004 film and 2018 Broadway Musical comes to the Belmont High School stage. With music by Jeff Richmond, lyrics by Nell Benjamin, and a book by Tina Fey, the iconic characters and lines from the movie are paired with original music and a story about finding your way in the High School jungle.

Performances will take place at the Belmont High School auditorium on:

  • THURSDAY, March 16, 7 p.m.
  • FRIDAY, March 17, 7 p.m.
  • SATURDAY, March 18 at 2 p.m. matinee and 7 p.m.

TICKET INFO: 

ADULTS: $15, STUDENTS/CHILDREN: $10

BHS STUDENTS: $5 Thu/Sat Matinee, $10 Fri/Sat 7pm

Purchase Tickets and for more information go to bhs-pac.org

CONTENT WARNING: Mean Girls contains adult themes, strong language and depictions of mature situations that may not be appropriate for all audiences. The show is recommended for ages 6th grade and up. The musical is based on the 2004 film “Mean Girls” and while the Mean Girls High School Version script contains some revisions from the movie and the original Broadway Musical, it follows the plot of the film faithfully, with much of the original dialogue and scenes included. Parents of younger children are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the movie or musical soundtrack before purchasing tickets. While Mean Girls contains mature content, it also provides an opportunity for meaningful dialogue about healthy vs. unhealthy friendships, social media, bullying and other important topics that adolescents face on a daily basis. We have engaged in these conversations during the rehearsal process, and hope the show will invite audience members to do the same.

Complete Team Victory As Belmont High Boys’ Hockey Sweep Aside Chelmsford, 4-0, In D1 Tourney First Round

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont High’s Peter Grace, with the C on his jersey, celebrates with his teammates the 4-0 victory over Chelmsford in the first round of the 2022-3 MIAA Div. 1 Hockey State Championships.

Not a bad way to close the doors to the ol’ Skip.

In the final scholastic game to be played in the venerable – but completely dilapidated – Skip Viglirolo Ice Skating Rink, the Belmont High Boys’ Ice Hockey squad sent the home fans of the near sell out crowd happy as the entire lineup of 10th-ranked Marauders did Yeoman’s work sweeping aside a strong Chelmsford squad in the first round of the Division 1 state championship on Thursday, March 2.

Belmont dominated all parts of the game, controlling the pace of play with a stout defense and free flowing offense keeping the Lions caged in their end for the 45 minutes, making for a long night for Chelmsford sophomore tender Mark Bierwirth (40 saves on 44 shots).

Player of the Match was senior defender and co-captain Peter Grace who scored the brace from distance and teamed with his long-time line-mate senior co-captain Joseph Gaziano to prove again they are one of the best D pairing in the state. The three defensive lines limited the Lions’ opportunity to challenge Belmont senior goalie Greg Federico who made 14 saves Thursday night.

“It was a solid game from the whole team,” said Belmont Head Coach Tim Foley.

The Marauders are off to Canton on Sunday, March 4, for a noon time face off in a Sweet 16 matchup with 7th-ranked Xaverian Brothers High School, a rematch of last year’s Elite Eight battle where the Marauders’ were eliminated in a 2-1 heart breaker.

Belmont took the game straight to Chelmsford scoring three and a half minutes in the first as junior defender Ryan Halloran shot got through a Shay Donahue screen. Chelmsford could not generate an offense to strike back as the Belmont put up a wall on the Lions blue line; on four consecutive break outs, Chelmsford clearing pass was intercepted at the line and sent back behind the net.

“All three lines played the system well of forechecking well, kept our structure and hemmed Chelmsford in their zone which is a good, hardworking team,” said Foley. “Our game plan was to wear them down and it worked.”

The first eight minutes of the second stanza witnessed a continuous march of Marauders into the penalty box with the Lions skating 5-3 for nearly three minutes. But the defense along with senior forward Cam Fici were rock solid on the penalty kill, ending the deficit even in shots on net at one.

Back at even strength, it was four-year starter Grace who doubled Belmont’s lead with a rocket from the left circle that clanged off the crossbar and in.

It wouldn’t be a Belmont game if there wasn’t a Fici goal, and the fan base was not disappointed as the Marauders’ sniper snapped the goal in from the left circle early in third. Unlike when Chelmsford held a two-man advantage, Belmont was like a cat with a cornered mouse; you knew how this was going to end: Grace walking in and burying the puck by Bierwirth to finish the scoring.

Belmont High Girls’ Hockey Tripped Up By Malden Catholic, 4-1, In First Round Of D2 Tourney

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont Lola Rocci (4) reacts to the Marauders’ tie the game vs. Malden Catholic

After being in the wilderness since its last tournament appearance in 2018, Belmont High Girls’ Hockey’s return to the MIAA Division 2 playoffs was a short one as the Marauders fell short against a quick team from Malden Catholic, 4-1, in a first round matchup on Wednesday night, March 1, held in Malden’s Valley Rink.

While more than holding their own against the team that beat Belmont, 4-3, earlier in the season, Malden Catholic were just a step faster on both ends of the rink, taking a 2-1 lead late in the second period on a freakish goal where the puck wobble its way through Belmont four-year starting goalie Bridget Gray’s stick and pads.

“Unfortunately our MO has been playing from behind in the third period all season,” said Belmont Head Coach Ken Murphy. “You can do that right up until you can’t, because you’re gonna come up short one time and tonight was that night.”

“They played as hard as they could tonight and they played so they would be in the right place where they would get the shot to tie it up. But it just didn’t go our away tonight.”

Belmont’s Bridget Gray with one of her 30 save in the playoff game vs Malden Catholic.

Gray – who would end with 30 saves adding to her more than 2,000 career saves – was her stellar solid self in the first period as the Lancers held the slight edge keeping Belmont’s first line defenders Katyla Pisuk and Alex Townsend busy. The Marauders’ had the better chances to break the deadlock with a pair of Mackenzie Clarke solo rushes against Malden Catholic’s goalie Daniella DeJon, the second a clear breakaway. Clarke’s wrister barely missed the left post, which the first-year left wing slammed her stick in frustration. Just before the period ended, Belmont’s Charlotte Wright came close on the near side left post followed by an open shot from forward Sadie Taylor on the same shift.

The Lancers took the lead midway through the second all with their speed, intercepting a clearing pass that resulted in a Samantha Crowley in close shot that beat Gray. It took Belmont only two minutes to knot it up with a long-distance blast from Pisuk, assists from Mia Taylor and Euey Long. It appeared that the game would enter the third tied but then came the wafflier from Alyssa Jankowski that lucked its way into the net.

Less than five minutes into the final period, MC put the game on ice as Mikayla Holland snapped a shot from a face-off that found the net by Gray’s right pad. Jankowski would earn the brace with an open netter in the final minute.

“That they put every effort they can into it,” said Murphy. “And they did. So we’re happy with what they did. We wish we went a little further, but all in all, I think they had a good season.”

With the loss of a handful of seniors, Murphy’s young team will have valuable playoff experience when they regroup in November.

“We have an exciting, fast group of freshmen coming up. We will have to fill in on defense [especially with the Gray graduating in June] but even with that need, Belmont has a good program coming next season,” said Murphy.

Letter To The Editor: Belmont Hill Proposed Parking Lot Unhealthy For Wildlife, Community

By 2 Comments

Photo: A portion of the land owned by Belmont Hill School adjacent to the proposed parking lot

To the residents of Belmont:

The Belmont Hill School intends to build a 100,000 sq. ft. parking lot in place of the current woodlands. This space, almost as big as two football fields, is home to many animal species and is an extension of the ecosystem of Mass Audubon’s Habitat. Important species like foxes, deer, and owls depend on that land to survive, as do the large trees that provide clean air to the entire town. 

The Belmont Middle High School project has no parking lot for students and minimal street parking. All 1,300 students can attend school by carpooling, bus, walking, or biking. We understand there is limited parking at Belmont Hill School, but destroying critical ecosystems and natural habitats is unhealthy for the local wildlife and our community. The size of the parking lot that Belmont Hill wants to build is unnecessary and not worth sacrificing valuable woodlands. 

As Belmont High School Climate Action Club members, we oppose this harmful project. We hope the people of Belmont agree and stand with us against the currently proposed parking design. 

The Belmont High School Climate Action Club

belmonthsclimateactionclub@gmail.com

Belmont’s Shea Top Ten At U20 Cross Country World Championships, Leads US To Historic First-Ever Medal

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont’s Ellie Shea running through the vineyard section of the course at the World Athletics U20 Woman’s Cross Country Championships held in Bathurst, AUS on Feb. 18, 2023

Running in her first major international competition representing the United States, Belmont’s Ellie Shea finished a historic 10th place at the World Athletics U20 Women’s Cross Country Championships held Saturday, Feb. 18, in Bathurst, Australia.

The 17-year-old Belmont High junior’s result is the highest placement by an American runner in 32 years since Melody Fairchild came in third in 1991. The Emerging Elites runner led the US to a bronze medal in the team competition, the first-ever medal by a US U20 women’s squad in the 28 times the race has been run.

“I feel great. It was really fun. It was really hard. I fell in the mud and got right back up and kept going,” said Shea in an after race interview with LetsRun.com. “Getting the chance to race the best in the world is something I don’t take for granted.”

View a video of an interview of Shea after the race by the website LetsRun.com .

Held in the infield of the Mount Panorama motor racing circuit in sweltering conditions that reached 97 degrees, Shea said her strategy for the 6 kilometer race was to start conservatively and pick off runners as the race progressed.

As she mentioned, Shea’s race was nearly upended in the first minutes when she nearly went down transversing the course’s “billabong” – the Aussie term for a stagnant muddy water crossing – with her left leg sliding out from under her, forcing her to place her hands in the mock to stay upright.

“I was not expecting it to be that sloppy. I never run through mud like that before, but I got back up as quick as I can and let that adrenaline take me,” said Shea.

It took her a bit of time to catch up with the chase pack on the challenging hilly course that the International Broadcast commentator Steve Moneghetti called “the most difficult course” he saw in the past 20 years of the competition.

Predictably, in the team competition Ethiopia won gold (15 points) while Kenya scored silver (22). More surprisingly the United States snared the bronze (54), led by Ellie Shea.

Louise Evans for World Athletics

Despite the near mishap, Shea began stalking the lead pack occupied with favorites of Ethiopians and Kenyans, passing runners through the race including a trio of Ugandans who made up one of the favorite squads.

Racing with Irene Riggs, the national junior cross county champ from West Virginia, for most of the event, Shea said the race was going to be “a battle of the toughest” so she was prepared to put her head down “and grind it out.” In 20th place after her trip in the mud, Shea was 15th after one kilometer only 6 seconds off the lead pack, 13th by 2 kilometer only 15 seconds out of first.

As the race entered its final stage, Shea – wearing her trademark cobalt blue sunglasses – remained within the camera’s range with the leading group. In the final up/down hill portion, Shea passed Ethiopia’s Melknat Wudu racing 10 seconds faster down the home stretch to break the log jam of the two leading countries and secure a top ten finish. Shea crossed the line in 21 minutes, 48 seconds, 55 seconds behind winner Senayet Getachew of Ethiopia.

The brave racing from Shea, Riggs (12th in 22:03), 2022 National Cross Country champion Karrie Baloga (13th, 22:12) and Zariel Macchia (19th, 23:05) powered the US to its first medal at the worlds.

“Team USA really showed up,” said Shea.

Ellie Shea (second from left) earn team bronze for the U.S. (photo credit: Fast Women)

The experience traveling 10,000 miles and 16 time zones from home – and now another 10,000 miles on a 24 hour plus flight back to Belmont – to come away with a world championship medal was a thrill, said Shea.

“It’s my first time internationally to race. It’s my second time out of the country ever, so it was awesome,” said Shea, who traveled with her mother, Belmont teacher Jamie Shea.

“I could hear her,” said Shea of her mother during the race. “It was awesome.”

Belmont High/Chenery Musicians Achieve High Individual Honors

By Leave a Comment

Photo: High and Middle School musicians hit the high notes at all-state, junior district levels

Before Thanksgiving, 50 students from Belmont High School were asked to perform in the Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA) Northeastern Senior District Festival, which took place at Jordan Hall at New England Conservatory on Jan. 7, according to Arto Asadoorian, director of Fine & Performing Arts for the Belmont School District.

On Jan. 21, several of those students were invited to audition for the MMEA All-State Music Festival. “We are very proud to announce that 10 students from Belmont High School have been selected to participate in the festival, which will take place March 2-4 in Westford,” said Asadoorian. The All-State Concert on March 4 will be held at Symphony Hall in Boston.

The Belmont High students are:

  • Helena De Figueiredo Valente (Grade 12), Chorus
  • Nathaniel Gillette (Grade 12), Trumpet – top score in the state
  • Jabe Hicks (Grade 12), Alto Saxophone
  • Lily Hicks (Grade 12), French Horn
  • Daniel Karma (Grade 12), Jazz Trumpet
  • Daniel Kim (Grade 11), Cello
  • Ethan Kim (Grade 10), Trombone
  • Meredith Knauff (Grade 11), Cello
  • Ryan Park (Grade 9), Trumpet
  • Su Min Pyo (Grade 10), Clarinet

On Jan. 28, 103 students from Belmont High and Chenery Middle schools auditioned for the MMEA Northeastern Junior District Music Festival, and 69 of those students were accepted and will perform on March 15, 17 and 18 at Galvin Middle School in Wakefield:

MaxAbouzeidTrumpetBHS
JosephBarryTromboneBHS
Brendan HanViolinBHS
HankHicksBassoonBHS
PatrickLeeJazz Baritone SaxophoneBHS
NilayNarayanViolaBHS
BenPalmerCelloBHS
LukaRozgicString BassBHS
HenryVidaverCelloBHS
BrookeWhalenTreble ChoirBHS
Elizabeth ZuccarelloEuphoniumBHS
PeterAloisioJazz TrumpetCMS
NickAndersonOboeCMS
CalvinBarnesMixed ChoirCMS
MadelieineBuellTreble ChoirCMS
SophiaBufanoTromboneCMS
ArundhatiChakrabartyTreble ChoirCMS
IvanChernovMixed ChoirCMS
NoahChinCelloCMS
SiennaChoiViolinCMS
EvaCohenTubaCMS
EllaConnellyMixed ChoirCMS
NailahCoulibalyTrumpetCMS
SimonDizekesTubaCMS
SamEnglerString BassCMS
EthanGongAlto SaxophoneCMS
JinyuGuTrumpetCMS
AanyaGuptaViolaCMS
AvikaGuptaTreble ChoirCMS
TeaganImbermanViolaCMS
SrishtiKarJazz Tenor SaxophoneCMS
TylerKimJazz TrumpetCMS
RebeccaKnightTreble ChoirCMS
CarolineLafkasTreble ChoirCMS
LaurenLinViolaCMS
ZoeLindseyTreble ChoirCMS
AnnieLiuCelloCMS
EmmaLiuViolaCMS
AustinMannMixed ChoirCMS
SophiaMiaoViolinCMS
GinevraMiglioTreble ChoirCMS
ChristelleMoiseTreble ChoirCMS
TimMolokovTrumpetCMS
IsaacMoonMixed ChoirCMS
JacobMoonMixed ChoirCMS
TagneyPaderaViolinCMS
HalleyPeckViolinCMS
EricPyoClarinetCMS
WilliamQinFluteCMS
ClaireQuinnViolinCMS
ShriyaSanyalTreble ChoirCMS
AbbySawyerMixed ChoirCMS
MarkusSendzikViolaCMS
ZoeShenTreble ChoirCMS
AlinaShiFluteCMS
StevenShiViolinCMS
MalachiSmithTenor SaxophoneCMS
SahanaSokkaTreble ChoirCMS
PaulSonClarinetCMS
WilliamSunAlto SaxophoneCMS
ElissaTianViolinCMS
MadelineTisdaleMixed ChoirCMS
LuanaWanderleyTreble ChoirCMS
TuckerWhitemanClarinetCMS
KevinXiangCelloCMS
EvelynYangCelloCMS
YolandaYuFluteCMS
BriannaYuehTromboneCMS
SophiaZhongViolinCMS

Ellie’s Midnight Run: Belmont High’s Shea Ventures To The Land Down Under To Race In World U20 XC Championships

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont’s Ellie Shea will be racing 10,000 miles from home Saturday in a land down under.

What are you doing over the February school break? Belmont High junior Ellie Shea will be flying 10,000 miles (think of the air miles!) over 24 hours to take part in a race that takes 17 minutes to run.

Shea will be wearing the USA vest as she toes the line at the World Athletic Cross Country Championships in the outback town of Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia at around midnight Saturday, Feb. 18, Belmont time. Shea will be running in the Under-20 race competing against 72 of the world’s best young runners from 19 countries.

The two-time national high school 5,000-meter champion indoors and outdoors on the track joins a squad made up of mostly high schoolers who will take on the 6K (3.73 miles) loop course located in the infield of the Mount Panorama Circuit, which will include tire obstacles, a trip through a vineyard, and a mud field. The 17-year-old earned her spot on the team by placing second at the USATF U20 Championships in Richmond, VA in mid-January. Shea, who runs for the Emerging Elites club, finished second in December’s Champs Sports High School Cross Country Championships National Finals to her U20 teammate Karrie Baloga.

One of five races, the junior women’s race is scheduled to start at 4:10 p.m. or 1610 UTC. With Bathurst 16 hours ahead of Boston, Shea’s race will take off just after midnight on Saturday. Hopefully, Belmont will be able to watch the race live by going to the World Athletics YouTube and Facebook channels. The race will be carried live on Peacock, NBC’s streaming channel noted in the US for carrying live matches of England’s Premier League.

Australia’s oldest inland European settlement, Bathurst is three hours due west from Sydney on the expansive plains just beyond the Blue Mountain Range. The town is well-known for the aforementioned motor racing track and as a designated spot for tourism by Australians.

The weather forecast for Saturday’s race is clear skies and temperatures in the low-to-mid 90s which is not the environs that would lead one to believe there will be optimum performances.

So chookas on the big race, Ellie.

With Likely Final League Games At The ‘Skip;’ Boys’ And Girls’ Hockey Prep For Post-Season With Pink The Rink [VIDEO]

By 1 Comment

Photo: It’s Pink the Rink at Wednesday’s games at the Skip

With the Belmont Select Board declaring two weeks ago it will not spend any more town revenue to keep the dilapidated Skip Viglirolo Skating Rink operating past this season, unless the Belmont High Boys’ and Girls’ hockey teams can secure home games in the MIAA ice hockey tournament, it’s likely this week’s pair of contests will be the final time high school matches will occur at the “Skip.”

While both teams have secured places in the post-season, the tussles at home with Arlington (Wednesday, Feb. 15) and Woburn (Saturday, Feb. 18) will determine how many additional games will be played at the half-century old rink on Concord Avenue.

Currently 8th in the MIAA Div. 1 power ranking, the boys’ (11-4-3) could have two home games in the first two rounds beginning in the final week of February. But they will need to stay 8th or lower to keep those games which will be a challenge as the Boys host the SpyPonders (13-3-2) at 7 p.m. Wednesday. This will be the third meeting this season against Arlington as Head Coach Tim Foley’s charges earned a 2-2 tie in a Middlesex League match in January while losing to the SpyPonders, 3-2 in overtime, at the Ed Burns Tournament on Feb. 5.

It’s been a bit of an unsteady February for the boys, seeing consecutive losses for the first time in several years while compiling a 1-3-1 (each loss was by a single goal) record so far in the month.

Belmont will be relying on senior forward co-captain Cam Fici who has reached 100 career points in 52 games with 68 goals. Fici lines up with senior co-captain Shay Donahue . The Marauders puts out one of the top defensive pairs in the state with seniors captains Joseph Gaziano and Peter Grace who play in front of senior goalie Greg Federico.

The Belmont High Girls’ team have been hanging around a home game placement for the past month, currently ranked 18th (if the season ends with no changes would mean a road trip to Maratha’s Vineyard in the first round) as they prepare to meet the Div. 1 8th ranked SpyPonders who are 11-3-2. But one of Arlington’s losses was to the Marauders, a 4-3 victory in January, while Belmont only lost the other encounter, the season opener, 1-0.

For the Marauders, it all starts from the back with four-year starter and the heart of the squad Bridget Gray who has compiled 2,000 saves in her standout career between the pipes. The defense is anchored by juniors Alex Townsend and Jane Caputo while the offense can be found with senior co-captains Lily Duffy and Cece Carere, the Taylor sisters – sophomore Sadie and junior Mia – and first year Mackenzie Clarke.

Wednesday’s games will be special as the Marauders are holding a Pink The Rink fundraiser with all proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Organization. There will be a 50/50 raffle, refreshments and stuff to wear on sale.

Belmont Girls’ Hoops Ups Record To 7-2 With Defensive Gem Over Reading, 52-42

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont High’s sophomore Cortney Howell in action against the Reading Rockets

Belmont High Girls’ Basketball Head Coach Shantell Jeter could only shrug when asked about her team’s what has become all to familar start to a game. After scoring the first basket via senior captain Sophie McDevitt, the Marauders were bombarded by a young Reading High squad with three threes and a long two to find themselves down, 11-2, after two minutes.

“We often have slower starts,” said Jeter who is in her first year at the helm of the Marauders. “We’ve been talking about the importance of having faster starts” noting that the team needed more possession “and go harder at the other team.”

Belmont High Senior Co-Capt. Sophie McDevitt gets inside

That “being harder” is exactly what the Marauders did for the remainder of the game, holding the Rockets (4-3) to a total of six points over the middle two quarters while making enough of a scoring run to come off the court with a 52-42 victory, pushing up its record to 7-2. Belmont’s two losses were to undefeated Winchester and top-ten Newton North (7-1)

”Everyone contributed today. Everyone was hustling. We had people diving on the floor which is what we love,” said Jeter. “We had the girls getting in there wrapping up the ball every time someone held it.”

After an early timeout, the Marauders start to right the ship with a hard nose, man-to-man defense – demonstrated by a monster block by sophomore Cortney Howell of an attempted three – that cut the lead to 18-11 at the end of the first quarter.

For the next two quarters, Belmont’s team defense was the star, as it bodied up to the Rocket players, winning nearly every defensive rebounding opportunity – thanks to Howell, sophomore Symone Jackson and junior Julia Herlihy – and just frustrating each offensive venture Reading had Friday.

On the break with Belmont High first year Sophia McClendon vs. the Reading High Rockets

“They’re playing better defense together every time,” Jeter said.

The defensive stand was needed as Belmont continues to make questionable shot selections for long portions of the game. While keeping the Rockets to six points, the Marauders scored 23 in the middle quarters (leading 23-21 at the half and 34-24 after three), led by sophomore Linda Sheng with eight and first year Sophia McClandon at five.

The final eight minutes turned into a grinding affair with every Reading scoring run answered by the Marauders including a killer 3 from McClandon – who tied Sheng with 9 points to lead the Marauders in the game – at the 5:36 mark to give Belmont a 10 point lead, 38-28. Junior Mia Ferrari buried six consecutive from the charity stripe, scoring six of the final eight points to finish off the game.

Next up for the Marauders will be at 6-1 Wakefield away on Tuesday and away at winless Arlington Friday.

With Participation Climbing, Belmont High Wrestling Sees A Growing Future

By 2 Comments

Photo: Belmont High wrestler Jaden O’Connor

Nearly 30 Belmont High wrestlers crowded on end of the on one end of the mat, cheering on senior Amir Nurhussien as he grappled with his Melrose opponant and is getting the better of him. Even if it was a junior varsity tilt, Nurhussien’s team mates couldn’t have been more involved if it was a final match for a tournament win.

With a slew of new converts – some having only wrestled for a grand total of 12 days – and returning vets, Belmont High wrestling is re-energizing its program that was a force in the 1990s with multiple state medalists and teams that could rack up the points in tournaments and meets.

“We’re still in a building phase right now but it’s growing fast,” said Craig Janjigian, Belmont’s new head coach. “Because if my memory serves me right, this is the largest turnout that we’ve had since I was [ a student] here.”

Belmont welcomed current Division 3 state champion Melrose to its new spacious, brightly lit home on the floor of the Wenner Field House. “And they showed to us they are state champs,” said Assistant Coach Andy MacAulay

“But there was no quit in us tonight,’ said MacAulay who stepped down from leading the program to take on an assistant role. “And that’s always what you got to have first before you can do anything else. And most of them were offensive minded, which I’m thrilled because a lot of kids in their first season aren’t. I’m very excited to see where we are in the middle of February.”

“Belmont does not shy away from competition,” said Janjigian.

This season, Belmont brings back its only state finalist from last year, senior Rowan Devitt at 113 lbs., who lost a close match against the Raiders, and a pair of outstanding grapplers: Andre “AJ” Sweet (132 lbs.) and Jaden O’Connor (145 lbs.)

In his match, Sweet was down 6-1 midway into the second period when he decided the time was right to end the match by pinning his competition.

Belmont’s dominating performance at the meet came from O’Connor as he went up 10-0 after one period with a series of quick combination moves. But towards the end of the second and up 12-3, O’Connor found himself with his back to the mat in danger of being pinned. But O’Connor reestablished his dominance, finishing the win on his back, exhausted.

The program’s future was on display last week with the JV wrestlers, many made up of those two week wonders. There were victories for the aforementioned Nurhussien and learning moments for others. The loudest noise from the stands came when Ava Svistunov (106), the sole girl on the team, strode into the circle. After controlling much of her match, Svistunov’s Melrose opponent took advantage of his upper body strength to pin her. But her performances have demonstrated to her coaches that she “is the real deal.”

With 7th and 8th graders attending classes in the same building beginning this coming September, it will allow the sport to establish a middle school program on site using the same facilities.

“That’s how I got my start was a youth program. It’s crucial to have a feeder program because you’re not exposed to wrestling like kids are to most other sports like basetball or football.,” said Janjigian. “We actually have a good amount of kids who are going to be successful this year. Success breeds success; it’s a positive feedback.”