Belmont Field Hockey Returns To Form, Defeats Newton North, 5-1, In Playoff Opener

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Photo: Belmont’s Kendall Regan slots in her second goal as Avery Ranold who assists watches in its 5-1 victory in the opening round of the 2025 MIAA Division 1 playoffs.

It was all treats on Halloween Friday as forwards sophomore Kendall Regan and junior Gigi Mastrangelo each scored a brace to go along with senior co-captain Mackenzie Clarke (1 goal, 1 assist) netting her 93rd career goal to see 6th-ranked Belmont comfortably set aside 27th-seed Newton North, 5-1, in a first-round match in the MIAA Division 1 tournament contested in gusty conditions on the Harris Field pitch.

The Marauders (16-3-0) advance to the Sweet 16 to host 22nd-ranked Wachusett Regional (8-9-2) on Tuesday, Nov. 4 at 4 p.m. for a rematch of a contentious contest in the 2022 tourney in which a Belmont player left the field in an ambulance after being hit by an errant stick. (Note: she was OK). Wachusett will be looking for consecutive upsets after upending 11th-seed Natick, 1-0, in overtime.

Belmont junior Gigi Mastrangelo scored twice against Newton North

After finishing the regular season with two narrow 1-0 decisions and a pair of losses to Top-10 tournament teams – Winchester (5th in Div. 1) and Dover-Sherburn (3rd in Div. 3) – the Marauders returned to its midseason form against the Tigers, highlighted by stellar passing from the back with co-captains senior Niamh Lesnik and junior Elsie Lakin-Schultz (1 assist) bookending first-year defensive standout Kate Townsend with senior Caroline French as sweeper fronting sophomore keeper Zoe Bruce.

“I think we’re moving the ball much better. We’re not trying to do it all with just one person,” said Belmont’s long-time Head Coach Jess Smith about the marked improvement in her team’s play. “The passing tonight was phenomenal. Each goal was pass, pass, pass, than a pass in, and a quick shot on the net. We were working on that at practice and we have been working on communicating and both things made the difference.”

Belmont junior co-captain Elsie Lakin-Schultz

Clarke, Belmont’s all time scoring leader (92 goals, 73 assists for 165 points), was a controlling factor in the midfield working with sophomore Mia Smith, Natalie Merrow, Nina Sheth-Voss and Nora Dolan (2 assists). Forwards Roisin Reavey (1 assist), Amelia Long and 12-player Avery Ranold (1 assist) were inside the shooting circle. The most threatening of the Marauders attack were wings Regan on the tricky left side and Mastrangelo down the right.

With most of the first quarter possession and playing inside the Newton North side of the pitch, the only question was if Belmont could end its late season scoring deficit. That occurred when Regan would redirect a pass laying at the goalies boot into the net midway through the first 15 minutes. Later in the quarter, Mastrangelo doubled the lead with a shot from five yards out. Belmont would continue its domination and up its lead to three as Regan took a baseline pass from Ranold to easily slot the ball into the back of the net to put her into double digits for goals scored this season.

Belmont sophomore Kendall Regan scored her 10th goal of the season vs Newton North

The Tigers would have its most prolong possession in the third quarter yet Belmont would secure a four goal advantage via Clarke who fired her trademark reverse bullet into the right side of the net with five and a half minutes remaining in the quarter.

Newton North would score from a fluky play as a shot from Tiger’s Alexis Blanchfield deflected high into the air and floated over Bruce before bouncing just inside the box. But Mastrangelo would have the final word with her second tally late in the final quarter.

The Brian Trust

“This game we had a lot more energy in the [attacking] circle,” said Mastrangelo, who scored her 16th and 17th goals of the season, only trailing Clarke’s 26. [See Mastrangelo’s second goal here]

“This is the start we wanted for the playoffs,” said Smith.

Tuesday will mark the second time the Marauders and the Mountaineers will meet in the Sweet 16, with Wachusett sweeping aside Belmont, 4-0, in 2022.

“We have some tough history up there on a very cold, windy night, on the night that the override didn’t pass. And one of my players came off the field in an ambulance so it’s a revenge game, for sure,” said Smith. “I don’t know how many of the same kids are there [for Wachusett] but I was there and so was Mackenzie.”

Red And Black And Blues: Winchester Makes For Awful Week For Belmont Sports As Playoffs Get Underway

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Photo: Winchester’s junior goalie Amelia Burke secure the ball as Belmont’s Danica Zinka was taken to the turf in the Marauders tie with the Red and Black.

In the last week of regular season, several Belmont High teams had “Winchester High School” on the schedule with a lot to play for: a pair of Middlesex League championships on the line and having a chance to making the playoffs.

And at the end of the week, things didn’t come out well for any of the Marauder squads as the Red and Blacks made for an awful week for Belmont. Still, three Marauder squads found their way into the playoffs, with two looking at long stays in their touraments.

Scoreless Tie With Belmont Gives Winchester Girls’ Soccer Middlesex League Title

When the final whistle was heard at Harris Field on Monday, Oct. 27, the Winchester Girls’ Soccer team rushed to swamp their goalie and celebrate its 0-0 “victory” over Belmont.

Both teams came into the final game of the regular season with identical overall records, 14-2-1, and side-by-side in the MIAA Division 1 power ranking with Belmont 8th and Winchester 9th. The winner of the game would bring home (figuratively) the Middlesex Liberty title as Winchester was playing to retain the crown while Belmont was seeking its first title in the past decade.

But Winchester was holding a golden ticket: a better league record. The Black and Red had lost one Middlesex game, to Belmont, 3-1, compared to Belmont’s two losses. If the contest ended in a tie, the crown was going back to Winchester for the fourth consecutive season.

From the start, both teams were giving no quarter and didn’t expect none, as crushing shoulder checks, pushing in the back and hard sliding tackles sent student athletes from both sides to the turf. The teams tactics were clear from the start: Belmont was looking for the long pass to stretch the Red and Black defense and find a runner with senior forward Danica Zicha – the league’s leading scorer and Boston Globe All-Scholastic candidate – the likely target. Winchester was play making through the center of the field while playing a high line with the plan to keep Belmont’s forwards thinking about the offside trap. It also kept a bevy of defenders on Zicha’s hip, for good measure.

Marauder sophomore midfielder Madhavi Ramadas

Belmont came close in the first four minutes as Zicha turned the corner of the defense with a clear path to the net. But her shot was stuffed by Red and Black junior goalie Amelia Burke who left a short rebound at Belmont’s scoring leader’s feet as Burke was facing away from the ball. But before she could get a stab at the ball, Zicha was subsequently shoved into the turf by a forearm to the back. While a likely foul anywhere else on the pitch, no ref was going to call a potential penalty shot so early in the game.

Each team had stellar chances with Belmont sophomore mid-fielder Catherine Greiner just missing a one-timer from first year Catherine Tierney. The save of the game came from Belmont’s Martha Dimas with a full stretch, two handed punch save late in the first half. The junior keeper came back from a knee injury to claim nine clean sheets this season.

Continuing her season long all-star-worthy performance, Marauder sophomore midfielder Madhavi Ramadas moved from quarterbacking the offense with deft weighted passes to being the first line of the defense, influencing the run of play.

While Belmont did have the better chances in the second half – including a floater that barely sailed over the crossbar and a pair of shots that skipped by the post – Winchester’s defense was solid enough to keep Belmont, which led the league with 59 goals, off the ball until time ran its course.

The tie has had ramifications in the upcoming tournament with Winchester leap frogging over Belmont to 7th while Belmont has stayed in the eight slot, which gives them two playoff home games. Belmont will know its dance card in the D1 playoffs by Saturday, Nov. 1.

Belmont’s Great Start Didn’t Deter Host Winchester As Marauders Can Keep Its Crown

Through 14 games in the 2024 season, Belmont High Field Hockey was a scoring machine, netting a total of 73 goals. Then over the final four matches of the season, the Marauders prowess putting the ball in the net went bitterly cold as Belmont scoring average fell to just one per game and resulted in a .500 record. That drop in form resulted in the once unstoppable Belmont squad tumbling from 3rd in the MIAA power rankings to 6th.

And in the middle of it all, Belmont took the short trip to Winchester on Friday, Oct. , to battle the Red and Black for the Middlesex Liberty championship. And the teams could not be any closer with Belmont coming in with a 14-2-0 record to Winchester 14–3-0 records with Belmont as the five seed and the Red and Black sitting sixth.

Belmont started the match on the right foot as Belmont’s Kendall Regan slotted in a centering pass by Winchester’s goalie three minutes into the game. And Belmont would continue to pressure the Red and Black in its end.

But Winchester would come out of its shell and use long balls down the sidelines to bring the fight to Belmont. Subsequently, the Red and Black would pile up a growing number of penalty corners through the first half. And giving a strong opponent the advantage of placing numbers in front of the goal, the inevitable occurred as scored on a loose ball inches from Belmont’s goal with remaining in the half.

Kendall Regan (18) scoring vs. Winchester

The match in the second half would resemble a tennis match as the teams would bounce from one end of the pitch to the other. What would decide the game had a little of everything – a Belmont penalty hit, a brilliant solo run and an ignored infraction. The Marauders had a solid try on a penalty corner which was deflected towards the sideline. A Winchester defender played it up the right line to who proceeded to zigzag past Marauders before sending a running shot by sophomore goalie Zoe Bruce.

But during her slalom run, a whistle was heard calling an infraction against a Belmont player. While the Belmont players turned to where the penalty was called, continued her scoring run. Belmont players and Head Coach Jess Smith questioned the non-call to no avail.

With the home squad up by a single score, Belmont’s own attack turned tepid as frequent foyers into Winchester’s end would flounder without a shot on goal. Over the final 20 minutes, Belmont registered zero chances on the Red and Black goal. Belmont would have a final penalty corner after time ran out but the ball was safely turned aside.

Along with a 3-1 loss to a very strong Dover-Sherborn team (3rd in Division 3), Belmont’s razor thin 1-0 results against Lexington and Arlington resulted in its power ranking to fall to 6th in the final MIAA posting.

Belmont will host two playoff games starting with 23-ranked Newton North High School (4-10-3) on Friday, Halloween at an early start of 3:45 p.m. at Harris Field. If all favorites win in the first round – which is unlikely to occur – Belmont will match up with 11th-ranked Natick High (12-5-1) in the Sweet 16 with a possible battle against one-loss and three-seed Wellesley in the Elite Eight.

Volleyball On The Long Road To The Playoffs

After being roughed up by the 18-1 Red and Black in the final game of the season, Belmont Girls Volleyball finished the season at 9-8 in a very competitive league and secured a playoff spot as the 24th seed in Div. 1. The team will take the nearly 100-mile round trip to meet 9th-ranked Attleboro (17-2) on Thursday, Oct. 30 at 5 p.m.

The team recently had its signature win of the year defeating 7th ranked in Div. 2 Wayland, 3-1, in a revenge game for the squad. After losing to the Warriors, 3-0, earlier in the season, the Marauders used a combination of a strong back line and at the net defense with outstanding serving to come back from a one set deficit to sweep by one of the favorites on reaching the state semi-finals.

Boys’ Soccer

Winchester did no favors for Belmont as the Red and Black defeated the Marauders, 3-0, on Monday and sending the Marauders record into the red at 6-7-4. With the loss and sitting at 43rd in the power rankings, outside the 32 automatic playoff slots, Belmont needed a win against host Newton North on Wednesday. But the prospects of a tourament run ended when neither team found the back of the net.

Belmont High Bands Gets Halloween Started Early With Annual Masquerade Concert Oct. 30

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Photo: This year’s poster of the annual Masquerade Concert, this year on Thursday, Oct. 30.

Get a head start on Halloween by trying out your costume and heading over to Belmont High School on Halloween-eve to attend the annual Masquerade Concert in the school’s auditorium on Thursday, Oct. 30.

And best yet, the concert by the Belmont High School bands is free and open to the public with costumes encouraged.

While the concert begins at 6:30 p.m., the audience is asked to come early so everyone can view your neighbors horrorific outfits, include those worn by the band members!

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.

State Rep. Dave Rogers Comes Out With Local Office Hours For October

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Photo: Dave Rogers

Belmont’s State Rep. Dave Rogers has announced his October office hours.

  • Tuesday, Oct. 14, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St.
  • Friday, Oct. 17, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Bellmont Caffe, 80 Leonard St.
  • Thursday, Oct. 23, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Tilde Coffee, 2376 Massachusetts Ave., North Cambridge.
  • Monday, Oct. 27, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Robbins Library, Arlington, 700 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington.

Feel free to contact Rogers’ office with questions by phone 617-722-2263 or by email at dave.rogers@mahouse.gov.

Belmont High Volleyball Takes Powerhouse Melrose To Five Sets In Season Opener

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Photo: Belmont High’s Kat Hsu (No. 11) and Sadie Boas (No. 8) at the net vs Melrose

For the past decade, Belmont High School Volleyball has been paired in the season opener against perennial Middlesex League powerhouse Melrose. In the early years of this competition, it was a humbling experience for the Marauders as the Red Hawks would walk through the opposition.

But over the past three years, the competition between the teams has become competitive with Belmont falling 3-2 last season, after defeating the Red Hawks, 3-1, in 2023.

The season opener at Belmont’s Wenner Field House on Wednesday, Sept. 3, had all the feel of a changing of the guard in the opening sets as Belmont’s lineup of first time starters out hustled the visitors to take a two set lead (25-20, 25-20). Belmont’s new head coach Raylynn Kauila had the players performing at a tournament level against a talent-laden opponent.

Belmont High’s new head coach Raylynn Kauila

“The players did play very well defensively,” said Kauila, who coached at Springfield Central previously. “They kept that ball up. They kept it in. They were talking and moving really well and were doing really well with our serving too. We didn’t have too many missed serves.”

But Melrose was holding a very big weapon in its arsenal: senior Sabine Wenzel. At 6’6″ and 175 pounds, the Division 1 commit to East Texas A&M, is THE presence on the court both at the net blocking and especially on the attack. “Melrose were so good at finding [Wenzel on the] right, and they adjusted really well later in the match,” said Kauila.

In the third and fourth sets, Wenzel was the Red Hawks offensive stalwart, winning multiple points on set shots with deadly accuracy. While the Marauders kept both sets close, they could not narrow the margin to within a point, dropping Belmont 25-21 and 25-19.

Melrose High Volleyball senior Sabine Wenzel in action vs. Belmont High

The match came down to Melrose’s better finesse and fitness as Belmont’s earlier performance slipped as the match wore on.

“We got tired, and it definitely showed,” said Kauila. “We were not being able to finish and made some hitting errors. Once we got down in that third set, it was really hard to come back.. We closed it just a little bit. But just not get over the hump,” she said as Belmont fell, 15-11, in the deciding set.

[Belmont would take two of the next three matches – defeating Reading and Watertown while losing to Wayland – to end the first week at 2-2.]

But there was a lot to take from the match: a player that impressed Kauila was junior middle blocker LeeLee Kozelian, who was matched up against Wenzel. “It’s very intimidating to play against someone with that big of a height difference. And she surprised me by really committing to playing there and not being scared. She had some good fight in her and it’s important at that position.” Three times in the match, the junior stuffed Wenzel’s attempted spikes to win the point.

Belmont senior Libero Zulal Merdinian

In the back court, senior Libero Zulal Merdinian was ‘talking, reading the game, adjusting to the defense, and just doing a phenomenal job,” said Kauila.

Despite the loss, Kauila did find encouragement for the rest of the season.

“It’s a nice baseline for game one. So I can’t wait to see their growth over the next couple of games,” she said.

Freshman, Senior Leads Belmont Girls Soccer To 2-0 Win In Season Opener

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Photo: Belmont High Girls Soccer senior Danica Zicha (number 10) scored in the season opener vs. Melrose

Belmont High Girls Soccer freshman Mackenzie Tierney has one special thing in common with her teammate, senior Danica Zicha: each scored a goal in their first high school game. The pair of forwards scored with Tierney picking up the assist on Zicha’s goal as the Marauders put in a solid performance against a physical Melrose squad to win 2-0 in the 2025 season opener held at Harris Field.

Couple the victory with an away win on Saturday, Sept. 6 against Westford Academy (the only team to beat the Marauders during last year’s regular season), 2-0, and fourth-year Head Coach Jemmy Cange continues his winning ways coming off last year’s 10-1-7 record.

“This year … we have a lot of new starters,” said Cange after seeing the team graduate double digits of players from last season. “We have a lot of great players here, a lot of great freshmen … and returning players. We should be good this season.

Zicha’s strike came midway in the first half at the end of a classic counter attack. Running strong down the middle of the field, sophomore Catherine Greiner kept possession after a challenge and found Tierney streaking down the right sideline. The first-year passed to Zicha who teed up the ball onto her right foot and directed the ball into the left side of the Melrose net.

The senior’s game-winning strike has been a long-time coming as it came nearly two years after a serious knee injury in Zicha’s sophomore season took her effectively off the pitch for nearly two years.

“It feels great because I’ve been gone for a while,” said Zicha. “[The team] has been working really hard in practice … working on connecting passes and so [scoring again] was great.”

Tierney tallied on the final kick of the game, pouncing on a rebound to secure the victory. While scoring in her Inaugural high school game, the goal was not her first wearing the crimson and white as she scored on a memorable solo breakaway against 13-win Arlington for the high school’s ice hockey team.

Also returning to the team is junior goalie Martha Dimas who suffered her own knee injury in the penultimate game of the season during which she secured 13 clean sheets.

Belmont’s speedy defenders never allowed Melrose the opportunity for a clean shot against Dimas. Junior midfielder Madhavi Ramadas turned in a standout performance with solid defending while connecting with several spot-on passes in transition.

“I’m proud with how everyone played. Danica is back and Martha was solid. Great game,” said Cange.

Belmont High Girls Rugby Sweeps Past Lincoln-Sudbury For Seventh Straight State Title

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Photo: Here are your 2025 MIAA Division 1 Girls State Champions: Belmont High School

It’s seven heaven for the Belmont High Girls Rugby team, which secured its seventh consecutive MIAA Division 1 state championship title, sweeping past Lincoln-Sudbury Regional, 69-21, at Curry College in Milton on Saturday, June 14.

With the victory, Belmont completed the 2025 season undefeated with eight wins, as the Marauders outscored their opponents by a combined 463 to 28.

Senior Captain Robyn Tonomura-MacDonald holds the 2025 State Championship trophy for her teammates to see after Belmont High’s victory.

With 13 senior starters on a squad playing top-level rugby since each joined the team, Belmont had the skills and experience to come into the match as overwhelming favorites. With a significant advantage in running, speed, and tackling by the backs and front line, Belmont’s game plan was simple: Continue what they did all season and repeat.

“This team felt pretty clear cut [they would win the state title] from the beginning of the season,” said Belmont Head Coach Kate McCabe, who has led the Marauders since the inception of the girls’ program in the mid-2010s.

This year’s seniors had to compete so much with the seniors of two years before for any game time. “They were fully convinced, ready to go, saying, ‘this is our year, and we’re gonna do it’.”

After an exchange of possession, Belmont struck first as senior Lock Laila Lusis dove into try eight minutes into the game, with senior center Rebecca Michaud handling the two-point conversion.

The Marauders would double its lead with speedy senior Wing Anoush McCarthy turning the right edge into clear for the try, coming after Belmont built its running foundation from its front line. Low numbers, including senior Props Anika Gupta and Tabitha Kambazza, sophomore Lock Rebecca Christensen, and senior Number 8 Sadie Taylor, punished L-S with 10 to 20-meter runs while senior Flanker Lucy Hinds was a handful for the Warriors with a series of outstanding broken-tackle sprints.

“I’m so proud of them,” said McCabe of her front eight. “The off-loads, how they kept adapting to what they saw in front of them. We’ve been doing it in the second half of the season, and it came into play today.”

While L-S planned to hem in Belmont’s back line, the speed and elusiveness of McCarthy, Michaud, captain senior flyback Robyn Tonomura-MacDonald, senior Fullback Mira Gardner, and the decision-making senior scrumhalf Clarissa Field proved too talented to hold back.

Belmont would break open the match during five minutes as Kambazza powered her way into a try at the 19-minute mark. Three minutes later, Lusis had her second with relentless running, while Christensen finished off a series of quick passes, diving across the try line at 14 minutes to up the score to 31-0.

Gardner would finish the half scoring after eluding the Warrior backs around the edge to go up, 38-0. L-S would pound into try after time expired to come off the field 38-7.

The game’s highlight came early in the second half what a sideline official dubbed “a try of beauty,” as McCarthy, Gardner, and finally Michaud combined with a series of quick passes to open up L-S’s backs for a walk-in try. The Warriors would strike back with 27 minutes remaining to cut the score to 45-14 – the most points the Marauders gave up this season – but by this time, McCabe had taken off many of the seniors to allow the team’s role players an opportunity to participate in a state championship.

McCarthy was awarded her second score with a penalty try after an NFL-style tackle, while Michaud and junior wing Jil Costa finished the scoring for the Marauders. When L-S kicked the conversion after scoring their third try with no time left on the clock, teammates ran onto the field to hug and celebrate.

“There are a lot of people who love this program for good reason, because it’s such a great program,” said Tonomura-MacDonald after the match. “The coaches and athletes are so hardworking. We had a practice with our alumni a couple of days ago. It showed they appreciate the work you’ve done, because they know they’ve had such a good experience here.”

And like the past six times, the players lined up to have the MIAA winner medals hung around their necks while watching McCabe and their captain, Tonomura-MacDonald, receive the program’s seventh state champion trophy.

Belmont High Commencement Outran Rain As Approximately 350 From Class Of ’25 Graduate

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Photo: Caps head skyward at the 2025 Belmont High Commencement

Tara Westover certainly accomplished a lot attending Belmont High School. 

Honored with one of two School Committee awards for outstanding achievement at Belmont High School’s 2025 commencement held under threatening skies on Saturday morning, June 7, Westover undertook the most rigorous course load with a near-perfect GPA; she is a National Merit semifinalist, achieved a perfect score on the SATs, is a talented artist and rock climber, a volunteer with Habitat for Humanities who also found the time to publish an academic paper with her father and brother while being accepted at Harvard College to study maths. Whew!

While she could have spoken on any number of subjects, Westover decided to demonstrate the commonality of each graduate with their classmates in a game of elimination using their upraised hands. They would put down a finger with each “interesting thing” they did during the past four years.

“[Did] you complain when you first heard about the changes to the weekly schedule,” and “if you complained the phone hotels, or, as some people, but definitely not me, have called them phone prisons,” and “if you shopped for prom outfits during class,” she said.

At the end of the challenge, Westover asked the graduates to look around. “I hoped you noticed two things. One, that almost everyone had some fingers down, which highlights our connection, which we have through the school building, to our fellow Marauders, even with the ones we may not have met. And two, that not everyone has all their fingers down,” Westover observed. 

“There’s no one story of a Belmont High graduate,” said Westover, as the most impactful moments were in a new class, speaking to a teacher, or just hanging out with friends. 

“Though our paths converged here … the details of our roots have been different. We’ve each crafted our own unique story,” she said. And with high school ended, “a new chapter is beginning. Life is a collection of moments like the ones you’ve had in high school. Let’s each grab a pen and start writing the next chapter of our stories as Belmont High School graduates.” 

Belmont High Principal Issac Taylor welcomed the approximately 350 graduates and their families and friends to Harris Field. In his address, Taylor spoke of the advancements in global connectivity in the past 200 years through the development of international shipping, which, itself, represents one of the great dichotomies of history.

“[Shipping] led to the murderous eradication of hundreds of cultures and languages,” founded the international slave trade, and accelerated the destruction of natural habitats, “setting the stage for the climate and biodiversity crisis,” said Taylor. And yet it shrank the globe and made it more accessible, while leading to the pooling of human talent and resources, accelerating innovation and learning, resulting in “the mixing of languages and cultures that enrich our world today,” he said.

“Class of 2025, you face similar dichotomies,” said Taylor, with wealth and power flowing from the rapidly changing world ruled by computing, big data, and artificial intelligence. “It is all moving so fast, it’s hard to see what is really happening, how power is shifting, and what direction the world is going.”

Despite an unwritten future, Taylor said this graduating class has demonstrated “exemplify humanity at its best.”

“I observed as you looked after your friends and supported one another, expressing your love and care in dozens of languages. I have watched you celebrate the diversity and multiculturalism of your community through dance and play, through food and dress. I have heard you advocate against injustice and stay true to your beliefs, even when that means standing up to power, and I have taken great pride in your collaboration, courtesy, compassion and kindness,” Taylor said.

Class President Mark Guzelian spoke of the uniqueness of the senior class: the first to sell 587 prom tickets, to have a full senior thesis Capstone exhibition, and to NOT have a senior prank.

“In other words, we’ve not been first at very much … [S]o I went back to brainstorming, what makes the class of 2025 unique?” he asked. First, it “is all the people in it,” each contributes their own gifts – in sports, theater, music, and academic excellence – during the past four years.

“But all of us will go on to make greater contributions to society in our own way,” Guzelian said, whether running labs, getting advanced degrees, going on to trade school to learn skills that keep society functioning, starting businesses, or becoming teachers. He advised his classmates to face the challenges “thrown at us” with patience, which he said “is not much valued.” 

Saying that success will not be handed on a platter and that perseverance through challenges is necessary, Guzelian said, “We will need to have patience and not rush through life trying to achieve things when perhaps it’s not the right time. Just remember that sometimes patience will need to be part of the process.”

Honored with a School Committee award for outstanding achievement, Jordan McCarty—who was awarded the Yale Book Award, is a World Cup medalist in fencing, and is an outstanding jazz musician who will attend New York University—said his father advised him to “first do the things you have to do, then do the things you want to do.” 

While he and many in the class are “guilty of draining away time on our phones,” McCarty said. “Instead, what I would want is to spend my time with those close to me and make timeless memories with them. To me, this has begun to fall under the category of things I have to do. You have to be able to enjoy your time. So take a breather, enjoy the present, and appreciate all the little moments.”

“I believe true happiness comes from the connections you form with other people and how you spend your time with them. Time quickly becomes our most important asset, and is important how we use it in this world. The one thing you can’t get back is your time. So cherish the time that you do have, spend it with people you love, and don’t regret one moment. That’s all that matters,” said 

After a performance of Stephen Paulus’ “The Road Home” by the BHS Chorus, each graduate crossed the dais to receive their diploma and have dozens of photographs documenting their journey. Soon, caps were flung skyward as the ceremony would beat the rain by less than an hour. 

‘Statement’ Win As Belmont High Girls’ Lacrosse Edge Defending State Champs, 13-12

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Photo: Belmont High’s junior midfield all-star Niamh Lesnik

What better way is there to prep for prom than taking down the defending state champs at home? Ask the members of Belmont High Girls Lacrosse because they did just that edging Central Catholic, the Division 1 2024 state champions, 13-12, on Thursday, May 15, at Harris Field.

Four consecutive goals over five minutes in the fourth quarter – the final pair from junior midfield all-star Niamh Lesnik – and four minutes of shut down defense allowed the Marauders (11-6, 14th in the MIAA Power Rankings) to pick up its biggest win as the season heads to the home stretch this week.

For Head Coach Dan O’Brien, it was a lot more than putting the program into double digits in wins.

Belmont High’s senior defense Keira Healy

“This was a statement win not just for the season, but for the program,” said O’Brien, as it not only came against a top 10 squad – CC is 7th in the MIAA Division 1 power rankings – the Marauders came from behind for the vistory, coming back from two goals down (8-10) with two minutes to go in the third quarter to outscore a perannial top playoff seed five goals to two.

“We had a ton of confidence in the forwards. We have eight different goal scorers against a top 10 team. We don’t have to rely on just one player,” said O’Brien. One of the goals came from an unlikely source, senior defender Tyler Mayall, who celebrated by jumping up and down to her teammates delight.

On the break: Belmont High’s senior mid Anna Santos

Lesnik – who scored her 200th career point in a win over Woburn on Tuesday, May 13 – continues to brings a spark to O’Brien’s lineup. After a slow start, Lesnik ended the game with five goals, a lot of ground balls, and, when needed, winning critical center draws. Junior goalie Brooke Whalen once again collected double digit saves as Mayall, juniors Julia Leveroni and Ellie Baird, and seniors Bailey Cumbo and Keira Healy were stellar in the defensive half.

Central Catholic is the sort of elite opponant O’Brien scheduled throughout the season. “You get to be the best by playing the best,” he said, noting he continues to up the quality of opponent the squad takes on. And accepting that challenge has begun to pay dividends.

“We are holding our own against top teams like Andover (7-9), North Andover (9-10), losing on a last second winner) and Westford (9-11). And at this point of the season, we are executing our game plan to where we are now in the position to win.”

Belmont goes against one loss Lexington on Monday, May 19, and finishes the season against Winchester and Billerica.

Belmont High’s sophomore attack Natalie Merrow
Game winner from senior mid all-star Niamh Lesnik