The excitement continues to build around Belmont Day athletics as our teams put together another terrific week of competition, highlighted by impressive victories, hard-fought games, and outstanding individual performances. With the fall season moving quickly, our student-athletes continue to demonstrate growth, teamwork, and determination each time they compete. And perhaps most exciting of all, the week concludes with one of our favorite Belmont Day traditions: Friday Night Lights!
The week began Tuesday with JV football putting together a dominant performance against Thayer, earning an impressive 40–0 victory. Beyond the final score, what made the afternoon particularly special was that three different players scored the first touchdowns of their careers! Those are the moments that make middle school athletics so meaningful, as students experience personal milestones, build confidence, and celebrate one another’s successes. It was a terrific team effort and a memorable afternoon for the Blue and Gold.
Girls’ varsity soccer also faced a challenging Austin Prep team on Tuesday, falling 4–0 despite a determined effort. Alexis Franklin was a bright spot for the Blue and Gold, demonstrating tremendous composure and competitiveness throughout the game. She did an excellent job tracking opposing attackers, stepping in to challenge the ball when needed, and working tirelessly to disrupt Austin Prep’s offensive opportunities.
On Wednesday, boys’ varsity soccer earned an impressive 4–1 victory over Austin Prep. The Blue and Gold put together a strong team performance, with Gael Cruz Marcos leading the offensive attack with two goals, including a beautifully executed free kick. It was another excellent showing from a team that continues to play with confidence and develop its chemistry as the season progresses.
Girls’ soccer also took on Dexter Southfield on Wednesday and battled to an exciting 2–2 tie. The Blue and Gold showed tremendous resilience after falling behind early, refusing to let the deficit affect their energy or determination. Bella Tan and Rosie Smith anchored an outstanding defensive effort, while the team’s continued pressure led to a corner kick that produced its first goal. Cathy Jin delivered a terrific cross that the Dexter Southfield goalkeeper deflected into the net. With momentum on their side, BDS began creating more opportunities on the counterattack. Sydney Reynolds, Ella Antipov, and Elise Katz worked beautifully together to intercept passes and transition into the attack, with Elise scoring the team’s second goal. It was a tremendous collective effort and a great example of a team growing in confidence as the game progressed.
Both volleyball teams also hosted Meadowbrook on Wednesday, and both came away with exciting three-set victories! Varsity volleyball earned a 2–1 win in a match that featured plenty of momentum swings. After taking the opening set, BDS saw Meadowbrook respond with some difficult serving to win the second. The deciding set was a battle, with the Blue and Gold jumping out to an early lead and holding strong as Meadowbrook attempted a comeback. Kaia Wentzell delivered the final point from the service line to seal the victory! Celine Li was outstanding throughout the match, covering the floor and keeping difficult balls in play as the team worked hard to handle Meadowbrook’s unpredictable serves.
JV volleyball also earned a thrilling 2–1 victory over Meadowbrook, with several players delivering memorable performances. Ahna Chakra, Yiwen Bilien, and Maitri Bonthapally combined for an incredible diving play that resulted in a point, while Cora Stack was dominant from the service line, scoring an impressive 11 points on her serves. Lily Bandar added three service aces, and Ben Fucci contributed two excellent kills during rallies. It was a terrific all-around team effort and another exciting afternoon for the BDS Volleyball program.
Cross country traveled to Pike on Wednesday for a challenging meet against an exceptionally strong opponent. Pike earned the victory, 15–48, with its top runner, Elliott Strandberg, setting a new course record. Despite the result, the Blue and Gold had plenty to celebrate, with an incredible 12 BDS runners recording personal records! Alana Brown led the team with a sixth-place finish, followed by Raphael Hsia in seventh, Kevin Zhou in eighth, Ben Bradshaw in 12th, and Amelia Chang in 15th. Boya Yun (18:38) and Emma Katz (18:54) both broke the 20-minute barrier for the first time, while Emelia Jin, Jeremy Pan, Raphael Hsia, Emma Katz, and Boya Yun all improved their previous personal bests by more than a minute. Jeremy’s improvement was particularly impressive, dropping more than two minutes! It was another outstanding example of the progress our runners continue to make, regardless of the final team score.
Thursday brought more excitement as varsity football earned a convincing 26–0 victory over Solomon Schechter. Gus Barrett was outstanding on both sides of the ball, hauling in two touchdown receptions while also making several important flag pulls at linebacker. Woody Evans was a force defensively at safety and also delivered one of the highlights of the afternoon, connecting with Gus on a beautiful deep pass during a trick play to open the scoring. Frederick Mak added another memorable moment with an impressive zigzagging touchdown run late in the game. It was a terrific all-around performance for the Blue and Gold.
JV football returned to action Thursday against Shady Hill and battled hard before falling 31–14. The game was much closer than the final score indicated, with BDS remaining competitive throughout most of the afternoon before Shady Hill pulled away in the final four minutes. Harrison Mak and Ethan Parry provided the offensive highlights, each scoring an exceptional touchdown. Despite the result, it was another opportunity for the team to learn, compete, and continue developing its confidence on both sides of the ball.
Field hockey also competed Thursday, traveling to Park and falling just short in a hard-fought 2–1 game. The team played with tremendous energy throughout all four quarters, showing strong ball movement and teamwork on Park’s turf field. Ursula Douglas scored the BDS goal by positioning herself perfectly in front of the net and tapping the ball past the goalkeeper. Josie Goldstyn, Clara Min, Leah Zhang, and Ela Adhikari all contributed excellent passing and support in the attack. Anna Turco was back in goal and delivered one of the defensive highlights of the afternoon, kicking away a dangerous shot following a Park breakaway. Despite the narrow loss, it was another strong effort from a team that continues to improve each week.
After a week filled with exciting competition, we are ready for one of the biggest days on the Belmont Day calendar! Today is Spirit Day, followed by Friday Night Lights this evening at Harvard’s Jordan Field!
We hope to see a tremendous turnout of Blue and Gold supporters as we bring the energy of Spirit Day into the evening. Wear your school colors, bring your loudest cheers, and help create an unforgettable atmosphere for our student-athletes!
Let’s pack the stands, celebrate our community, and make Friday Night Lights a night to remember!
Go BDS!
– Stephen Marks, director of athletics
