Roxbury Latin’s track and field team won the 2017 New England Division III Championship on Saturday, narrowly defeating second place Portsmouth Abbey by just two points. 527 total points were available in the meet, and Roxbury Latin scored 65 to Portsmouth Abbey’s 63. Pingree finished third, with 43 points. With the win, Roxbury Latin has now won 10 of the last 13 New England Division III Championships in track and field.

Approximately one-third of RL’s points were claimed in the pole vault, where Milan Rosen (Class III) took first place with a jump of 11 feet, Ian Kelly (Class I) finished second, and Evan Lim (Class II) tied for third. Another one-third of the team’s points were scored by Tim McCarthy (Class I), who finished second in three separate events (110-meter high hurdles, 300-meter intermediate hurdles, and the triple jump) and also anchored RL’s 4×400-meter relay team, which finished fifth overall.

Other highlights included Hamilton Coiscou’s second place performance in the 200-meters. After suffering a torn ACL in the fall while playing football, Coiscou (Class I) rehabbed all winter and spring and missed three-fourths of the track and field season. His race at the New England Championship was only his fifth of the spring.

Rohan Sheth (Class III) ran a personal best of 9:44.7 in the 3,000-meter race, fast enough to claim sixth place.  And Brendan Gibbons (Class III) snagged third place in the javelin with a throw of 149 feet, four inches – a full 22-feet further than his previous personal best and only eight inches shy of first place. 

Roxbury Latin’s track and field team is coached by Erin Dromgoole (head coach), Chris Heaton, Jamie Morris-Kliment, Arturo Solis, Nick Poles, and Bruce Lynch. Click here for full results of the meet.

On Friday, May 19, RL’s varsity tennis team beat St. Mark’s to finish the regular season undefeated in league play (14-0), clinching the ISL title. On Saturday, May 20, RL hosted the New England Class B Tournament quarterfinals on its new home courts (the first time RL has hosted a tournament). In front of the home crowd, RL continued its winning streak, defeating Greens Farms Academy by a score of 4-0 and then beating ISL foe BB&N in the semifinals by a score of 4-1. In the finals on Sunday, May 21 at Taft School in Connecticut, RL lost to a tough Hopkins School squad, finishing second in the Class B New England Tournament to close out a superb season. The varsity tennis team is coached by Ousmane Diop.

The Class V boys traveled to Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) on Monday, 3 May, to visit one of the area estuaries and learn about the unique ecological importance of marine ecosystems. The excursion, part of their study of water systems in their Physical Science course and a spring term highlight, builds on their prior study of chemical compounds and the connection between chemical processes and the environment. The trip is supported by MBL.

Before the estuary visit, the group gathered in a classroom to learn about aquaculture (also known as fish or shellfish farming)—the breeding, rearing, and harvesting of plants and animals in all types of water environments including ponds, rivers, lakes, and the ocean. The class then boarded a research vessel and spent an hour at offshore, learning about ocean sampling and observing the sea floor via a live video feed from a camera attached to a bottom-trawling “sled.” Besides the obvious benefit to the boys of experiencing real-world laboratory and field research, it was a perfect day to be on the water.See photos here.

Over 5-6 May, RL alumni gathered in bunches for the events of Reunion Weekend 2017—including RL Today, and Spring Family Day, and the Reunion Dinner Saturday night.

This year’s reunion paid homage to classes ending in 2s and 7s. Beginning with the signature Friday program RL Today, returning alumni enjoyed a glimpse of the School in session through student-led tours, a Hall, luncheon with members of Class I, and a Q&A with a panel of seniors. Family Day on Saturday celebrated RL’s spring sports legacy and marked the culmination of this year’s ceremonies honoring former athletes, past and current coaches, our current teams, and our new athletic facilities. All the events, including the 25th Anniversary Class Family Picnic on Friday evening and the Reunion Dinner on Saturday, drew some 300 guests, including alumni celebrating their 70th reunion on up to those celebrating their 5th.

See photos from the weekend here:

RL Today (Friday)Class of 1992 Family Picnic (Friday evening)Spring Family Day (Saturday afternoon)Reunion Dinner (Saturday evening)Reunion Class Photos

A Cappella Fest 2017, on the Smith stage on 7 April, welcomed back the Tufts Amalgamates with Paul Matthews ’13, and they gave one of the best opening sets in recent memory. Lexington High’s all-girls Guacamole performed second, concluding their set with a medley from Disney’s Tarzan movie. Similar Jones ended the first half with a set that included solos by faculty members Nate Piper and Rob Opdycke, as well as professional bass-baritone David Cushing. Newly returned from their spring break trip to Puerto Rico with the Glee Club, the Latonics put on their biggest show of the year, bringing music, lights, and movement together for an entertaining second half. Their set including the debut of several songs: Sam Hunt’s “Leave the Night On” arr. T.J. Silva I, solo Xander Boyd I; John Legend’s “Love Me Now” arr. Ryan Chipman ’12, solo Nick Chehwan IV; and Zayn’s “Pillowtalk” arr. Vanderbilt Melodores, solo Ian Kelly I.Concert proceeds support financial aid for Glee Club tours through the Glee Club Scholarship Fund.See photos here.

RL’s annual 3×3-Habitat Basketball Tournament after school on 10 March yielded the following winning teams:

Seniors & Faculty Team: Kyle Layne-Allen, Darian Reid, and John Leib

Freshman and Sophomore Team: Sean Russell, Ben Rounds, Myles Davis, and Eric Zaks

7th and 8th Grade Team: Thomas Gaziano, Ben Brasher, Bobby O’Grady, and John Balson

The funds raised by the players go to support the Roxbury Latin Habitat Chapter builds.