The intrepid runners of Classes V and VI took to the hills of Larz Anderson Park on October 19, in the hopes of defending their team title at the Larz Anderson Invitational. Without any ninth graders in the mix, the Junior Cross Country team’s younger team members seized the day, placing first out of 17 teams and earning the title of Larz Anderson Invitational team champions for the second year in a row. (Find individual results here.)

After bolting out of the gates at the start, the team settled into their paces. Ethan Budreau led the team through the halfway mark, with Bruce Ghostlaw close behind. Ben Romano, Julian Vidal, and Everett Bluman followed shortly thereafter in a tight group, demonstrating perfect “pack running” strategy. No other team had such a dense pack of runners at the mile—an intimidating show of dominance by RLXC. Everett epitomized a perfectly-paced race. After coming through the mile around 20th place, he made a big push on the second lap to move up, ultimately finishing in eleventh place, RL’s first runner across the line!

In the second half of the race, many other RL runners—including Nayan Patel, Kolby Sahin, and Jasper Hyatt—also showed the value of patient early running. Putting their “pedal to the metal” on lap #2, they passed a number of runners in the second mile. John Cirasuolo and Alex Archerman both showed the advantage that RL’s own Malley Hill gives RLXC athletes wherever they run; on lap #2, both John and Alex pushed over the top of the major hill to catch and pass runners on other teams. As the finish line drew near, Guled Rashid and Charley Malley unleashed fierce finishing kicks.

At an Invitational meet, points can add up quickly. Runners are scored based on their finishing places (11th place = 11 points), and so any score below 100 points is a score to be proud of. RL scored 70 points in the race. An additional measure of a team’s quality is its “spread”—the amount of time between a team’s #1 and #5 finisher. RL did not have any runners in the top 10, but the team had an astounding spread of 33 seconds, between 11th and 18th places. That teamwork is what helped RL seal its victory.

Recap by Junior Cross Country Head Coach, Erin Dromgoole.

In addition to Varsity Tennis’s ISL Championship and second place finish in New England, RL’s Varsity Baseball, Lacrosse, and Track and Field Teams also had remarkable spring seasons this year, with noteworthy team-wide and individual accomplishments.

Varsity Baseball finished the season with an 11-4 record in Independent School League competition (12-5 overall), winning their last seven games in a row. The team finished a respectable third place in the ISL this year, and is losing five consequential and long-tenured seniors: Owen Butler, Harry Lonergan, Will Matthews, Antonio Morales (who will play ball at Wake Forest), and Patrick Schultz (who will play ball at Brandeis). Baseball had a great team performance in their season finale with a 12-0 win over St. Mark’s—facing a pitcher heading to Notre Dame and tagging him for five runs in the first inning!

Varsity Lacrosse finished the season with a winning record of 11-7. The team concluded its season by winning the ISL Consolation tournament, winning their first game against Brooks (17-3), winning their second game against BB&N (10-7), and finally beating Groton in the consolation championship (9-7). Hayden Cody was named tournament MVP. On the season, Matt Bastardi led the ISL in assists with 48. The team also had five different players with 20 or more goals this season: Taylor Cotton (28), Jake Popeo (25), Johnny Price (23), Tommy Weber (23), and Matt Bastardi (20). The team loses five seniors this year: Thomas Connolly, Aidan Gibbons, Will Anderson (who will play at Tufts), Riley Stanton (who will play at Holy Cross), and David Sullivan (who will play at Dartmouth).

This year’s Track and Field team had an excellent season, with lots of team and individual highlights. The team finished fifth place overall in the ISL, and in three events at the ISL Championship meet (discus, 110m hurdles, and 100m) all RL entrants set lifetime bests! Michael Thomas and Marc Quintanar both sent the discus over 105 feet. Alejandro Rincon and Ryan Lin showed the power of great teamwork in the 110m hurdles, finishing side-by-side in identical times of 16.74. Bruno Kim and Tyler Duarte both blazed to sub-12 performances in the 100m dash, Bruno for the first time at 11.76 and Tyler in a new lifetime PR of 11.78. Although he was RL’s lone entrant in the high jump, Matt Hoover lept to a new PR of 5’4″, making it four events in which all RL entrants set their lifetime bests.

At the ISL Championships, only the top six athletes or relay teams score in each event. With 13 ISL teams all putting their best athletes on the line, it is extremely difficult to score. All the more congratulations, then, go to RL’s three athletes who improved upon their unseeded times/distances and broke into the scoring: Ryan Miller made the most of his opportunity as RL’s lone “wild card” (third) entrant in an event, setting a lifetime PR of 10’6″ in the pole vault, catapulting into fifth place. Ezra Klauber set a 14-second lifetime PR in the 3000m to nab fifth, while Alejandro Rincon’s 110m hurdle time was good for sixth place.

Each year, the ISL coaches award Outstanding Performer plaques to the best field event athlete, track event athlete, and a combined field/track athlete at the Championships. These awards mark outstanding performances in what are already outstanding competitive fields. Roxbury Latin’s Kofi Fordjour was named the ISL’s 2023 Most Outstanding Track Athlete. Kofi single-handedly scored 28 of RL’s points, winning both the 1500m (4:10) and 3000m (9:24), and taking second in the 800m (1:58). Only a handful of RL distance runners have ever attempted this “iron man triple” at the ISL Championships, and Kofi’s finishing places put him at the top of that list. “The warm round of applause Kofi received from all the ISL athletes at the end of the meet is indicative of the respect he holds across the league,” said Coach Erin Dromgoole.

Track & Field’s final week included individual highlights at the ISL Development meet, as well as a gritty team performance that resulted in a third place finish at the New England Championships.

Although no team scores are kept at the ISL Development meet (with the emphasis instead placed on going for a personal best in one’s main event, or even trying something new), RL emerged with many top performances. Seniors Mathias Why and Michael Allen notably capped off their Track and Field careers with dual PRs in the 400m. In a great sign of the future, Lucas Connors notched his first individual victory on the track (in the 300m hurdles) while distance freshmen Liam Walsh (3000m) and Lincoln Hyatt (1500m) ran personal records in their events. Zach Heaton (1500m) Akhilsai Damera (800m), Drew Anderson (400m), Brendan Reichard (800m), Josh Hua and Austin Reid (200m) continued the PR parade! The race of the day went to Calvin Reid who battled his competition to the wire, leaned at the tape, and was rewarded with a big five-second PR in the 800m. In the field, RL’s top three shot putters, led by Hunter Lane, all ended their season with personal-best throws. This meet is an annual highlight for RL Track and Field “futures,” and this year proved to be more of the same.

Traveling two hours west to Williston Northampton, to compete at the New England Championships, Roxbury Latin Track and Field outscored its seed “on paper” to take home the third place trophy, with 80 points. (Suffield nipped RL for second place by just one point. However, Roxbury Latin’s athletes scored 30.5 more points than they had at the ISL Championships!)

Kofi Fordjour continued his track dominance, winning the 1500m and 3000m for the second week in a row at a Championship meet. Ethan Dhadly concluded his Track and Field career in dramatic fashion by catapulting himself into second place in the triple jump on his final attempt down the runway. Carter Crowley adeptly managed three different events (and multiple shoe changes), scoring in both javelin and 300m hurdles. Michael Thomas had the best meet of his career, launching the shot put 40’8″—a monstrous 2.5 foot PR! Carter, Michael, and Adam Kuechler (400m) all rose out of the unseeded ranks to score in their events—a huge boost to RL’s team score! Adam later had Thomas Savage to thank as a fellow member of the 4x400m team; Thomas’s blazing lead-off leg of that relay positioned RL perfectly to score. Thankfully, pole vault wrapped up before the real downpours began, and it was RL’s highest-scoring event of the day. All three RL vaulters set personal bests: Tommy Reichard (12’1″), Alejandro Rincon (11’6″), and Ryan Miller (11’0″).  

This season marks the 11th year in a row (pandemic years excluded!) that RL Track & Field has enjoyed a winning record—a testament to the boys’ hard work and to their willingness to preserve a team culture that starts not with wins and losses, but with loving each other.

On May 19, Roxbury Latin’s Varsity Tennis team won its final regular season match against St. Mark’s School, to finish undefeated in the Independent School League (15-0), securing its eighth ISL title since 2011. (Accounting for two years without competition due to COVID, RL Tennis has been crowned ISL Champions eight of the last 11 competitive seasons.) Performing memorably this season in their respective positions were Cole Oberg (III) at #1 singles, Eric Diop (II) at #2 singles, Captain Akshay Kumar (I) at #3 singles, Jiho Lee (II) at #4 singles, Daniel Stepanyan (III) at #5 singles, and Tanner Oberg (V) at #6 singles. Each athlete lost only one ISL match out of 15. The final three members of this championship team, instrumental to the collective success, were Eric Zhu (III), Captain Tait Oberg (I), and team manager Justin Yamaguchi (II). With six players returning next year—including five in the starting singles line up—the future of RL tennis looks bright.

Based on the team’s league success during the regular season, they were invited to play in the 2023 New England Class B Tournament, which took place over the weekend. (Since 2011, Roxbury Latin has won this tournament three times—in 2013, 2019, and 2022—and was a finalist four other times.) Only the best eight schools in New England in their division are invited to compete. RL, seeded #1 going into the tournament, was supposed to host the first two rounds of the top half of the draw on Saturday, May 20. However, due to weather, RL was only able to play its first round match at home, against Milton Academy in the morning, which RL won 4-0 just before the heavy rain began. Winning one point for the doubles, and victories from Cole Oberg, Eric Diop, and Tanner Oberg, provided the team the necessary four points to advance. Milton Academy graciously hosted the semifinal that afternoon in their indoor facility. (RL is grateful for their hospitality!) Roxbury Latin met a familiar ISL foe in the semifinal of the tournament: a Belmont Hill squad who beat Westminster in the first round. Once again, RL won the doubles point, and wins from Cole Oberg, Eric Diop, and Jiho Lee pushed the team over the top. The final was played at Groton on May 21 against Hoosac, who won its first round against Nobles and its semifinal against Green Farms Academy. The final started well for RL, as the team was able to win the doubles point. Unfortunately, RL’s boys were not able to maintain that momentum and ultimately lost four close matches in singles (#2, #3, #5, #6), despite a valiant effort.

“I want to thank two seniors who will be greatly missed next year,” said Head Coach Ousmane Diop. “Akshay Kumar and Tait Oberg, who were captains, epitomize for me why I love teaching and coaching at RL. These two wonderful young men truly believe in our generalist philosophy, and they gave their all to their RL experience, in and out of the classroom. As a result, they have truly enriched our lives in so many ways. We say in our school literature that ‘We care, most of all, what kind of person a boy is,’ and that we want our boys to become men of character. Akshay and Tait embody all that we value and cherish most at RL.”

On February 11, Roxbury Latin’s wrestlers headed to BB&N in Cambridge to compete in this winter’s Graves-Kelsey Tournament—the Independent School League wrestling championships, named for long-time and legendary coaches Bert Kelsey of Roxbury Latin, and Gibby Graves of Buckingham Browne & Nichols.

Earning an impressive second finish overall in a field of 13 teams (falling only to nationally-ranked Belmont Hill School), Roxbury Latin’s wrestlers exhibited dedication and toughness in a collective effort, with the following wrestlers placing in their respective weight classes:

1st place: Justin Lim (III)

2nd place: Charlie Holt (V), Dovany Estimphile (II), Aydin Hodjat (II), Declan Bligh (IV)

3rd place: Benji Macharia (III), Navid Hodjat (IV), Justin Shaw (I), Nick Consigli (II)

4th place: Noah Abdur Rahim (III), Isaac Frehywot (III)

6th place: Arjun Bose (I)

Also contributing to the day’s success were Thomas Savage (I) and Auden Duda (IV).

The Graves-Kelsey Tournament was named in honor of Gibby Graves and Bert Kelsey in 1966. Bert was Roxbury Latin’s wrestling coach from 1937 to 1966, earning 24 winning seasons and numerous individual championships. A master of English and debate, his energy and good nature endeared him to hundreds of students. Gibby Graves was a long-time coach at Buckingham Browne and Nichols and was a pioneer in developing the league tournament. Roxbury Latin has earned the title of Graves Kelsey Champion 20 times since 1966.

Twelve members of RL’s wrestling team are competing at the New England Championships on February 17 at Phillips Andover, including Charlie Holt, Benji Macharia, Navid Hodjat, Noah Abdur Rahim, Isaac Frehywot, Dovany Estimphile, Justin Shaw, Aydin Hodjat, Justin Lim, Declan Bligh, Nick Consigli, Thomas Savage, Aidan Gibbons, Will Hutter, Arjun Bose, and Auden Duda. You can watch a livestream of the New England Championships at this link.

Mark Henshon, Class of 2022, was honored this week in a ceremony at Fenway Park, celebrating his selection as a Boston Globe Foundation / Richard J. Phelps Scholar-Athlete. In its 36th year, this selective scholarship program honors some of Massachusetts’ finest high school scholar-athletes and student leaders.

Supported by the Globe Foundation and Mr. Richard Phelps, 18 high school seniors earned scholarships valued at $3,000, awarded based on excellence in academics, athletics, and extracurricular activities. As described by the scholarship materials, the ideal candidate plays three sports and, ideally, captains those sports. He or she has earned league honors; is well respected as a leader by both teammates and coaches; maintains strong academic standing; and is highly involved in extracurricular activities both in and out of school, committed to serving their school and outside community.

In addition to receiving the Globe/Phelps scholarship, Mark earned league honors this spring—being named ISL All-League in baseball and earning the ISL’s Silver Slugger Award, which goes each year to the league’s top hitter. Mark also earned several Roxbury Latin school prizes, recognizing his athletic commitment and skill, his dedication to academic excellence, and his character as a classmate, teammate, student, and friend.

During the school’s Prize Day ceremony on June 3, Mark was honored as a 15-season athlete (starting at RL in the eighth grade) and he received the school’s Best Athlete award, given to a member of the graduating class. During RL’s graduation ceremony on June 4, Mark was awarded the prestigious Class of 1913 Award—one of three awards conferred during Closing Exercises—given annually to a member of the class who has made significant contributions to the life of the school.

Headmaster Kerry Brennan said of Mark, during the awarding of those honors:

“A superb scholar, Mark marries sheer determination with considerable talent, earning high honors grades across his time in the school and one of the coveted spots in the Cum Laude Society. A dominant force in three seasons, he not only performs brilliantly but, thanks to his example and his leadership, he was elected a captain of each of those sports. His precocious excellence earned him distinction as a 15-season varsity performer (earning a berth on the varsity cross country team, varsity basketball team, and the varsity baseball team—all as an eighth grader). Mark was the winner of the ISL individual championship in cross country; winner of the New England individual championship; led the team to an undefeated season; and in two different seasons earned both ISL and New England team championships. Mark held a 19-point per game average in basketball, with nine rebounds and six assists per game, and a 48% field goal percentage. In baseball he had a .479 batting average (tied for the league lead); achieved the remarkable feat of 11 RBI’s even from the leadoff position; and executed impeccable defensive play, including instigating the first triple play in modern RL history. He was elected to all-ISL and New England teams in all three sports, embodying the old-fashioned athlete who offers his best efforts in season and only occasionally beyond. He loves to play, and his commitment and joy in competing prove infectious. Mark is an exceptional person—caring, kind, intense, disciplined, honest, friendly, responsible, and catalytic. He earns the respect and affection of all who know him. To me, this young man’s most sterling credentials are personal and about attitude and resolve. His teammates know that they can count on him—for grit, for consistency, for leadership. He never asks more of others than he does of himself. And does all that he does with understated class and generosity.”

Many of Mark’s classmates and teammates—as well as several talented underclassmen—earned Independent School League (and, for Kofi Fordjour in Track and Field, All-New England) honors this spring across all sports:

Baseball:
James Birch – ISL All-League
Mark Henshon – ISL All-League; ISL Silver Slugger award (league’s top hitter)
Antonio Morales – ISL All-League
James Henshon, Patrick Schultz, and Thomas Pender – Honorable Mention All-League 

Lacrosse:
Hayden Cody – ISL All-League
David Sullivan, Chris Weitzel, Nolan Walsh, Will Anderson, and Johnny Price – Honorable Mention All-League 

Tennis:
John Fazli – ISL All-League
Cole Oberg – ISL All-League

Track and Field:
Kofi Fordjour – All New England
Zak Bashir, Carter Crowley, Kofi Fordjour, Jedidiah Nelson – Honorable Mention All-League

On May 14, Roxbury Latin’s Track & Field team had a remarkable showing in the 2022 ISL Championship meet, held at Thayer Academy. The team finished in second place, earning 79 points—RL’s best finish since 2013. The event included several highlights and strong performances from RL athletes.

Senior co-captain Jedidiah Nelson scored in three events, including a second place finish in the long jump and pole vault. Jed now sits third all-time at RL in the pole vault with a massive one-foot personal best (12’0″). Senior co-captain Armando Walters now holds the second best all-time RL record in the 400m dash (51.30).

At the meet, Cross Country team stand-out Kofi Fordjour (II) set a new school record in the 1500m (4:01.43), besting the previous record set by Joey Mullen ’15 by a full three seconds.

Zak Bashir (I) and Carter Crowley (II) both scored in two events each—Zak in the high jump and triple jump, and Carter in the 300m hurdles and javelin.

View photos from the ISL Championship meet, taken by Adam Richins.

On May 21, at Governor’s Academy, the team competed in the New England Championship meet where they tied for second place with Suffield Academy, falling short only to first-place Middlesex. This was the team’s first year competing in Division II.

Individuals successes from RL athletes at the New England meet were many:

– Seven boys set lifetime personal bests.
– Kofi Fordjour (II) was a double event winner/champion, in both the 3,000m and 1,500m. He also placed second in the 800m (his third event of the day) and recorded a school record in the process (1:57.14). Kofi was named Outstanding Performer of the Meet on the boys’ side.
– Scoring in an incredible four events was senior co-captain Armando Walters (4×100 anchor leg, 400m, 200m, 4x400m anchor leg).
– Scoring in multiple events were senior co-captain Jedidiah Nelson (long jump, 4x100m), senior Zak Bashir (high jump, triple jump), junior Adam Kuechler (800m, 4×400), and sophomore Alejandro Rincon (pole vault, 110m hurdles).
– In a positive sign of the future, Benji Macharia set the freshman record in the 400m (54.94)!