Looking at UConn for Inspiration....

     To get ready up for their season opener this week, the varsity girls’ basketball team traveled to Connecticut over Thanksgiving break to watch the legendary UConn women's basketball team practice.

    

   "It was a thrill for us all to have the privilege to watch the UConn women's team practice. It is evident by their hard work, level of intensity and focus that they are one of the most talented team's in the history of women's basketball," said coach Sherry Levin. Also travelling with the group was Clinton Lassiter, who recently joined Beaver’s middle school faculty as a math teacher and coaches the middle school boys’ A team.

    The girls played their first game of the season at home this past Wednesday at 4:30 versus Berwick Academy.  The gymnasium was packed with students and fans alike, which made for a festive atmosphere.  The girls got off to a quick start and never looked back.  Led by Senior Emily Belowich the girls managed a 30 point victory over the Bulldogs from southern Maine.  "It was a total team effort with a solid defensive showing" said Head Coach Sherry Levin.  The team looks to continue their winning ways on the road against Concord Academy this Friday afternoon.

The Hype Over Hoops Season...

Sophomore point guard Rene Castro has once again brought this small private school, just west of Boston, into the spotlight.  Now it might be overzealous and somewhat premature to compare the sophomore point guard to the likes of Wayne Turner, the #1 recruited point guard in the nation and graduate of BCDS in 1995.  

Castro averaged 24 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 6 assists and 3 steals as a freshman for the 2010 Eastern Independent League Champion.  He shot over 50% from the field and 75% from the free throw line and was runner-up as EIL MVP and NEPSAC (New England Prep School Athletic Conference) Player of the Year.  The BCDS Boys Varsity basketball team relies heavily on this new recruit from Milton, MA. 

 Currently, ESPN.com has Castro as the #14^th ranked point guard in the 2013 recruiting class.  The website goes on to say “Castro is a scoring combo-guard who can put the ball in the basket in a number of ways.  If he can develop into more of a true point guard and learn to run the team while picking his spots more effectively his stock will only continue to rise”.  

Coach Figueroa projects Castro to be a “Division 1 prospect, as a point guard or number two man due to his skill, size, and strength”.   The buzz is out there as some major Division 1 programs such as Boston College and Providence College have already offered athletic scholarships. “I’ve coached several Division-1 players throughout my career and Castro is far and away better, for his age, than any of my former players”, says Coach Figueroa who has coached basketball at the collegiate and high school levels for more than two decades. 

So time will tell if Castro can live up to the hype, but the numbers are already starting to fall into place.  Filling the shoes of the most notable athlete to have ever played at Beaver Country Day is certainly not easy.   Is it impossible?  No.  Does Castro have what it takes?  Maybe.  Is he willing to put in the time to make it happen?  He already has.  Will Beaver Country Day School witness the next Wayne Turner?  Only time will tell. 

Boys Cross Country: NEPSTA Class V Champions

A Perfect Season?

The Boys Varsity Cross Country Team completed their undefeated season last Friday at the Eastern Independent League Championship race at Franklin Park in Jamaica Plain, MA.  The team went 8-0 during the season and placed four runners in the top 10 (with another placing eleventh) which secured the EIL Championship....

Beaver's top individual results were:
2nd place overall: Joe Connelly '13
3rd place overall: George Wright '14
5th place overall: (C) Harry Bachrach '11
9th place overall: (C) Taylor Pierce '11
11th place overall: Tim King '12

...the team will look to continue their winning ways this Saturday (November 13th) at the NEPSTA Division 5 Championships held at Great Brook Farm State Park in Carlisle, MA.

Boys' cross country was presented with their championship banner at the 2010 Fall Athletic Awards Ceremony.

Athletic Acolade Award Winners-Fall 2010

The Beaver Athletic Department is excited to announce this year's first recipients of Athletic Accolades, an honor that acknowledges student-athletes who have made important contributions to their teams through quality of play, leadership and sportsmanship. 

"We are thrilled to see how our student-athlete's hard work is paying off with success...the Athletic Accolade is an opportunity to recognize student-athletes who contribute on and off the field at the highest level" ~ Sherry Levin, Athletic Director

October 4th:

The first round of accolades was the most competitive group of nominees since the award's inception in 2008.  The first recipients of the award are Senior Lexi Knopf (girls' varsity soccer), sophomore Joe Connelly (varsity cross country), and eighth grader Jordan Gomolin (MS boys' A soccer). 

"Team captain Lexi Knopf '11 is the model of what a captain should be on and off of the field," says girls' varsity soccer coach Giovanni Viana. "Off the field, Lexi takes an interest in her teammates and always communicates clearly with the coaches. She is the first one to volunteer and assist the coaches and never misses an opportunity to go the extra mile. On the field, her no-nonsense style of play consistently keeps the team in the game. As a defender -- usually the last defender -- Lexi has repeatedly saved the team from game-changing breakaways. Her consistency on and off of the field make her the clear choice for an Athletic Accolade."

"Joe Connelly '13 has led the charge for Beaver's cross country team's 3-0 record," cross country coach Jake Walter said. "The first meet of the season (at Bancroft), Joe came in second place overall, and first for Beaver. Against Portsmouth Abbey, Joe took first place in a time of 17:20! His commitment to the team, along with his dedication, makes him an outstanding teammate to his fellow runners and the Beaver community."

"Jordan Gomolin's '15 consistent performances on the MS boys' A soccer team earns him an Athletic Accolade. His technical skill, field vision, and unselfish play has been integral in the team's 3-0 start. Gomolin has already proved his value on the field by scoring three goals and adding three assists," praised head coach Jeff Anderson. 

October 14th: 

The second group of fall Athletic Accolade honorees are Oliver Hunt '11 (boys' varsity soccer), Riley Nelson '14 (girls' JV soccer), and Shantal Risk-Belliard '17 (MS girls' B soccer). 

"Oliver Hunt has been the backbone of our team so far this year," says coach Steve Schechter. "Coming off of a season last year in which he was named All-EIL and a League MVP nominee, the expectations were very high. Oliver has not disappointed. He has eight points in seven games (five goals and three assists) to match his tally for all of last season. This past week Oliver scored on a brilliant 25-yard free kick to help his team earn a hard-fought draw with Concord Academy. Beyond statistics, Oliver has been the ultimate team player. He has played through pain all season long, and never complains. Despite nagging injuries, Oliver is the first to challenge on every 50-50 ball and plays with unparalleled passion and personality."

Riley Nelson has earned high praise from coach Joe Robinson: "Riley really stepped up as a player and a leader for the rest of the team. Her ability to adapt and fill both offensive and defensive positions on the field has been integral to our team. She continues to grow daily in her skills and always takes a strong leadership role"

"Shantal Risk-Belliard stepped up to play goalie for us having never played before and is doing an amazing job," raves coach Jeff Hecht. "She has listened to every tip and instruction I have given her, improving her punting ability and overall goalie awareness. She is probably the the biggest reason we have been successful so far this season and has major potential to become a key asset to the Beaver soccer program in the future."

October 22nd:

Alex Jacobs '11 (varsity golf), Nora Demick '12 (varsity field hockey), and Hayley Zukerberg '16 (girls' MS A soccer) were the recipients of the third round of Athletic Accolades for the 2010 Fall season.

"Alex Jacobs is a captain and the best golfer on the team," says coach Larry McKinney. "He always competes against the top golfers in the league, and in his last four matches, he has two wins, one loss, and one tie. He also has posted six rounds of 43 or better so far this season."

"Many people do not realize the amount of pressure goalies face and Nora Demick, a returning player, has stayed cool under fire and continues to perform as the varsity field hockey goal keeper," raves coach Ashley Rohn. "Nora is always on time to practice, ready to work hard, and is often one of the most well-conditioned players on the team, hustling during sprinting and running drills! On average Nora records 20 saves per game and she notched her first shut out of the season at Saturday's homecoming win against Concord Academy. As coaches, it is a huge reward to have other coaches and referees often comment on her aerial saves, huge clears, and ability to keep her head up if scored upon. Nora is a silent leader with an incredibly positive attitude and we anticipate she will continue to make huge contributions to Beaver field hockey!"

Girls' MS A soccer coach Chris Lamar says, "Regardless of the position I need her to play, Hayley is always ready to perform. Over the last couple of games she has shown amazing hustle and fight. She wins over half of her 50/50 balls and Hayley amazes me on how she can transition from defense to offense and vice-versa. Haley deserves an athletic accolade for her talent, hard work, and spirit."

November 5th:

As the fall sports season begins to wind down, the Athletic Department honors David Price '14, Silmar Bueno '14, and Zack LaCava '14 for boys' varsity soccer; Valerie Fisher '15 for MS field hockey; and Leo Connelly '14 for MS cross country with Athletic Accolades.

Boys' varsity soccer head coach Steve Schechter praises each of the accolade honorees:

David Price has proven to be the most technical keeper in the league. Beyond his tremendous skill, he has stepped up as a leader on the team. His timing, remarkable and fearless saves, and communication have resulted in eight shutouts and the fewest goals allowed for our program in several years.

Silmar Bueno has stepped in as a freshman and played with great poise. His technical ability is remarkable. He currently has 13 goals and 10 assists through 14 games and is second in the EIL in scoring. Silmar not only knows how to find the back of the net and set up his mates, but he plays with unbridled passion and creativity.

Zack LaCava has been the ultimate teammate. He has scored timely goals and has provided several key assists to help his team earn wins. As the EIL's third leading scorer, Zack has scored 10 goals and assisted 7 times. While he is a freshman, he has not backed down once against significantly bigger and older players. He clearly wants to help his team and make others around him better.

 
"Valerie Fisher is a worthy candidate for an athletic accolade because of her hard work and dedication to the MS Field Hockey team," says coach Jessica Paulin. "She controls the field at center mid, and her commitment to the game during the offseason has shown through her knowledge and experience in play. On the field, Val is focused and hustles to every ball, always giving 100%. Her positive attitude and team spirit makes her a valuable asset to the Beaver Field Hockey team."

"Leo Connelly has shown amazing talent and leadership through example on the MS cross country team this season," coach Amy Slabich. "Leo has placed in the top 10 in all of the races the team has participated in, including an eighth place finish in last week's Larz Anderson Invitational -- the team's most competitive race this season. More importantly, Leo leads his teammates through example by running each workout and race with great intensity and focus. He does extra strength training on his own and shows good sportsmanship by congratulating his competitors and teammates. Leo has proven that he is not only an extremely talented athlete, but also an athlete with great character."

Connelly Brothers Lead The Way

BCDS Cross Country is off to a great start due to the efforts of brothers Connelly.  Leo (8th grade) & Joe (10th grade) have made great strides this season, leading both the Middle School and Varsity programs in every race.  Earlier this year Joe was awarded an "Athletic Accolade" after winning the Portsmouth Abbey race earlier this season.  Coaches from both the MS and US teams are incredibly impressed by the efforts of the brothers who transferred to Beaver this past year from near by Brookline High School.  The duo has combined to finish first in every race that the BCDS teams have competed in this season and on more then one occasion had the fastest time on the course.  With upcoming invitational tournaments the teams are excited to see how the Connelly brothers will deliver.

Homecoming Harvest Festival Was Huge Success

Saturday's beautiful autumn weather made Homecoming Harvest Fest on the BCDS campus one for the ages.  With over 500 people in attendance...spectators, families, and student-athletes alike enjoyed the carnival like atmosphere as the Beaver Varsity Soccer and Field Hockey teams won all three games versus rival Concord Academy.  

Game Highlights: 

The Girls Varsity Soccer team extended its winning streak to 3 games, during Homecoming, with a nail biting 2-1 victory over Concord Academy. This was the second meeting between the two schools this season, and both ended with the same score line. In the first half, it appeared as if the team would roll over Concord with Carly Furr netting Beaver's first goal within the opening 2 minutes of play. The team was not able to extend their lead even though it played most of the half in Concord's side of the field. Concord's goalkeeper was rock solid and thwarted many of the team's scoring attempts. With the scored tied and with less than 10 minutes to play, the team mustered all its strength to push on the attack. Eventually the soccer gods smiled upon the team and Brielle Butler, assisted by Maddie Brucker, was able to turn a broken play into a beautifully placed corner shot to give Beaver the lead. The defensive line of Chloe Kunstler, Becca Levkowicz and Lexi Knopf had a solid game and midfielders Tess Anderson, Brielle Butler and Phoebe Allen were relentless in their pursuit of the ball.  BCDS is currently 6th in the standings and .500 on the season with a tough 5 game stretch coming up.

The Varsity Field Hockey game against EIL opponent Concord Academy was tough as the first half resulted in a 0-0 game.  BCDS, led by midfielder Katie Hayward, kept the pressure on in the second half notching eight shots on goal to CA's two.  The game went in to seven vs. seven overtime and it was in the final two minutes that Sarah Jane Devins got an unassisted break away goal resulting in a 1-0 win by Beaver!

The Beaver Boys scored a quality goal from Oliver Hunt in the 24th minute and then shut the door on Concord Academy on Saturday. On a blustery cool day, Beaver did not play with the same creativity and quality as we have grown accustomed to in recent weeks, but the side showed that it can shut teams down when needed. Hunt's goal came on a lovely ball over the top of the CA defense from Silmar Bueno. Hunt finished over the keeper and just under the bar as the Homecoming crowd erupted. The lone tally was all BCDS would need as Zeke Satloff at Center Back and David Price in net guided the defense to another clean sheet. The second consecutive shutout leaves Beaver opponents scoreless for over 176 consecutive minutes.  The win leaves Beaver at 5-3-1 overall and 4-3-1 in league play. At the midway point of the season, the young BCDS side is feeling confident having outscored their opponents by a combined 30-13. Beaver will start the second half of the campaign against Bancroft on Wednesday, October 20th.

Beaver is Back!!!

Beaver Country Day is a private school located in Chestnut Hill, MA that enrolls students in grades 6-12.  The athletic programs have a storied history and will continue to make headlines in the seasons to come.  In the mid 90's the #1 recruited point guard in the nation (Wayne Turner) put the school on the map, but it is the current student-athletes who are turning heads these days.

In the past couple of years the school has witnessed a revitalized sense of accomplishment with several EIL (Eastern Independent League) titles, four undefeated programs, and a handful of NEPSAC Championships.  With the ability to develop and recruit some of New England's premier athletic talent the BCDS community is incredibly excited about the future of their athletic programs.

In 2007 the Beaver campus was updated with a brand new "Athletic Center", which is now the focal point of the athletic programs.  The 39,000 s.f. facility offers 4 playing courts, 2 sets of locker rooms, a fitness center, team room with smart board, fully equipped training room, and staff offices.

Check back often for team rosters, coaching information, player interviews, and video highlights to become a true Beaver Believer....