Author Archives: 26strongl@hebronacademy.org

Keeping Quiet

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By Brody Levering ’27

Now we will count to six eleven times

And hold a much needed breath

For once we are on the ice;

Stop your thinking and just breathe.

Something goes in the net,

Don’t threaten with something that wont happen.

It would be a reflecting moment

Without anger, without disbelief in yourself;

We would be calm and ready to move on.

In a very quick manner.

Parents in the stands

Won’t yell at the refs on the ice;

And the skaters on the ice

Wont start throwing hands with their opponents

Those who prepare fights on the ice

Fight with bare knuckles, fights ending with blood,

With only one winner

Would keep the gloves on

And skate about like nothing was going to happen.

What happens on the ice should not be similar 

To young hockey with no contact or anything at all.

But a good clean game

Where we win with great success as a team

If goalies were not so focused on being perfect in the net

And instead relaxing and trying to be the best 

while improving on what you can.

Then relaxation would cause huge growths in a goalies play

Which would impact him and the others around him

Causing everyone else to change and be more calm.

A calm mind may teach more than a 

Clouded or heated mind.

“Meeeeeh!”

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By Kellen Anthoine ’26

09:54, Sofitel, Rome, Italy. Our plane had just landed at the FCO Airport less than two hours ago and my parents and I had just finished unpacking. We were finally ready to walk around and explore the tourist – filled Rome before my dad had his first meeting. Seconds after walking out of the front door we heard a sound: “Meeeeeh!” It sounded like a balloon being slowly deflated, except a lot louder, and it caught me off guard. I looked towards the noise and saw a man with a dramatic frown on his face looking at me and my family. He was across the street standing directly in front of a stack of two milk crates with a cutting board on top. On the cutting board there was this jelly-like blob. I watched him pick up the blob, which I could now see had a face, form it into a ball, and throw it on the cutting board, making the sound “Meeeeeh!” We walked past him and he didn’t say a word.

Our first destination was the Spanish Steps, which were only a couple of minutes walk from the Sofitel. We arrived at the top, looking down over the beautiful Italian skyline. The air was filled with the smells of pasta and pizza, the playing of street musicians on accordions and violins, and also with the sound of “Meeeeeh!” Right there, at the bottom of the Spanish Steps was another man with the same milk crate setup in front of him, picking up and throwing another blob on it. Every time it hit the ground, the sound it made lit up the whole area.

Next we went to the Pantheon, where the sound followed us. Then the Colosseum. Everywhere we went, the sound of “Meeeeeh!” was present. All throughout the city these guys were there, watching us and anticipating a sale. 

This annoying sound made it a relief to get out of Rome. The moment we entered the train to Sorrento was the last time I ever heard that sound and I will probably never hear it again. The absence of the noise was a unique type of bliss, an ending of an aggravation. Outside of the big touristy city, there were no more salesmen trying to get us to buy their cheap products. Instead, we got to experience the true essence of Italy: quality food, good weather, and kind people.

All in all this whole story’s my way of saying how much better it is to stay out of the biggest tourist-oriented locations when traveling. Tourist traps, while beautiful, are full of people, noise, and scams that make it hard to appreciate their beauty. While Sorrento isn’t exactly unknown, it’s still less popular than Rome and because of that, is a lot more authentic.

My Metamorphis

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By Jacinto Quintela ’26

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When Jacinto Quintela woke up one morning from unsettling dreams, he found himself changed in his bed into a monstrous hybrid of man and tree. His limbs twisted and contorted, resembling knotted branches reaching out into the small room. Leaves sprouted from his skin, rustling softly with each movement as if whispering secrets of his transformation.

Jacinto’s metamorphosis sent shockwaves through the boarding school in Maine where he resided. His roommate, Cliff, stumbled backward in horror at the sight of Jacinto’s diabolical form, his eyes wide with horror. The other students gawked and whispered as rumors spread like wildfire throughout the halls, painting Jacinto as some sort of botanical aberration.

His friends, Mateo, Romeo, Sophia, and Vicky stood by his side, their expressions a mix of concern and fascination. They tentatively approached Jacinto, their voices trembling as they asked him what had happened. But Jacinto could offer no explanation, for he was just as confused by his transformation as they were.

He went to the health center to see if they could help him in any way, but when he saw the horror in Mrs. Judd’s eyes, he knew they couldn’t do anything. After thinking about it for a while Jacinto decided to go to class, despite the confusion and fear he had underneath his thick and bumpy skin. 

After 5 hours of classes, the first day of school as a monster had finally ended. He ran to his dorm, thinking what to do and what would calm him, and he saw his lacrosse stick. Despite his monstrous appearance, Jacinto’s love for lacrosse remained undiminished. He attempted to wield his newfound attachments like new arms, clumsily dribbling a lacrosse ball as he stumbled across the field. His teammates watched in awe as he moved with an otherworldly grace, his arboreal form bending and twisting in ways that defied logic.

But as the days passed, Jacinto’s transformation took its toll on those around him. His world literature teacher, whom he adored, struggled to come to terms with the sight of her once-promising student now trapped in a body that resembled something out of a nightmare. She wrestled with conflicting emotions, torn between pity and revulsion, unsure of how to help Jacinto in his time of need.

Despite his best efforts to continue attending classes, Jacinto found himself increasingly isolated from his peers. The other students whispered and pointed whenever he passed by, their eyes filled with a mixture of fear and curiosity. Even his closest friends struggled to look past his monstrous exterior, their once-strong bond strained by the weight of his transformation.

But amidst the chaos and confusion, there were moments of beauty and wonder. Jacinto found solace in the quiet moments spent among the trees, their branches reaching out to him like long-lost friends. And though he may have been changed in body, his spirit remained unbroken, a testament to the resilience of the human soul in the face of adversity.

In the end, Jacinto’s metamorphosis served as a reminder that even in our darkest moments, there is still light to be found. For though he may have been transformed into something monstrous, he remained, at his core, a boy with dreams and aspirations, longing for acceptance and understanding in a world that often seemed indifferent to his plight.

My Experience In Hebron’s Alice In Wonderland Play

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By Emma-Rose Vining ’27

I played Alice in this year’s play, Alice In Wonderland. I was enthusiastic to take on this role, because I felt like it expanded my knowledge of acting and I could go through the familiar process of making a play. The start of the process began with get-to -know-you games and once we all got to know each other, we started running the script and blocking out the play. The process of putting together a show does take a few steps, but the initial introductions and getting to know everyone is very valuable and is one of my favorite parts of building a show. When getting to know people, you can see how they settle into their roles and grow as an actor. In my opinion, one person who really stood out was Jillian Applegate ‘25. Jillian did a great job with her role, she was always helpful with the younger kids, and gave people tips on how to better their performance as well. I love how on-task and focused she always was. All in all, this experience was really fun, and I think that the play was a strong representation of the heart of school theater and the Hebron community as a whole.

Hebron Men’s Varsity Lacrosse: More Than An Ugly Statistic

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By Hayden Plimley ‘24 and Krum Tsvetkov ‘25

The first time I ever picked up a lacrosse stick was this year, a week before spring break. I had mixed feelings about the sport because I have always been a football player and trying out a new sport so late seemed strange. The moment we started practicing, I realized that lacrosse is amazing and I was delighted to play for Hebron. On the other hand, a lot of us had never picked up a stick in our lives, so everyone knew that it wasn’t going to be an easy season. And this was proven by our season’s rough start and winning only 1 out of 6 games. Yes, we know it is not a pretty statistic to look at, but we are all looking forward to the remainder of the season. With Marquis Prater’s tremendous skills in the goal and  Ronan Newell’s great faceoff work and quick feet to give us the opportunity to gain possession, we feel like we can accomplish anything. 

As the season has come to an end, the amount of losses don’t represent the efforts of the team overall. Despite having only one win in overtime against Gould, the season has been relatively successful in terms of effort, considering the lack of experience with many of the players who picked up a stick only a few months ago. Standout players included Marquis Prater, Ronan Newell, Gabe Cote, and Joey Gualtieri. Sadly, the season came to an end in a tight 9-6 loss against Hyde in the MAISAD semi-finals. However, Coach Jack Sweeney looks forward to turning over the page next year, as a handful of recruits are expected to come and help the team on its way to being competitive in NEPSAC.

Messi vs. New England Revolutions

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By: Evie Willer ’26

My brother, Myles, has been a big soccer fan since he first stepped on the playing field around the age of three. He has nonstop begged my parents to let him go to a professional soccer game. When we saw that his favorite player, Lionel Messi, was coming to play the New England Revolutions in Boston, we were quick to get the tickets. After the two hour drive to Boston in stop and go traffic, we made it to Gillette Stadium. Once we were there and found our seats, everyone started piling in. Over 65,000 fans packed the stands. Everyone had Messi jerseys on. Unlike concerts I’ve been to at Gillette, this crowd was mostly young kids and their families who were all excited to see the famous Lionel Messi.

I’ve never seen a crowd so loud and full of joy as when Messi made his way out to the field. Many people had no doubt that the inter – Miami team would win, as they are the number one team in the league. However, once the game started, New England Revolutions scored their goal in the first minute. Everyone was in shock and Messi and inter miami stepped up their game after noticing the Revolutions wanted the win. Messi played the full game, which was unexpected, and he ended up scoring two goals and had one assist. Miami ended up winning four to one. This game was the most competitive soccer game I had seen. It was interesting to see how the players were able to make quick decisions and work as a team to win the game. My favorite part of the game wasn’t watching the actual game, but hearing all the five to ten year olds yelling and getting mad at the teams and refs for calls they did not agree with.