Greg Levinsky
Five Belmont High School Marauders fall sports teams qualified for the MIAA Tournaments. Here’s a look at the teams that made it, their top players, and where they stand entering the tournaments.
In football, the top 16 teams according to the MIAA Power Rankings make the tournament. In soccer and field hockey, the top 32 teams in the division qualify.
Football
Ranked No. 10 in Division 2, the Marauders (5-3) travel to Wellesley for a Saturday 1 p.m. matinee. Middlesex League champions for the first time since 1964, Belmont is led by senior quarterback Jayden Arno, who amassed 1,154 yards through the air, 15 touchdowns, and just three interceptions. He also ran for five rushing touchdowns and 460 yards. Classmates Adrien Gurung and Brian Logan racked up 842 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, and 673 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, respectively. Belmont football won four of its last five games to close the regular season.
Girls’ volleyball
Perhaps the best team in program history, the Belmont High School girls’ volleyball team captured its first Middlesex League title this fall. A deep team, led by senior captains Bella Radojevic and Eva Grant, and featuring starters from all four grades. The Marauders (17-2, 15-1 Middlesex League) avenged their only league loss, to Woburn, in the penultimate match of the regular season. Ranked No. 9 in Division 1, the Marauders qualified for a preliminary round bye and will host Lincoln-Sudbury Friday night at Wenner Fieldhouse. If they win, they will play the winner of Bishop Feehan/Concord-Carlisle in the Round of 16.
Boys’ soccer
The Marauders (10-5-4) qualified for the Division 1 postseason tournament with five games to play in the regular season. Senior Sarchil Kenkre (6 goals, 7 assists) and junior Daniel Liu (11 goals, 2 assists) lead a potent offense that scored 14 more goals than it did in the last regular season and more than double the total from two years ago. Outside of the leading scorers, senior captain Nikola Stefaonvic anchors the midfield, senior captain Alex Duda leads the defense, and junior Thomas Borkowski dominates between the pipes. The No. 30 seed, Belmont plays Medford in the preliminary round.
Girls’ soccer
No one in the Middlesex League’s Liberty division conceded fewer goals than the Marauders (10-3-6), who haven’t lost a match since late September. Seeded No. 17, Belmont travels to Weymouth for the Round of 32.
Field hockey
With a high-powered offense averaging more than nearly four goals per game, the Marauders (14-3-1) closed the regular season by winning 12 of their last 14 contests. Seeded No. 11, Belmont hosts No. 22 Durfee on Thursday.
