Team toga: Weston students find success, community in the Classics

Potesne hanc sententiam legere?

You might not be able to read Latin, but this group of Weston students can.

While many took a step back from academics during summer vacation, five rising freshmen at Weston High School spent a week in July at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, for the 2025 National Junior Classical League convention. The National Junior Classical League encourages an interest in ancient Greece and Rome among secondary school students through academic events and its annual convention.

The convention is an opportunity for students interested in the classics to come together, compete and have fun. Among the more than 50 students in the Massachusetts delegation – local and state-level events are based on schools, but states send a team to the national convention – were five students from Weston: Johan Coisman, Robbie Rostami, Kevin Choi, Evan Yuan and Ethan Yuan.

Certamen, a quiz-bowl-style competition focused on Latin, Greek, and classical civilizations, is one of the main events of the convention, but the gathering also features athletics, including traditional Olympic events like swimming and track and field; writing; and speaking competitions, as well as a variety of social outlets.

Although the convention features dozens of opportunities for students to show off their knowledge, creative skills and athletic abilities, Johan said it’s all about creating a community.

“The thing that I think is really good about nationals is that you don’t have to do all of the hard stuff. You can go there to have fun,” Johan said. “It’s not just about Certamen; it’s not just about the tests, the graphic arts or creative arts; you can do whatever you want. It’s a real community they’re trying to form.”

That mindset, though, didn’t stop Johan from placing first overall at the convention with the most points earned through academic testing, writing, Certamen and other events. Additionally, both Massachusetts teams in the convention’s Certamen competition finished in the top 12, with one team coming in 11th, and an “all-star team,” featuring Johan, finishing in second place. Wisconsin took home first place.

His classmates also earned top-10 finishes in several events, including athletics and writing. For Robbie, the social aspect of the convention, which offers dances, mixers and other activities, is a big draw.

“There was a ton of different stuff,” he said. “It’s definitely a way to build friends across the states and in Massachusetts.”

And, of course, there are togas. Each day, the convention picks a theme. The final day of the week is A Day in Old Rome, in which attendees dress up in classical garments, awards are handed out and the National Junior Classical League’s new board members are sworn in.

“There was obviously a lot of Latin,” Ethan said, “but the competition also prioritized having fun.”

Latin Club

Before the students made their way to Ohio, they dedicated many hours to the classics in Weston.

Their interest in Latin typically started early and was developed in the middle school’s Latin class. Several also became enthralled in the world of Greek mythology through the immensely popular “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” fantasy book series.

From there, Johan invited them to join the Latin Club, according to his classmates.

“I read the entire ‘Percy Jackson’ saga and then took Latin in sixth grade,” Evan said. “Then Johan [offered] an invitation to the Latin Club, and I accepted that, and it just evolved from there.”

The students said the Latin Club, which typically holds a weekly two-hour meeting, is an opportunity to broaden their academic horizons, and, of course, have a good time with friends.

“It helped me push to learn more things,” Kevin said. “I always have a great time there.”

They also participate in numerous regional and state Certamen events, often to great success. At the Harvard University Classical Club’s 2025 tournament, for example, Weston’s team took home first place in the novice division. Divisions are based on what level of Latin students are studying at the time.

As they head into high school, the students said they want to extend the reach of the school’s club.

“The main focus of the Latin Club is Certamen, but we could also start to branch out to the other parts of being part of this club,” Johan said, “like doing service practices.”

The students gave a shout-out to Middle School Latin teacher Brigid Sullivan, Principal Philip Oates and High School Latin teacher Gina Barbosa for their support of Latin studies. Barbosa, who will likely be instructing the students this year, said she is looking forward to working with them.

“Their success is a reflection of the solid background they received from their middle school Latin teacher, Ms. Brigid Sullivan, along with the encouragement of their families and the support of Principal Oates,” Barbosa said. “I am impressed by their initiative and dedication to Latin and the classical world, and I look forward to seeing the energy they will bring to the Latin Club at the high school. It’s wonderful to see this kind of enthusiasm for Latin taking root in our Weston community.”

Oates added he is “so proud of how driven and talented this group is.”

On top of expanding the club’s reach in the community, the students expressed their hope to recruit more Certamen players. This year, they brought eight players to the state tournament, and they are hoping to bring 20 next year.

In the meantime, they’ll be preparing for the 2026 National Junior Classical League convention at Indiana University.