From Thursday February 6th until Saturday the 8th, our CIPLC team of girls soccer and boys basketball traveled all the way to Caracas to compete in season 2 of our annual sports. VANAS competitions are a great way of not only improving our athletes’ skills, but also of getting to better know other students and enjoying three days of nothing but sports.
The fourteen girls and nine boys along with Mr. Dan, Portillo, Coach, Ms. Katie, Mr. Spolar and “Pibe”, traveled on the early 7:45am flight to Caracas, where they would spend most of their time on Colegio Internacional de Caracas.
Day one consisted of 2 games for the girls and 3 games for the boys. The girls played against Escuela Bella Vista (Maracaibo) in their first game and won 5-0, with three goals from Jesenia, one from Kalile, and one last from Stephanie. To top things off, the girls also proceeded to win their second game of the day against International School of Maturin, with a score of 4-1 (two goals from Carolina, one from Jesenia, and one last from Kalile). By winning both of their games on day 1, the girls demonstrated that they were well-prepared to play any team, and were determined to continue winning on day two.
The boys did almost just as well, they won their first game against Valencia 36-28, and also won their second game against Maturin, with the score of 40-28. Unfortunately, they lost their third game of the day against Maracaibo by so little -- 51-49.
Aside from playing, our CIPLC athletes spent their free time on day 1 eating, watching other games, cheering for each other, and also socializing with other schools. After a long day of playing, our athletes went back to the hotel for a well-deserved night of rest.
Day two started bright and early, with three games for the girls and two for the boys. The girls played against Colegio Internacional de Carabobo (Valencia) first, one of the teams they were most worried about, since they won 1st place the previous two years. Nevertheless, it didn’t go as bad as our girls thought it would. They tied the game at 0-0, and were happy about receiving 1 point from it rather than none. The girls seemed very content from not receiving any goals from the current champions. Their second game was against Escuela Campo Alegre, the second team they were most worried about. Our girls managed to win this very competitive game 2-1, with goals from Carolina and Kalile. Looking forward to the end of this competitive match, the girls ran out of the court to celebrate as soon as the time was over, only to realize that the referee had given 1 additional minute! The girls ran back to the court and fought until the very last second so that the ECA did not score in the last minute; and it was a success! The third game of the day was against ECA’s J-Varsity team, a match that did not count for any points. It was a friendly match for the sole purpose of helping the Middle School girls practice. Our girls won this game 1-0, with a goal from Kalile.
The boys on the second day lost against ECA (the team they would later play on the final) with a score of 62-33. Nevertheless, they turned their day around by winning against CIC 41-34.
After another day of games, CIPLC students and other athletes enjoyed their evening at a BBQ hosted by CIC, with music, ping pong tables, basketball, volleyball and soccer matches. They also enjoyed of delicious hamburgers to put an end to that successful day. The girls finished in 1st place overall on the round robin with 10 points, and the boys in 3rd place.
The last day of VANAS was an even earlier day for our athletes and teachers, since the boys had their semi-finals at 8am.The boys managed to beat Maracaibo with 36-322 and moved on to the finals for the 4th consecutive year.
But, the girls had a different experience. When there are 5 teams, the number 1 overall moves on automatically to finals, while the ones in 2nd and 3rd place need to fight for that one spot left. Believing this, the girls thought they had already moved on to finals, only to be told they had to go against the won in 4th place in semi finals -- Valencia. Saddened by the fact they weren’t in finals yet and that they had to play against the only team, they didn’t manage to score on CIPLC girls lost 1-0 against CIC Valencia on semifinals, and their dream of finally reaching a final was no longer available to them. “Regardless of the result, we were undefeated. It is the best we have played in many years” said the girls’ coach, Pibe. After this match, the girls needed to go against ISM for 3rd place, who had just lost semifinals with ECA. Unfortunately, the girls lost this game on penalties, and had to go home in 4th place. “I just think is not fair that we had to go to semifinals when we were supposed to go to finals already. And I can’t believe those in 4th place have even a chance of going to finals!” said Samantha Rodriguez.
Nevertheless, the boys managed to reach finals, but unfortunately lost against ECA 50-30 after 3 years of going home as champions.
In the awards ceremony, our CIPLC boys received their silver medal and the captain Jesus Rodriguez received his Most Valuable Player trophy. On the girls’ side, they did not take any medal home, but Jesenia Duque and Rossana Fuentes also received their Most Valuable Player trophy homes. At the end of the ceremony, the athletic directors announced a very important award: sportsmanship. For the girls, CIPLC won once again the Sportsmanship award, and for the boys, CIPLC came in second by just one point.
Regardless of the result, CIPLC girls demonstrated their great skills and desire for the championship. They showed everyone on the first 2 days of VANAS that they were skilled players by being undefeated. “I am extremely proud of my team,” said Carolina Franco. And as for the guys, they demonstrated that even after losing 3 key players and their previous coach Mr. Ski, they were still able to reach finals.
As they say in the United States, “on any given Sunday”--no matter what the oddsmakers say, any team can beat any other team.
Phenomenal tournament overall! Good job, Geckos!
By: Carolina Franco
The fourteen girls and nine boys along with Mr. Dan, Portillo, Coach, Ms. Katie, Mr. Spolar and “Pibe”, traveled on the early 7:45am flight to Caracas, where they would spend most of their time on Colegio Internacional de Caracas.
Day one consisted of 2 games for the girls and 3 games for the boys. The girls played against Escuela Bella Vista (Maracaibo) in their first game and won 5-0, with three goals from Jesenia, one from Kalile, and one last from Stephanie. To top things off, the girls also proceeded to win their second game of the day against International School of Maturin, with a score of 4-1 (two goals from Carolina, one from Jesenia, and one last from Kalile). By winning both of their games on day 1, the girls demonstrated that they were well-prepared to play any team, and were determined to continue winning on day two.
The boys did almost just as well, they won their first game against Valencia 36-28, and also won their second game against Maturin, with the score of 40-28. Unfortunately, they lost their third game of the day against Maracaibo by so little -- 51-49.
Aside from playing, our CIPLC athletes spent their free time on day 1 eating, watching other games, cheering for each other, and also socializing with other schools. After a long day of playing, our athletes went back to the hotel for a well-deserved night of rest.
Day two started bright and early, with three games for the girls and two for the boys. The girls played against Colegio Internacional de Carabobo (Valencia) first, one of the teams they were most worried about, since they won 1st place the previous two years. Nevertheless, it didn’t go as bad as our girls thought it would. They tied the game at 0-0, and were happy about receiving 1 point from it rather than none. The girls seemed very content from not receiving any goals from the current champions. Their second game was against Escuela Campo Alegre, the second team they were most worried about. Our girls managed to win this very competitive game 2-1, with goals from Carolina and Kalile. Looking forward to the end of this competitive match, the girls ran out of the court to celebrate as soon as the time was over, only to realize that the referee had given 1 additional minute! The girls ran back to the court and fought until the very last second so that the ECA did not score in the last minute; and it was a success! The third game of the day was against ECA’s J-Varsity team, a match that did not count for any points. It was a friendly match for the sole purpose of helping the Middle School girls practice. Our girls won this game 1-0, with a goal from Kalile.
The boys on the second day lost against ECA (the team they would later play on the final) with a score of 62-33. Nevertheless, they turned their day around by winning against CIC 41-34.
After another day of games, CIPLC students and other athletes enjoyed their evening at a BBQ hosted by CIC, with music, ping pong tables, basketball, volleyball and soccer matches. They also enjoyed of delicious hamburgers to put an end to that successful day. The girls finished in 1st place overall on the round robin with 10 points, and the boys in 3rd place.
The last day of VANAS was an even earlier day for our athletes and teachers, since the boys had their semi-finals at 8am.The boys managed to beat Maracaibo with 36-322 and moved on to the finals for the 4th consecutive year.
But, the girls had a different experience. When there are 5 teams, the number 1 overall moves on automatically to finals, while the ones in 2nd and 3rd place need to fight for that one spot left. Believing this, the girls thought they had already moved on to finals, only to be told they had to go against the won in 4th place in semi finals -- Valencia. Saddened by the fact they weren’t in finals yet and that they had to play against the only team, they didn’t manage to score on CIPLC girls lost 1-0 against CIC Valencia on semifinals, and their dream of finally reaching a final was no longer available to them. “Regardless of the result, we were undefeated. It is the best we have played in many years” said the girls’ coach, Pibe. After this match, the girls needed to go against ISM for 3rd place, who had just lost semifinals with ECA. Unfortunately, the girls lost this game on penalties, and had to go home in 4th place. “I just think is not fair that we had to go to semifinals when we were supposed to go to finals already. And I can’t believe those in 4th place have even a chance of going to finals!” said Samantha Rodriguez.
Nevertheless, the boys managed to reach finals, but unfortunately lost against ECA 50-30 after 3 years of going home as champions.
In the awards ceremony, our CIPLC boys received their silver medal and the captain Jesus Rodriguez received his Most Valuable Player trophy. On the girls’ side, they did not take any medal home, but Jesenia Duque and Rossana Fuentes also received their Most Valuable Player trophy homes. At the end of the ceremony, the athletic directors announced a very important award: sportsmanship. For the girls, CIPLC won once again the Sportsmanship award, and for the boys, CIPLC came in second by just one point.
Regardless of the result, CIPLC girls demonstrated their great skills and desire for the championship. They showed everyone on the first 2 days of VANAS that they were skilled players by being undefeated. “I am extremely proud of my team,” said Carolina Franco. And as for the guys, they demonstrated that even after losing 3 key players and their previous coach Mr. Ski, they were still able to reach finals.
As they say in the United States, “on any given Sunday”--no matter what the oddsmakers say, any team can beat any other team.
Phenomenal tournament overall! Good job, Geckos!
By: Carolina Franco