SCA Makes History with Gold at CODICADER U-15 Volleyball

This week, Saint Catherine Academy made history, bringing home the gold medal at the CODICADER Under-15 Volleyball Tournament. Team Belize dominated, beating tough opponents from Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Guatemala. This victory is huge, it’s Belize’s first-ever gold in the Under-15 division. And today, the champions got the royal treatment with a rally and motorcade through Belize City. We caught up with the team to hear how they’re feeling after this incredible win, and trust us, the energy was electric.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

On Tuesday, the Saint Catherine Academy Volleyball team made history. For the first time ever, Belize is celebrating a gold win in the Central American High School Volleyball Tournament Under Fifteen division. Today, the girls were warmly welcomed by their peers with an energetic display of dancing and cheers. Assistant coach Emma Hoare tells us how proud she and coach Jose Fontes are of the team.

 

Emma Hoare, Assistant Coach

“Both of us are emotional and excited that we made history. This is like the very first goal ever. The girls they work for, they earn for it through sweat tears, sacrifice everything in one. And they were mentally prepared to finish off the game in two sets.”

 

According to the coaches, consistency is key when it comes to building mental strength and team chemistry. Thirteen-year-old Jamie Lee Espejo was named as the team’s MVP. Feeling honored to have been celebrated by her school, she shares what it felt like the moment she realized they had won.

 

Jamie Lee Espejo, Team MVP

“I felt excited. So much emotions, like going through everybody’s head. Everybody was like, so much emotions going every single way. Every single way.”

 

Britney Gordon

“And what do you think contributed to you guys being named the champions?”

Jamie Lee Espejo

“I would say like teamwork. Our teamwork, our whole communication, everything built together and then we work through it.”

 

They led an impressive winning streak from October fourth to October seventh, not losing a single set the entire match. Emma Hoare says that despite the team dominating the competition, their wins were celebrated by their opponents as well

 

Emma Hoare

“Our very first game we played against Nicaragua, which was one of the powerhouses. We won that in two sets. The second game was versus the host country, Costa Rica. We were in the very hardest pool and we won those two games. We faced semifinals against our neighbors, Guatemala. We beat them in two sets. That one, I feel, was very nerve wracking. They hustle a lot, but in the end we were victorious and the final games we had to play against everything like the noise makers from Costa Rica, the Costa Ricans, they were so friendly. The hosts, they were nice and friendly. They were wearing our flags literally in a good positive way. Cheering us on as well.”

 

The team now looks forward to pulling off their next big win and plans to keep making history for Belize. Britney Gordon for News Five.