PACA Preparation For Varsity Nationals Puts Them Into a Position for Success

Caption: Benjamin Portella defends the ball in a soccer match at St. Paul’s to prepare for AASB Varsity Nationals. [by Dr. Cristina Meier]

by Samuel Volkart [in collaboration with Nathanael Agcaoili and Rafael Oliveira]

PACA’s Varsity student athletes prepared themselves with three months of training and local competitions in order to be ready for the first edition of the AASB Nationals Tournament this year. What once was called “Big #” in separate tournaments, is now being combined into one large competition for all 16 American/British schools all around Brazil.

Everything in this new event called “Varsity Nationals” comes down to this six day tournament. In the first part of Nationals, the Varsity Girls Soccer team and the Varsity Boys Basketball team went to NR and competed from October 26 to October 29). The Varsity Cheerleading squads from each participating school also competed with their sideline cheer routines.

In the second half of the schedule, the Varsity Boys Soccer team and the Varsity Girls Basketball team competed. Their tournament began on the afternoon of October 29 and finished on November 1.

Part of the preparation for this competition started in early September when all four teams participated in eight games in the São Paulo High School League. These games were very important for the preparation to go to Nationals.

Coaches and athletes from PACA have dedicated countless hours of preparation for this single tournament, and now they will have the chance to apply everything on the field.

Watch the video reflections of a coach and Varsity boys athlete before the tournament.

The first part of the tournament was a success for the warriors. The preparation and intense practice have greatly impacted their final position. The Varsity Boys Basketball team got fourth place in the first division. The Girls Soccer team finished off with first place in the second division.

Aline Dobashi, one of the Varsity Girls Basketball players, seems to be very confident about her first ever AASB Nationals.

“We have practiced intensely for about three months now, making our team very competitive, and well prepared for Nationals,” said Dobashi.

Dobashi and her basketball team had a rough time in the SPHSL, out of eight games they won two of them.

“We definitely didn’t have the best season, but these losses have made us learn many lessons. Now we want to win more than anything else,” said Dobashi. “ SPHSL served as a preparation for Nationals.”

The boys soccer team is also very well prepared.

Lucca Machado, one of the 26 athletes of the Varsity Boys team says his team is more than ready for Nationals.

“I am really excited because me and my team have dedicated many hours in preparation for Nationals,” said Machado. “The SPHSL games were very important for us, we learned very much from all eight games.”

The warriors that played in the second half of the tournament also played well in their divisions. The Boys Soccer team got first place in the fourth division. The Girls Basketball team got first place in the third division. All four teams got medals and a trophy making the first edition of the AASB Nationals a success for the Pan American Christian Academy.

Caption: PACA’s Varsity Soccer, Basketball and Cheerleaders make their mark at the NR Nationals Tournament with their strong, competitive spirit and their efforts to play well. [photo credits to Vanessa Flurry and Kimberlie Denham]