Super IASAS: Athletes' Perspective

Michelle P. and Inez C.

This year, ISM kicked off their centennial year with the 2019 Super IASAS, with ISM hosting all three first season sports for the first time. All teams from each IASAS school headed over to the home of the Bearcats, ready to win that gold. Participating in IASAS is quite a challenge, therefore, we interviewed two team captains to get perspective into the life of a balanced varsity-level athlete. The ISM Boys' Volleyball team captain, senior Ben Romualdez, was one of two whom we interviewed. The ISM boys had prepared for this tournament for so long by numerous exercises, as well as other intense training. JIS’ team captain, Shelton Razik, prepared the Dragons for the tournament by creating a firm bond between one another to trust and have fun with each other’s athletic capabilities.   

Throughout the season, the ISM boys  trained hard with numerous exercises, one of which included running around the hallways. Ben states, “That’s something the volleyball team does to get the ISM student body involved, and something that we do for fun." Through this, the Bearcat boys have brought their motivation to the maximum level, and with that, they were able to find success through the tournament not only as ten different individuals, but  as one team unified. 

This year, all varsity teams have been under serious pressure due to ISM hosting the tournament. However,  Ben said he would,  “look into the crowd and see specific people that he wanted to represent and make  proud.'' This was a key factor that allowed him to fight through the tournament, especially with ISM students watching from every corner. On the other hand, SheIton states, “What motivated us was the thought of playing for our teammates and our coaches." The on-court and coach relationships held such value to the team that they motivated each other to play their best.

Despite our athletes training hard, it is no doubt a challenge to balance training and schoolwork. Shelton’s strategy to keep a healthy balance was, “to manage my time and prioritize the things that are most important.'' Ben said, “School always comes first, so when work is needed to be done I would skip a training session.” As student athletes, sacrifices must be made in order to achieve optimal results. 

An important aspect to remember is the mental game inherent in high level competition. “It was definitely difficult to ensure that everyone has a good mindset, especially less experienced players, during close games or losses," stated Shelton. Team morale can be quite a challenge to maintain in tense game situations. As captain, he made an effort to get the team excited after every point was played in their favour, and he ensured that each player played as a team rather than as an individual. When Ben was having a rough time during a game, he would always, “look to both my coaches and teammates because there will always be someone radiating positive energy that can boost your mood up." 

However, throughout the competition, both captains joined the tournament for the experience of meeting new people while participating in a sport they love. During game time, Shelton prioritized winning, but in between games the goal was, “to enjoy myself and the entire IASAS experience." The whole IASAS exchange is about meeting new friends from different communities, and to fulfil this, Ben says that, “regardless of win or lose, take the opportunity to meet new people from other schools."