posted September 24, 2013
Jose Fuentes, Public Relations and Communications Coordinator
Our highly anticipated state-of-the-art soccer field is here! After several months of constant work and unforgiving rain, Colegio Interamericano is proud to present the first school-owned synthetic sports field in Guatemala. This accomplishment marks the culmination of the first phase of large construction projects scheduled for 2013. To commemorate, on Saturday September 21, Interamericano, in collaboration with the School Board and OPAI (Organizacion para Padres de Alumnos del Colegio Interamericano), offered a unique celebration, filled with professional level soccer, great music, delicious food and loads of fun.
Activities started at 8 AM, with a short presentation from the marching band from Colegio los Infantes. Their reveting performance echoed through the new soccer field, where hundreds of visitors and athletes eagerly stood and tried out our new Argentine synthetic grass turf.
Carl Wieburg, our General Director, gave a few words on the importance of this date. He then proceeded to display some of the large scale constructions done in the last year and allowed the different level principals to unveil the completed buildings from their respective areas.
Gregory Bellemare, our Elementary Principal, revealed pictures of the second floor addition to the primary area and the new child-safe floor matting at our Pre-Kinder section. Harvey Cohen, High School Principal, exhibited images from the new High School building addition and the six groundbreaking Art Classrooms, which will offer our ECA (Extra Curricular Activities) program much needed place for music and recreation.
Professional Guatemalan Soccer Player and International Sports Ambassador Dwight Pezzarossi dropped in to congratulate our school on the marvelous work being done in both academics and sports related endeavors. He insisted on the importance of a balance between a solid bilingual education and a healthy sports program to achieve greater level of success in years to come.
His words led way to the first pass and goal shot, executed majestically by two members from the school board and Foundation board, Mauricio Mishaan and José Augusto Toledo.
With all formalities out of the way, the first soccer match took place: Colegio Interamericano vs the sub 17 division of Club Social y Deportivo Comunicaciones. The challange offered a interesting mixture of high level soccer and fierce competition. The end result was a crushing two point win for Colegio Interamericano.
During intermission, our Sport’s department issued short sports challenges for visiting parents and athletes alike. These were redeemable for surprise soccer-related gifts, such as jerseys and training balls. Students and parents took to the games readily and made each challenge that much more enjoyable and fun.
Our female soccer team faced-off against Colegio Virgen de la Asunción. Both teams gave it their all and were evenly matched during most of the game. The final score was another solid win for our school, this time with a 3 point lead.
We encourage our athletes keep the same level of sportsmanship and perseverance they demonstrated on Saturday, in upcoming matches. This was not a bad start for our school’s teams, which will soon host the prestigious AASCA 2014 soccer tournament. The aforementioned championship will be played on our new field and will demand the very best from us. If we maintain the current level of training and devotion to sports, we will rise to meet that challenge as well.