
By Robert Balajadia
2015 feels like a lifetime ago when the Southern Dolphins earned a historic playoff win that seemed to be the start of a promising turnaround to their football program. 2016 didn’t come with nearly the same kind of success, pushing the Dolphins back two steps after their monumental leap forward in 2015.
Now under new head coach Jonas Escuadra, a Southern Dolphin 2001 alumni, the team is stripping away lofty goals and expectations and are instead focusing on growth in the sport with young and willing athletes.
“We’re not going to make history in just one season and we’re not trying to,” stated Escuadra. “We’re having a ‘crawl, walk, run’ approach to the season. We want to be competitive, but we need to also make sure the kids are out there having fun.”
Escuadra also admitted his team has a lot of talent, but the lack of numbers continues to stunt their on-field capabilities.
“We’ve been getting good numbers and it’s been getting better everyday. For a school this big, we should have bigger numbers. The past year was a downfall, but it was my main goal during my first year to get these guys motivated to come out to practice. Now I’m seeing more smiles on their faces after practice and we’re starting to come together as a team,” said Escuadra.
Veterans leading the way
Southern will have new coaches on the sidelines, but over a handful of veterans will provide familiarity to the ever-changing Dolphin system.
One Dolphin, a former All-Star Game participant, Dylan Parke has been quarterbacking Southern since his sophomore season. The current ND student hasn’t lost faith in his Dolphin teammates and returning for his senior season speaks strongly of their relationship.
“It’s a football bond,” said Parke on his relationship with the team. “I want to lead my team to a good year and hopefully get more wins. It’d be nice to make history again.”
Receiver Jared Gomez is another key returnee who’s ready to make a bigger impact in his senior season while being successful as a team.
“It’d be great to win another playoff game. We understand the game more and we’re having a lot of fun with this years coaching staff,” said Gomez.
With a short handed roster, Gomez assures his team’s conditioned ready to play every down, all season long.
“Some of us have done it before so we’re ready to play on both sides of the ball all season long,” added Gomez.
Run defense ready
Coach Escuadra has entrusted senior, and third-year linebacker, Ian Dimla to lead the defense after working his way up to the role from the defensive line. Dimla only played in two games his junior year and he’s ready to prove his worth during his final year.
“I’m hoping to accomplish a spot on the All-Island list for linebacker, so we’ll see how this goes,” said Dimla.
The blending of new talents with the veterans has been a trying process, but Dimla and the rest of the veterans are embracing the challenge.
“The new players have experience playing football so having them catch up to high school football speed has been too tough. We’ve worked with them all off-season and now we’re ready to bang,” added Dimla.
Dimla said the strength of his teams defense will be in run stopping.
The Dolphins will travel up north to face the Sanches Sharks in the IIAAG season kickoff Friday at the Okkodo Field at 7 pm!
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GPS Sports Calendar
December 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for November
1st
ISA BOYS SOCCER
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
2nd
IRON LEGENDS THROWDOWN
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
4th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER
ISA BOYS SOCCER
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
5th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for December
5th
Events for December
7th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER PLAYOFFS
Events for December
9th
40th GRC PLUMERIA ROAD RACE
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for December
10th
TOUR OF GUAM 2023
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
Events for December
11th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for December
12th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for December
12th
Events for December
14th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER FINALS
Events for December
16th
3rd GUAM NINJA CHAMPIONSHIP
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
16th
Events for December
18th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER ALL-ISLAND MEETING
Events for December
19th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
19th
Events for December
23rd
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
ISA HS BASEBALL FINALS
Events for December
23rd
Events for December
24th
Events for December
25th
Events for December
27th
Events for December
29th
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Events for December
30th

Basketball
FAMILIAR FOES TO MEET FOR HOOPS CROWN

Basketball
ISLANDERS AVENGE EARLY SEASON LOSS
COMING SOON …
- IIAAG Girls Basketball Playoffs
- True Grit Rugby Tournament
- IIAAG Boys Soccer Playoffs