4TH QUARTER SPORTS SET FOR TAKE OFF

By Carmen Gogue

With the 2023-2024 high school year reaching its end, the ISA and IIAAG leagues are set for their fourth quarter sports. A combined girls soccer league under the Guam Football Association, boys volleyball for both leagues, track & field and paddling.

Kicking off the quarter was the girls soccer season opener in a 2-2 tie between the St. John’s Knights and Okkodo Bulldogs last week Friday. Check out a preview of all fourth quarter sports below!

Girls Soccer

For the first time since GDOE separated from IIAAG to form two leagues in 2019, both IIAAG and ISA girls soccer teams will play against each other in the Interscholastic Girls High School Football League run by GFA. With only one school to be crowned this season, let’s take a look at both leagues champions from the previous year!

2023 Girls Soccer Champions

In the 2024 GFA Challenge Cup, the defending champions of the ISA league, the JFK Islanders squeezed by 1-0 in a title rematch against the Southern Dolphins to win the preseason tournament. Now with the GFA league featuring all high schools, the competition is expected to be exciting and fierce! Check out the official schedule on our sports calendar.

Boys Volleyball

The boys volleyball leagues will remain separated for the season despite all high schools competing in a preseason tournament held by the Guam Volleyball Federation and GSPN. The five-time IIAAG defending champions, the Father Duenas Friars swept the preseason tournament with only one set lost and are looking to grab a sixth title this year under head coach Steve Pangelinan.

Let’s take a look at both champions from last year!

2023 Boys Volleyball Champions

The Tiyan Titans coached by Rod Palma, defeated the FD Friars in the 2023 GSPN Champion vs Champion match. This year both league champions will get another shot to be the Champion of Champions in the anticipated GSPN event in May. In the IIAAG league, the Harvest Eagles and Notre Dame Royals are ready to give the powerhouse Friars a run for the title! Be sure to checkout both leagues official schedules on our sports calendar.

Track & Field

With IIAAG not having enough schools to sustain a track & field league, the IIAAG schools are invited to participate in the ISA league. The Guam High Panthers swept the 2023 ISA Track & Field League in both the boys and girls divisions. Esteemed head coach Joe Taitano guided the Panthers to a sixth straight title for the boys and a third straight title for the Girls last year.

With top contenders such as the JFK Islanders and GW Geckos for both divisions, will the Panthers dynasty continue to reign or will new track and field champions be named this year? Look out for the official races and field event schedules on our sports calendar.

Paddling

The high school paddling scene is ready to hit the water with teams from various high schools on the island every Saturday morning at Matapang Beach in Tumon. In the 2023 season, the Okkodo Bulldogs won the 1000m sprint in the boys division with the JFK Islanders girls finishing first in the same event. In the 2-mile race, the Friars pulled away with the finish and the Islander girls dominated the competition with a 40 second lead over the next team to win. In the 1000m mix, the Bulldogs secured the race win and the 2-mile mix race went to the Islanders. This year will look just as exciting as the water sport continues to grow!

Check out the official race schedules on our sports calendar.