By Jay Leon Guerrero
2025 has arrived and high school sports will soon start in a busy third quarter.
The third quarter will feature boys basketball, girls softball, rugby, and tennis and beach volleyball.
Here is a preview for the third quarter:
Boys Basketball
Defending champions: IIAAG – Father Duenas Friars; ISA – George Washington Geckos
Last year, there were two separate league’s with the IIAAG and ISA having their own respective leagues for public and private schools. Thankfully this season, just like the girls league last quarter, GDOE and private schools will be played in one league.
The IIAAG champion FD Friars will have legendary coach Eddie Pelkey doing the play calling. The Friars bring several key returnees with last year’s MVP Noah Tenorio coming back for his senior season. Fellow senior Noah Cruz and sharp-shooting junior Collin Baker will help keep FD as championship favorites.
“One of the most stacked teams I’ve seen,” said an opposing head coach, noting the talent level of at least eight players on the FD roster.
Other names to look out for in the league are the Madrazo twins at JFK, Darnell Camacho at GW, Jude Lopez at Okkodo and Atni Kasuta at Sanchez.
Rugby
Boys defending champions: Father Duenas Friars
Girls defending champions: Academy Cougars
The Friars are heading into the season looking to continue their dynasty. FD is vying for its sixth straight title after surviving last year’s championship game over rival GW 21-19. The Friars went undefeated last year. They have a host of big-time names like Tristan Burgos, Trey Blas, Christian Manglona, Adrien Bordallo and Hyan Mesa to power up their game.
The Geckos will rely heavily on their two studs: Rayn Rios and Nizaya Untalan. Other notable players to watch out for are Sanchez’s Noah Fejeran and Okkodo’s Josiah Mendiola Reiko Mendiola and Zeke Santos.
The Academy Cougars were dominant in the championship game last year and look to continue the trend. The Cougars won in convincing fashion in last season’s championship game over Sanchez Sharks 31-5. The Cougars, like the Friars, have experience returning to their roster with All-Island pedigree on their roster as well. With the likes of Auriana Merfalen, Lola Rosario, Serenity Sulla, Cassidy Guerrero, Maria Paulino and Kylee Reyes
Southern’s Skyler Nangauta is the returning league MVP and will lead an always-game Dolphins squad. Notre Dame has Cadence Horton and Addison Link to help the Royals get back into title contention.
Girls Softball
Defending champions: Academy Cougars
Talk about returning a stacked team. The Academy Cougars return as defending champions after dethroning the Guam High Panthers in last year’s championship game 13-4. The Cougars have 20, yes, 20 returnees! Nine of them are starters.
Four First Team All-Island returnees from last season: Tisha and Tera Mann, Mylie Butters and Kaia Chiguina. The five other returning starters earned Second Team honors. Needless to say, the Cougars are locked and loaded!
Guam High pitching sensation Brinnlyn Hardt returns for her senior season. If there is anyone more motivated to get back at the Cougars, it’s Hardt, who guided the Panthers to a perfect regular season a year ago before falling in the championship game.
Beach Volleyball
Boys defending champions: Father Duenas Friars
Girls defending champions: Academy Cougars
No, it’s not a typo. It’s FD and Academy looking to maintain supremacy in beach volleyball as well.
FD’s top team looks to be Antonio Egurrola and Steffen Surban, but watch out for the Harvest duo of Jack Keith and Devin Paulin.
On the girls side, indoors volleyball MVP Ariana Cruz will team up with Carmen Eugenia. Eugenia is a transfer from Harvest, where she won the All-Island last year with then-partner Neisha Chen.
Tennis
Defending ISA Boys & Girls Team champions: Guam Adventist Academy
Tennis will have two separate leagues with the IIAAG and ISA holding separate leagues for the third quarter. The GAA Angels scooped last year’s singles championships with Wyatt Oh upsetting MVP Bryce Manalo from Okkodo in the boys finals and Charlotte Oh easily winning the girls singles 8-0. The siblings are back again to defend their crowns – Wyatt is now a senior and Charlotte is still only a junior.
JFK’s David San Agustin will be in the hunt in the boys division.
