by Anea E., Eléonore V., grade 9
After the four months of football, the joyful season has come to an end.
The school announced the MVPs (Most Valuable Player) of this year’s season at the recognition evening on the Nov. 22.
The captains of the football teams Lee La B. and Phil H. and Vegard H led their teams through an amazing season with many ups and downs. This season will be remembered by all players for the many years to come.
This year’s Junior Varsity football boys team had a great success in this SCIS tournament by coming in second place. Throughout this whole season they have put in their best work into the team which in the end really paid off. Because the JV boys this year were such a big group with around 30 players, Mr.Briffa had decided to announce two MVPs: Noam B. and Valerio C.
Phil H., the captain of the varsity football team this year, lead his team to many victories, even when games were hard, he kept his head up and the team never gave up.
His opinion of a good team is that “all members pursue a common goal with the same degree of focus and discipline” (Schneider probably kept them very disciplined throughout the entire season).
He stated that his team’s effort is what pushed each individual player towards improvement and that their skill sets were valued and used for the benefit of the team.
Phil H. said each team should have an environment where individuals with different strengths complement each other.
Phil H. said he was surprised to receive the award, but his teammates were expecting it after his performance during the season. He brought great value on and off the pitch to the team and he even helped the JV team. He explained that he sometimes felt closer to getting an award and sometimes further away depending on his performance in the previous game, but he was never sure that he would receive an award as there were many valuable players in the team that performed well this season.
During one game, he said he could fill in as goalie as a joke, but the JV coach took him seriously.
“I ran to the changing room to get my shoes, ran to the meadow field, took the goalkeeper’s gloves and played a JV game in goal before playing the varsity game as a field player right after”.
The JV team won 1:0 that day.
JV and Varsity girls football captain Lee La B. believes that a team works best when “all look eye to eye with each other.” She said that you can be the best player on the team, but you will always need the support of your team to fully succeed. You need to respect each other, and you must be able to live with critic to be able to improve, she said.
She said all members need to put in the same amount of effort into the practice which will result into the players knowing each other. Lee La B. said this will benefit the team because you would be able to predict where your teammate is going to play to. She said teh team this year have done their very best and gave their best this season.
Lee La has been a very loyal member of the MIS football team for around 7 years. Throughout those years she has always tried her best and, she had a goal of receiving an MVP award.
“Now that I am here, I am extremely proud and glad that my dedication has been acknowledge,” she said.”
She said the funniest moments of this year’s season were the moments after games, no matter if they lost or won, when the players were able to laugh about it and sing their hearts out on the way to the hostel in the bus. The favorite songs were “Hey Ya!”, “Hot In Here,” “Dancing Queen” and “Lay All Your Love On Me.”
Thinking about the past season, a proud smile spreads across her cheeks.
“I am very proud of the team and I very pleased to have ended my MIS football career with these girls.”
Everyone is waiting for the next season with anticipation of improving on their skills and returning to the freshly-cut football field.
This season was not the biggest success in terms of the tournaments, but the players improved during each practice and a great spirit could be seen in every team. We wish the 12th graders the best next year and hope they continue playing this thrilling sport.