Written by: Ryan
Edited by: Justin
Visual by: Owen
ISM has been deprived of sports competition for over two years, but now, they are finally back. With Season 1 tryouts ending and the volleyball, soccer, and cross country teams forming, Bearcat athletes are preparing for an exciting season ahead.
With the return of sports, Friday Night Lights is also making its highly anticipated return. Friday Night Lights is a seasonal event hosted on Friday nights with all ISM teams competing against Brent International School Manila. The first Friday Night Lights takes place on September 9th; HS Soccer and Volleyball teams will be kicking off at 4:15 pm in the HS and MS fields and gyms. The following week, on Friday, September 16th, the Cross Country team will compete in the annual Twilight Meet, a race held just as the sun is setting on the ISM campus at 5:30 pm.
However this is just the beginning: each team is working towards the ultimate goal of an IASAS trophy, especially as this is the first IASAS since Super IASAS.
In October of 2020, the IASAS schools — a conference made up of ISM, International School Bangkok, International School Kuala Lumpur, Singapore American School, Taipei American School, and Jakarta Intercultural School — gathered in Manila for ‘Super IASAS’ in celebration of ISM’s centennial year. Super IASAS consisted of a weekend filled with intense Soccer, Volleyball, and Cross Country competitions. It was a spirited event with the ISM campus bustling with activity, and although ISM did not win gold for any of the events, it was undoubtedly a weekend to remember.
No one expected that for the next two years, these competitions would be put on hold entirely. It was the first time in IASAS’s 40 year history that the member schools had not traveled for sports or cultural competitions. Thankfully, this year, Season 1 of IASAS sports will be returning to in person events for all schools.
IASAS Volleyball and Cross Country will be held at the International School of Bangkok, while IASAS Soccer will be at the International School of Kuala Lumpur. Schools are excitedly preparing for these events, and the athletes are ecstatic to be back competing. When asked about their thoughts on returning to IASAS, the Cross Country team was excited to be returning to competition; Super IASAS was amazing, but returning will be just as great. Similarly, the soccer teams are eager to travel to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. With no returning players from the last in person IASAS in 2019, it is sure to be a new experience for all of them, and all of us watching.
This year is sure to be a special year for ISM athletics, with lots to look forward to. So mark your calendars and come show your Bearcat support for the teams!