Enjoying competitive sports
and enhancing health fitness,
we are learning and growing happily at XLIS.
The first season of team sports for the 2022-2023 school year has concluded at XLIS. Students across all divisions had the opportunity to become a Blue Dragon and represent XLIS in different sports competitions. Despite the disruptions caused by covid-19 and online learning, athletes and coaches were able to find success in various competitions.
This year XLIS entered three teams in the “Chan Ba Trophy Football League and Tournament” organized by Hanova International School. The league featured teams from four international schools in Xi’an in both the U8 and U11 divisions.
The XLIS U11 boys team made it to the final of the Chan Ba Trophy by defeating the Hanova Hawks in the semi-final match. In the final they faced an undefeated XIS Warriors team and came up short. Despite the defeat, the U11 boys finished with a silver medal and a runners-up trophy to add to the case.
In the U8 division, XLIS entered two teams – XLIS Blue and XLIS White. Both teams struggled during league play and went into the tournament without a win. Unfortunately for XLIS White, their season ended winless, as they lost their bronze medal game on penalty kicks to the XIS Warriors.
However, XLIS Blue were able to rise to the occasion, making it to the final of the Chan Ba Trophy. P3 Alisa Zhang led the team to a surprise, underdog victory in the final game by scoring 5 goals and defeating the Hanova Hawks. XLIS Blue raised the trophy and became the first ever U8 champions of the Chan Ba Trophy.
XLIS made it to the final of the tournament by defeating Maple Leaf. They played against XIS for the trophy and the match went to a final game 5. Unfortunately, XLIS came up just short, losing 15-12 in the final set. Nevertheless, the students left with silver medals around their necks and a runners-up trophy to add to the trophy case.
The girls’ team was able to earn the first win in the program’s history at the Jam tournament by defeating the Kangchiao International School. This earned them a place in the final against the Hanova Hawks. Unfortunately for XLIS, Hanova Hawks were able to win in the final. Nevertheless, the XLIS Blue Dragons earned a silver medal for finishing runners-up.
The boys’ team came into the tournament confident, having won their friendly match against the Hanova Hawks one week earlier. That success continued, as they won two of the three round-robin games. However, Kangchiao brought a strong team of eighth graders that were just too big and skilled for the XLIS players to overcome. The XLIS Blue Dragons lost in the final and also finished with a silver medal.
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Author:
Zachary Dwyer (MYP Individual & Society Teacher, ACAMIS Athletics Coordinator)
