The Girls Soccer and Boys Basketball Teams Keep the Green and White Energy Alive at the Middle School Nationals Tournament.
- KEVIN FLURRY
- Dec 1, 2025
- 3 min read
Caption: The Middle School Girls Soccer Team celebrates after winning their last game by hoisting Anita Okada up on their shoulders. [by Susana Okada]
by Ana Luisa Helfer
The Middle School boys basketball and girls soccer teams went to the Nationals tournament in NR, which took place between November 9th and 12th, a most awaited event for PACA middle school students. During this tournament, the PACA Warriors had the opportunity to compete against several of the 15 other schools from all around Brazil that were participating in the event.
Each match was decided based on the school’s performance throughout the season. The girls soccer team had a chance to play against EARJ, Nations, TBS Barra, OLM, and EAB. The tournament provided some special moments of victory and teamwork. It was a tiring few days for them, with two games each day. But all the hard work paid off with their trophy-worthy performance.
The boys basketball team started off the tournament with a decisive victory in their first match on Sunday evening. During the tournament, they got to play against EARJ2, Graded, TBS Barra, EARJ1, and Sant’Anna.
According to Seth Meier, the sixth man and first sub on the team, the first game was a wake up call for them. He didn’t really think they played their best in spite of the fact that they stayed ahead of the EARJ team for the entire game.
“Honestly, I think that a lot of our star players realized they needed to play harder to do well for the rest of the tournament,” said Meier.
He felt their best game was against TBS Barra, because they were behind for a lot of the game. They managed to come up from that place and tied at the end of the game and then beat the team in overtime.
“We were able to win the mental game,” said Meier. “We didn’t let the fact that we were behind stop us from playing our best.”
In the end, the boys claimed first place in the second division, and the girls earned first place in the third division. The coaches also took the time to choose the MVP and the Sportsmanship Award for two players on each team. For girls soccer, Anita Okada got the sportsmanship award and Melissa Hatcher received the MVP award. For boys basketball, Emmanuel Lee got the sportsmanship award and Micah Greves received the MVP award.
Although it was exciting for the teams to earn medals and a trophy after their final games, it is important to remember that the Nationals tournament is not only about playing a sport. It is a time for all the athletes to make new friends, grow as a team, and glorify God.
Anita Okada, the girls soccer team’s captain, said, “My favorite part about the tournament was how we, as a team, got closer day by day.”
This year’s Nationals tournament proved to be much more than a competition—it was an experience that strengthened character, unity, and school spirit. Both teams returned home proud of their accomplishments, but even prouder of the relationships they built and the growth they experienced. The victories were meaningful, but the memories, teamwork, and personal development they gained will last far beyond the final whistle.
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