While Hurricane Richard had no effects in the northern districts of Corozal and Orange Walk, the San Pedro High School Male and Female Volleyball teams did have devastating effects on the northern high schools as they pounded them with spikes of hurricane strength.
On Saturday October 23, 2010, the eve of Hurricane Richard, San Pedro High School traveled to Orange Walk to participate in the Volleyball Northern Regional Tournament.
Teams participating in the tournament included in the female division—Escuela Mexico, Orange Walk Technical, San Pedro High and Belize Rural High. The male division featured Corozal Community College, Orange Walk Technical, San Pedro High and New Hope High School.
In the first Match Orange Walk Technical girls easily defeated Escuela Mexico girls and advanced to the finals. San Pedro High girls took the court and easily defeated Belize Rural High School by three sets to nil. The finals in the female division would feature San Pedro High against Orange Walk Technical High School.
In the male division, Orange Walk Technical and San Pedro played the game that everyone was saying should have been the final. It was a five set match and even in the 5th and final set, no one could tell which team would win as both teams kept exchanging the lead throughout. In the fifth set with Technical on the lead by 13 to 12, San Pedro High Boys took over, led by their MVP, Guillermo Rivero they managed to close the door on Technical. San Pedro High emerged victorious by 3 sets to 2. In the second match in the male division, New Hope easily defeated C.C.C. and advance to the finals to meet San Pedro High.
In the female finals, San Pedro High girls easily defeated Orange Walk Technical girls by the following scores—25 - 21, 25 – 12, 25 – 14, to become the Northern Regional Champions for the second time in the history of the school. San Pedro High boys took the court and also had a fairly easy victory over New Hope High School by the following scores – 25 -14, 25 -23, 18 – 25 and 25 -16.
The boys made history at San Pedro High since it was the first time that San Pedro High wins the NSTA championship in the male division. Not so for the girls because they are repeating another victory as they did only two years ago.
As NSTA champions, SPHS goes to the National Volleyball Tournament in Corozal on November 5 and 6 to face the other regional champions. Their hope is to emerge as the National Champion, a title that has eluded San Pedro High for years.
Congratulations go out to all the players, coaches, manager and Sports Coordinator for another successful tournament.
Guillermo Rivero
Gabriela Nuñez
