17 November 2020

OYIS is back competing against other schools in basketball and soccer. Since COVID has been sucking the fun up ever since this year started, the tournament and the friendly games against other schools may or may not continue. But this doesn’t mean we'll stop playing!

The middle school girls soccer team and middle school boys basketball team have officially started practising in clubs. It’s time to build stamina and skill with coaches Mr Nickel, who will train and coach girls’ soccer, and Mr Riddalls, who trains and coaches the boys’ basketball team. That's plenty of time for them to get in shape and develop the skill needed for the games.

Next semester, both girls’ and boys’ teams will swap, giving each of them a new sports experience. If the friendly games can continue, in a month, both teams will have friendly games at another school and at the end-of-year two-day tournament. Let’s cheer them on! 

Just last month, the high school and middle school boys competed against the Sons Of Light International School (SOLICS) on the 15th and the 17th of October. The MS boys won their game with 44 points. The overall points were 44 to 25: let's cheer on our MS Boys basketball team! The high school team also competed against the SOLICS, and was amazing with all the shots scored, the ball passed to every player but unfortunately, the High School SOLICS won with the total scores of 44 to 16.

On the 14th of November, the MYP girls soccer team played two friendly games against Kyoto International University Academy. The girl's soccer team improved their game chemistry along with their passing and defending skills but sadly lost with a score of 2:0 for the first game and 1:0 in the second game.

Here is an inclusive interview with the PYP / MYP Physical Education and Athletics Director, Mr Tanner Nickel.

Q: What sports are we currently playing? What grades?

Mr Nickel: So right now, we have our middle school girls soccer in grade six to eight. We have middle school boys basketball, grade six to eight and we have a high school boys basketball team which is a grade nine to ten this year.

Q: Have there been any games? Who against and when?

Mr Nickel: Unfortunately because the pandemic situation, there are not many games right now, but we have played a middle school basketball game against Sons Of Light (SOLICS), which we won, 44 to 25. And then our high school team also played Sons Of Light (SOLICS), unfortunately, lost, 44 to 16. We have a couple of games left.

Q: What do hopefully want to improve from last years team?

Mr Nickel: I want to see more communication on the floor in basketball when they are playing and also more talking from my girls team when playing and just being more aggressive and keep having fun.

Q Would there be any games/tournaments for both sports?

Mr Nickel: So as mentioned not many games, but I'm hoping to at least put on a year end tournament where girls can play eachother and boys would have a couple more games.

Q: What are you working on now?

Mr Nickel: I'm still trying to talk to schools and get more games. I'm working on getting coaches for girls basketball high school next year. As well as getting ready for middle school girls (basketball) and getting some games for them next year.

Q: And last question is, who are the coaches?

Mr Nickel: So, I'm coaching middle school girls futsal and I'm joined by Mr Jamie, who is coaching the boy's middle school basketball, for the second year in a row now. Then we have two new coached for our high school team basketball, which is Mr Dan Palanca and Mr Mark Mason, so our primary music teacher and a primary language teacher.