From April 16-17, 2024, the Grades 7-10 students gathered in Monarch’s Gym for the eagerly awaited Olympic Revival: SISC High School Intramurals 2024, marking the first intramurals since 2019.
The Greek mythology-themed sports tournament had students sorted into houses corresponding to their grade levels, with Grade 7 being the House of Artemis, Grade 8 as the House of Athena, Grade 9 as the House of Hephaestus, and Grade 10 as the House of Zeus.
Fun Games
The first day kicked off with a thrilling lineup of fun games, sparking excitement and anticipation for an action-packed day. These games took inspiration from tales of deities within Greek mythology.
The first challenge, “Fire of Prometheus,” featured eight players and seven torches. When the whistle blows, each player must quickly rise from a prone position, leap over an obstacle, and run across the field. The goal of the game is to outpace their opponents and take the torch at the end. However, with fewer torches than players, the slowest player who fails to secure a torch is eliminated. The process continues until there is only one player left.
Following this, “The Cry of Poseidon” had the participants fill their assigned soda bottles with water. As they sprinted back and forth, the players soaked sponges from buckets before rushing to squeeze the liquid into their bottles, hoping to be the first ones to fully fill it up.
“Atlas Hold” tested players’ physical and mental abilities as they held cardboard boxes above their heads while attempting to maintain a perfect V-shaped hold. The player is eliminated when they cannot hold the box any longer or even slightly bend their arms.
In the “Tail of Ouroboros,” the players raced around a track, keeping the person behind them out of reach. This test of speed and agility heightened the tension with each lap as the last man standing won.
Adding a twist to a traditional game, “Human Tic-Tac-Toe” players from different houses represented the usual knots and crosses as they strategically aligned themselves in a life-sized version of the game.
The last of the fun games was “Baseball 5,” a street version of baseball that can be played anywhere. There were five players per team with two girls and three boys. They played for two innings before the winner was decided.
Sports
The second day began with SISC routines and another torch-lighting ceremony to get the Monarchs in the mood of Intrams. With all this excitement built up, the playing of sports officially commenced.
Six different sports took place simultaneously; Basketball, Volleyball, Football, Badminton Singles, Badminton Doubles, and Chess. For each sport, there were male and female games respectively.
For its audience, exciting was the word to describe the games of basketball. Each team tried their best to strategize and beat their opponents however they could, all while having fun in the process. The substitution bench cheered as points were scored, and high fives were shared among players.
Volleyball became a joy to spectate. Eyes followed as the ball moved. Every serve, every spike, every set along with the enthusiasm of the crowd all harmonized. Each point was tailed by roars in the bleachers, as well as sighs and looks of distress as their team conceded. Laughs were also shared as unconventional events took place in the court.
Meanwhile, over in the field, the football matches took place. Competitors from each grade level showcased their level of footwork and strength. Despite soaring temperatures, the players were determined to win the games. Each dribble was passionate and every goal was celebrated to the maximum.
Badminton singles and doubles showcased the players’ agility and strategic and quick thinking, making it an entertaining game for spectators to watch.
In Chess, close matches took place with moves that seemed carefully thought out and a small step in a bigger master plan.
Awarding
After the intense games of wit and skill, the scores were finalized and awards were given based on podium finish as well as the best players in different sportitions.
The champion for the basketball boys was the House of Hephaestus, with the House of Zeus as the 1st runner-up, the House of Artemis as the 2nd runner-up, and the House of Athena as the 3rd runner-up. The Mythical 5 were granted to Jojie Moran and Jacob Santos from the House of Hephaestus, The House of Zeus’s Riley Smith, Justin Feliz from The House of Artemis, and Francis Owen Tenorio from the House of Athena. The Most Valuable Player ended up being Hephaestus’s Jojie Moran.
As for the basketball girls, the House of Zeus gained the trophy as the champion, the House of Hephaestus acquired the 1st runner-up label, the House of Artemis was the 2nd runner-up, and the 3rd runner-up was the House of Athena. Their Mythical 5 consisted of Marthena Malaborbor and Kang Chae Won from the House of Zeus, Lee, Juyoung from the House of Hephaestus, April Gail Ligutan from the House of Artemis, and Mayumi Boero from the House of Athena. The Most Valuable Player award was granted to Kang Chae Won from the House of Zeus.
The final scoreboard for volleyball boys was the House of Athena as the champion, the House of Zeus as the 1st runner-up, the House of Hephaestus as the 2nd runner-up, and the House of Artemis as the 3rd runner-up. Jeric Reyes and Keith Teoh from the House of Athena, Ahmad Qwaider and Daniel Magbanua