TROPIC BOWL V
All*Stars - Tropic Bowl V - Photo Credits Costa Rica Gurus
North East (USA) All*Stars v. Costa Rica All*Stars
The Tropic Bowl is held annually in Costa Rica during the month of May. Presented by Athletes Without Borders (AWB), the event has been gaining popularity over the years. Tropic Bowl V was with no exception. Organizers promoted that Tropic Bowl V would be the best yet and it certainly lived up to the publicity hype. Not only was the anticipated All*Stars game between the North East (USA) All*Stars, a semi pro team collectively from the Boston, Massachusetts area and the Costa Rica All*Stars team formed with players from the two local leagues scheduled, but there was also a full day of activities for all ages.
The morning youth/women’s clinic consisted of core football training drills, QB preparation, offensive and defensive strategies for individual positions, plus a health and wellness component led by a Harvard graduate student. It truly was an all-encompassing family day of American football in this traditional land of fútbol (soccer).
The morning youth/women’s clinic consisted of core football training drills, QB preparation, offensive and defensive strategies for individual positions, plus a health and wellness component led by a Harvard graduate student. It truly was an all-encompassing family day of American football in this traditional land of fútbol (soccer).
Youth/Women’s Clinic - Photo Credits Devon ‘Sonic’ Forrester
Garrett Osumah, Founder and Executive Director of AWB
"It was an excellent event. Each year we keep growing in participation and in fan attendance.
We are honored to be in Costa Rica and especially excited to empower youths and women."
"It was an excellent event. Each year we keep growing in participation and in fan attendance.
We are honored to be in Costa Rica and especially excited to empower youths and women."
Tropic Bowl V - Feature Game
Final Score: North East (USA) All*Stars 18 / Costa Rica All*Stars 0
North East (USA) All*Stars - 2015 Tropic Bowl V
Costa Rica All*Stars - 2015 Tropic Bowl V
Two MVP’s were recognized for Tropic Bowl V, one from each team.
North East (USA) All*Stars MVP: CB Chris Monnette from Springfield, Massachusetts made one of the three touchdowns in the game, by an 80 yard interception return.
North East (USA) All*Stars MVP: CB Chris Monnette from Springfield, Massachusetts made one of the three touchdowns in the game, by an 80 yard interception return.
Chis Monette - Garrett Osumah - Jamie (Arturo) Ogiste – Photo Credits Devon ‘Sonic’ Forrester
Jaime (Arturo) Ogiste, MVP for the Costa Rica All*Stars team had this to say about Tropic Bowl V. “I never quite experienced the Tropic Bowl experience till I took my 5 year old son to this year’s event. From the onset, I felt the excitement and positive vibes from the Peewee kids and Juniors as they were running through all the drills and taking in every word/advice the players from Tropic Bowl were instilling in them. But the most satisfying part of it all was the comments from the parents such as, how happy they were that their kids were included on the team, the help they received with the equipment, and most of all, how their kids would tell them how happy they were being able to practice American football and not be excluded like some of them were in soccer because of their physical build. The kids took pride in their drills and even cheered on their teammates as a sign of team unity.”
MVP Jaime (Arturo) Ogiste’s 5 year old son, Sherwin, participating in the training clinic.
Women's Contact Exhibition - Historic Debut
Featured the San José Olympian GODDESSES CR F.A. and the Pérez Zeledón ANGELS F.A. For both of these teams, it was their first exhibition.
San José Olympian GODDESSES CR F.A. (left) - Pérez Zeledón ANGELS F.A. (right)
Photo Credits Devon ‘Sonic’ Forrester
Photo Credits Devon ‘Sonic’ Forrester
Pérez Zeledón ANGELS F.A.
Pérez Zeledón ANGELS F.A. - 2015 Tropic Bowl V - Photo Credits Ms Elle
The ANGELS F.A. surprised the fans with a win over the favored GODDESSES CR F.A. 6-0, debuting a game day roster of only 6 players against the GODDESSES CR F.A. 11 players.
The ANGELS F.A. team, a kind of an anomaly, have since August 2013, quietly developed in almost obscurity under the direction of Coach, Jesús Francisco Blanco Elizondo, in the southern zone town of Pérez Zeledón. This distant town is over a 3 hour commute from the city center of San José where the vast majority of American football action in Costa Rica takes place.
The ANGELS F.A. team, a kind of an anomaly, have since August 2013, quietly developed in almost obscurity under the direction of Coach, Jesús Francisco Blanco Elizondo, in the southern zone town of Pérez Zeledón. This distant town is over a 3 hour commute from the city center of San José where the vast majority of American football action in Costa Rica takes place.
Pérez Zeledón ANGELS F.A. Coach, Jesús Francisco Blanco Elizondo and Naomy Amador Atencio
Photo Credits Devon ‘Sonic’ Forrester
Photo Credits Devon ‘Sonic’ Forrester
ANGELS F.A. running back, Naomy Amador Atencio #88 will forever hold the title in Costa Rica for being the first player to score a touchdown in this historic milestone for women’s contact American football.
San José Olympian GODDESSES CR F.A.
2015 San José Olympian GODDESSES F.A. Roster
During the first quarter of 2014, interest for a women’s contact team in San José peaked, and bi-weekly practices were scheduled with 1st Division players volunteering as coaches.
After the occurrence of a few team management and name changes over the course of the year, the Olympian GODDESSES CR F.A. name emerged victorious with a solid core group of women committed to practicing and playing the sport.
LB Shirley Trejos, 26 years old, a player since the inception of the GODDESSES CR F.A. was asked, “What does it mean for you to be able to participate in this sport?”
"For me, it means the world! I found a new passion. But not only that, I also now have a new family, a new role model (my coaches) and people who I can trust. During the time when I was a competitive chess player on the Costa Rica National Team and saw American football games, I thought it was a silly game. Just a game about hitting each other and that’s it! When I eventually learned more about the game, I fell in love with the passion, strategy, and the intelligence that one needs to play the game and to play it properly. It’s not only about strength. It’s about intelligence, just like the game of chess. American football has given me a new family, a new love and a new motivation. In other words, I can’t just say one thing about what football means to me, because it is not just a 'something' for me, it is more of a lifestyle and I love it!’
After the occurrence of a few team management and name changes over the course of the year, the Olympian GODDESSES CR F.A. name emerged victorious with a solid core group of women committed to practicing and playing the sport.
LB Shirley Trejos, 26 years old, a player since the inception of the GODDESSES CR F.A. was asked, “What does it mean for you to be able to participate in this sport?”
"For me, it means the world! I found a new passion. But not only that, I also now have a new family, a new role model (my coaches) and people who I can trust. During the time when I was a competitive chess player on the Costa Rica National Team and saw American football games, I thought it was a silly game. Just a game about hitting each other and that’s it! When I eventually learned more about the game, I fell in love with the passion, strategy, and the intelligence that one needs to play the game and to play it properly. It’s not only about strength. It’s about intelligence, just like the game of chess. American football has given me a new family, a new love and a new motivation. In other words, I can’t just say one thing about what football means to me, because it is not just a 'something' for me, it is more of a lifestyle and I love it!’
U-19 Exhibition Round Robin
The first two teams to match up were the San José TITANS U-19 F.A. v. San Ramón GIANTS U-19 F.A. GIANTS QB, José Elías Zamora made 1 touchdown against the TITANS. This was the GIANTS first time playing as a team. The next round featured the Cartago DRAGONS U-19 F.A. offensive v. the GIANTS defensive with the DRAGONS scoring 3 touchdowns; 2 by José Mario Guzman and 1 by Gerson Romero against the GIANTS. This led to the last round with the TITANS offensive v. DRAGONS defensive ending their round with no touchdowns.
U-19 Exhibition Round Robin - Photo Credits Devon ‘Sonic’ Forrester
Peewee Exhibition - Historic Debut
History for the sport in Costa Rica was made twice in one day at Tropic Bowl V with the first gridiron encounter of the two Peewee division teams featuring the Cartago LEONES Peewee F.C. v. the San José TITANS Peewee F.A. that ended in an uncontroversial score of 0-0.
Cartago LEONES Peewee F.C. - 2015 Tropic Bowl V - San José TITANS Peewee F.A.
Photo Credits Devon ‘Sonic’ Forrester
Photo Credits Devon ‘Sonic’ Forrester
Cartago LEONES Peewee F.C. Player - 2015 Tropic Bowl V
Photo Credits Ms Elle
Photo Credits Ms Elle
Author: Ms Elle, May 2015
Athletes Without Borders
Athletes Without Borders AWB is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development of initiatives that cultivate youth empowerment. Through the efforts of our athlete mentors, community leaders, and volunteers we strive to create programs that reinforce the importance of young people making healthy decisions for today and for their tomorrows. • Garrett Osumah, Founder and Executive Director of AWB
Tropic Bowl V Photos
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