Gwen Lizarraga High School boys – NSSSA 2025 Male Football Champions
by William Ysaguirre (freelance reporter)
BELIZE CITY, Mon. Feb. 24, 2025
The Gwen Lizarraga High School boys won their first ever National Secondary Schools Sports Association (NSSSA) football championship, in the tournament hosted by Mount Carmel High School at “La Cancha” Marshalleck Stadium in Benque Viejo Del Carmen over the weekend, February 21-22.
Calvin Thurton – Most Valuable Player
MVP Calvin Thurton’s hat trick (13’, 28’ & 35’) led Gwen Liz to a 3-1 victory over the Northern regional champions, the Belize High School of Agriculture (BHSA) boys of Orange Walk under pouring rain in the championship final on Saturday afternoon. Only Brandon Quijano (23’) scored a consolation for BHSA.
Belize High School of Agriculture boys – NSSSA 2025 Male Football Sub-Champions
The Western regional champions, the Belmopan Comprehensive boys won the consolation match for 3rd place, 1-0, over the Southern regional champions, the Julian Cho Technical High School boys, when Jahson Stanford (19’) converted a penalty in the first half.
In Game 1 on Friday afternoon, the BHSA boys advanced to the finals when they edged the Julian Cho boys, 5-4, in a penalty shootout, after a 1-1 draw in regulation and 10 minutes of overtime. Kender Moralez (6’) struck first for Julian Cho, but Oscar Rodriguez (8’) soon equalized for BHSA. In penalties, Rodriguez, Nadler Canul, Brandon Quijano, Cleveland Lord and Ermin Chi all converted their kicks; but Julian Cho’s first kicker missed, and only Jarvis Shol, Jahael Augustine, Walton Villata and Tyron Cho converted their penalties.
In Game 2, Friday’s nightcap, the Gwen Liz boys also qualified to the finals by a 1-0 win over the Belmopan boys, when Kriston Linarez (17’) scored from a set piece.
In the awards ceremony after the finals, the NSSSA executive committee presented team trophies and individual medals to the champions, sub-champions, and 3rd place winners. Julian Cho’s captain Kenny Poom accepted the 4th Place trophy. NSSSA president Francis Pascual presented the Most Valuable Player award to Calvin Thurton of Gwen Liz.