Wolverines Football Team Travels to Ireland
Belen 2 Ireland was an unforgettable experience. It all started when our head coach, Richard Stuart, presented the team with the idea of playing a football game in Ireland.
It was clear from the start that this trip required the entire team's participation, cooperation, and effort. From selling wristbands to doughnuts during homeroom, there was no sweeter feeling than reaching our fundraising goal for the trip to become a reality.
After a year of deadlines and anticipation, the flight to Ireland was upon us. Once we landed in Dublin we took a bus to the west coast city of Galway. My group missed visiting the Malahide Castle due to flight delays we encountered leaving Miami. Once in Galway, we checked into a local hotel, ate dinner, and attended our first team meeting. On Tuesday, we took a ferry boat ride to Inis Mór, the largest of the three Aran Islands. Once on the island, we hopped on buses that took us to Dún Aengus, a fort built 1100 years before Christ on a cliff side that offers breathtaking views of Galway Bay. It took us about 15 minutes to hike up the hill to reach the fort where we took some great pictures.
After a year of deadlines and anticipation, the flight to Ireland was upon us. Once we landed in Dublin we took a bus to the west coast city of Galway. My group missed visiting the Malahide Castle due to flight delays we encountered leaving Miami. Once in Galway, we checked into a local hotel, ate dinner, and attended our first team meeting. On Tuesday, we took a ferry boat ride to Inis Mór, the largest of the three Aran Islands. Once on the island, we hopped on buses that took us to Dún Aengus, a fort built 1100 years before Christ on a cliff side that offers breathtaking views of Galway Bay. It took us about 15 minutes to hike up the hill to reach the fort where we took some great pictures.
The following day we took a two hour bus ride to the Cliffs of Moher. There I saw the perfect postcard image of sprawling 200 meter tall cliffs with powerful waves that crashed along the coast. This destination was by far my favorite site of the trip. After that, we had to focus and get dressed for practice at a local rugby field.
After a jam packed three days of sightseeing in Galway, we drove back to Dublin for the Aer Lingus American Football Showcase. At Dublin City University, we ate lunch and had our final walk through practice before the game. After a quick shower and change, we rushed over to the team parade and pep rally. During the parade, countless members of the Dublin community cheered us on while we marched down the main street towards the center of Trinity College. In the plaza, we joined five other high school teams from the United States where we were welcomed by the head organizer of the American Football Showcase and the Vice President of Trinity College. The next day, we were scheduled to play Marist High School from Atlanta, Georgia.
Friday morning started off by seeing the Book of Kells (an illuminated manuscript of the four gospels dating back to the 9th century) housed in the Trinity College library. It is considered to be one of Ireland’s national treasures. Then we attended a very special Mass with our school president, Father Guillermo García-Tuñón (Father Willie), at the university. Father Willie's Mass was made even more special due to the fact that up until 40 years ago, Catholics weren't even able to attend this university.
When Mass ended, we grabbed our gear and headed to Donnybrook Stadium for the game. Before the start of the game, both teams gathered at midfield to pray as one. We thanked God for the opportunity to play the sport we love and for the allowing us to play it internationally. Overall, the outcome of the game didn't go as we hoped, but we kept our heads held high because we gave it our all. I know that we are committed to working even harder to show what our team is made of. After the game, we had a team meal with all of our families.
On Saturday, we walked to the stadium to watch the Boston College versus Georgia Tech game under drizzling rain and cooler temperatures. For most of our visit, the weather was untypically dry and sunny. The seniors had a once in a lifetime opportunity to hold the Boston College banner as the teams ran onto the field. The stadium was charged with the anticipation of an exciting "American football" game.
As Coach Stuart says, "tough times don't last, tough people do." As a senior, I have played with many of my teammates for the last six years and I know that I play with an extremely passionate, resilient, and special group of men. We will take this remarkable and team building experience in Ireland and put our best foot forward to have the best season possible. Go Wolverines!
BELEN JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: webmaster@belenjesuit.org
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: webmaster@belenjesuit.org
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School was founded in 1854 in Havana, Cuba by Queen Isabel II of Spain. The task of educating students was assigned to the priests and brothers of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), whose teaching tradition is synonymous with academic excellence and spiritual discipline. In 1961, the new political regime of Cuba confiscated the School property and expelled the Jesuit faculty. The School was re-established in Miami the same year, and over the next decade, continued to grow. Today, Belen Jesuit sits on a 30-acre site in western Dade County, only minutes away from downtown Miami.