In an eventful week for Belizean sports, multiple disciplines witnessed dramatic turns of events ranging from concerning injuries to championship victories and international acclaim.
The sporting community extends its support to Santiago Castillo Jr., who sustained significant injuries during the Annual Weekend Warriors Ham and Turkey Cycling Classic. According to Troy Gabb Junior, Chairman of the Weekend Warriors Club, Castillo suffered a broken rib and punctured lung after becoming entangled in a multi-rider collision at approximately mile eleven. Despite the severity of his injuries, Castillo has maintained remarkably high spirits during his hospitalization. The competition continued despite the incident, with Brandon Cattouse claiming victory in the male category and his sister Kaya Cattouse dominating the female division.
Basketball witnessed a decisive championship conclusion as the Bowen and Bowen Brewers captured the 2025 Interoffice Basketball League title. Demonstrating absolute dominance in game two of the best-of-three series, the Brewers secured a commanding seventy-eight-point victory, establishing a thirty-three-point lead at their peak performance. Tournament MVP Joshua Westby, celebrating his birthday with the championship win, attributed the victory to six months of intensive training and conditioning under Head Coach Troy Gabb Junior.
Belize’s jiujitsu practitioners achieved extraordinary success at the international level, bringing honor to the nation at the Bahia Open 4 Jiu Jitsu Tournament in Mexico. The national team delivered an outstanding performance, accumulating twenty medals including eight gold, seven silver, and five bronze medals. William Robinson, one of the gold medalists, described the victory as a testament to Belize’s growing prowess in the discipline. Fellow competitor Herlshell Baldres emphasized the nerve-wracking yet ultimately rewarding experience of representing Belize on the international stage.
The weekend also crowned new high school basketball champions through the National Secondary School Sports Association tournament. Maud Williams Male Team claimed gold with a decisive 59-41 victory over Sacred Heart College, while Russel Bailey earned MVP honors. In the female category, Bishop Martin High School emerged victorious with Jahzara Pascual receiving the MVP award.
Completing Belize’s successful sporting week, the National Female Under-Fifteen Volleyball Team secured bronze at the Second Annual Central American Volleyball Invitational in Managua, Nicaragua. Team member Miley Armstrong received dual recognition as Best Libero and Best Defense, highlighting individual excellence within team achievement.