Two island residents represented Belize in the XV Central American Beach Volleyball Championship held from Friday, June 12th to Sunday, June 14th in Puerto Cortez, Honduras. 31-year-old Baydr Sajia from San Pedro Town and 30-year-old Ronnie Sosa from Caye Caulker Village are long time beach volleyball players, and even though they did not win the championship, they certainly made Belize proud. The tournament featured 11 female teams and 12 male teams from participating countries Costa Rica (CR), Guatemala (GUA), El Salvador (ESA), Honduras (HON), Nicaragua (NIC), Belize (BIZ), and Panama (PAN).
Participating women’s team included: CRC 1 Karen Cope/Natalia Alfaro, CRC 2 Eugenia Ramírez/Yuliana González, GUA 1 María José Orellana/María André Orellana, GUA 2 Blanca Recinos/Ada Patricia Villalobos, ESA 1 Ivonne Soler de Tobar/Laura Molina, ESA 2Kathya Vásquez/María Fernanda Vargas, HON 1 Gina Flores/Martha Euceda, HON 2 Christianne Etches/Jarisa Hynds, NCA 1 Elia Machado/Lolette Rodríguez, NCA 2 Swan Mendoza/Claudia Machado, and PAN Kihary Nicoll Pérez/Hashkyn Cuero. Male teams included: BIZ Baydr Sajia/ Ronnie Sosa, CRC 1 Diego Alpízar/Julio Alvarez, CRC 2 Bryan Monje/Richard Smith, GUA 1 Julio Recinos/Luis García, GUA 2 Andy Leonardo/Erick Garrido, ESA 1 Carlos Escobar/David Vargas, ESA 2 Franklin Flores/Armando Guatemala, HON 1 Mercuri Miller/Wilfredo Vega, HON 2 Luis Baide/Manuel Serrano, NCA 1Rubén Mora/Dany Alvarado, NCA 2 Gerald Umaña/Gerson Contreras), and PAN Carlos Enrique Sanjur/Jasón Omar Quintero. The tournament was divided into six group, with Sajia and Sosa playing in Group D against HON 1 and PAN male teams.
At the end of the competition CR 1 (Natalia Alfaro/Karen Cope) captured Costa Rica’s fifth female championship in the Central American Beach Volleyball Championship. Women’s final positions are as follows: 1.) CRC 1, 2.) NCA 1, 3.) ESA 1, 4.) ESA 2, 5.) CRC 2, 6.) PAN, 7.) NCA 2, 8.) GUA 1, 9.) GUA 2, 10.) HON 1, 11.) HON 2.
In the male division, the championship went to NIC 1 consisting of Ruben Mora and Dany Alvarado. This was Nicaragua’s first ever championship title in the Central American Beach Volleyball Championship. Men’s final positions are as follows: 1.) NCA 1, 2.) GUA 1, 3.) CRC 2, 4.) ESA 2, 5.) ESA 1, 6.) GUA 2, 7.) CRC 1, 8.) PAN, 9.) HON 1, 10.) NCA 2, 11.) BIZ, 12.) HON 2.
“The experience was amazing and everyone treated us as family. It was a very well organized event. The competition was very tough, it was like something we had never experienced. But we definitely plan on doing it again next year,” said Sajia. “Im always happy and proud to represent my country. I have been playing beach volleyball for over 16 years. This was a great experience. I love the sport and am glad to have gotten the opportunity to participate,” said Sosa.
Sajia and Sosa would like to thank all those that support their participation in the XV Central American Beach Volleyball Championship. Special thanks goes out to the Belize Volleyball Association.
