Boys Soccer

The Taipei American School (TAS)  boys’ soccer team entered this year’s IASAS at the International School of Manila (ISM) with high expectations. However, the team fell short of its goals, finishing in fifth place after a series of tough matches.

“It took a lot of encouragement from both players and coaches, talking about collectively playing towards an end goal,” Ethan T. (‘26) said. 

Though the outcome of the tournament was not what they had anticipated, the feelings expressed in the end reflected the team’s dedication and love for the game. “It felt really bittersweet and sad to see it end the way that it did,” Ethan stated. 

The boys left Manila with their heads held high, ready to work harder and return stronger next season.

Girls Soccer

The girls’ soccer team concluded their season in this year’s IASAS, also securing fifth place. 

“Our team didn’t do very well this IASAS, and we all felt really disappointed with this unexpected result. But the highlight was definitely getting to play the sport I love most and spending time with the people I love most,” Izzie D. (‘27) said.

Even with intense competition, they remained determined and never gave up by supporting each other and proudly representing TAS. “[We constantly considered] how it would make our teammates and the people we love proud,” Izzie added.

Despite not securing a medal this year, their unity and determination laid the foundation for a comeback season in the future. “Next year we’re coming back stronger than ever, and I know my team can do it,” she stated.

Boys Volleyball

The boys’ volleyball team took home bronze after a 3-1 win against Singapore American School (SAS) at Jakarta International School (JIS).

A season highlight was the victory against SAS, winning them the bronze medal.

The team had a slow start, but their unity helped them push through. “In both pre-IASAS and IASAS, our team had a trend of always starting off games very slowly and poorly for some reason; however, we still [managed] to crawl back. I actually don’t know how, but if I had to guess, it’s because of trust between each other and mentality,” Kyle C. (‘26) shared.

Other than the victories and memories made, what’s even more important are the lessons learned. “IASAS taught us that you can’t control everything that happens. It’s pointless to ponder whether or not we will win, but if you have got a team behind your back, you can handle anything,” Kyle added.

Girls Volleyball

The girls’ volleyball team finished their season with a close 3-1 win over the International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL) to take home the bronze medal in this year’s IASAS.

It was not easy to lose a set or match, particularly in the semi-finals, but the team soon managed to fight back. They concentrated on being optimistic and setting achievable goals in the consolation match. 

Captain Sophie L. (‘26) shared that the reminder to “have fun and play with your friends” helped the team to get back into rhythm. She also credited their success to perseverance and teamwork, and noted that the most rewarding moments were when the team battled to get every ball, whether blocking or pursuing tough plays. During the tournament, they had to remind themselves about the importance of teamwork. Volleyball, as Sophie put it, requires teamwork, as no one can single-handedly carry a team.

By the end of IASAS, the girls’ volleyball team not only received well-deserved medals, but also strengthened bonds, which was what made their success possible.

Boys Cross Country

The boys’ cross country team dominated this year’s IASAS, taking home first place at JIS for the fourth time consecutively. 

Their hard work paid off, as they performed well in events, and some members of the team even recorded personal bests. “Our team had lots of new personal bests from Jack F., Sasha B., Albert C. and Nelson H. We achieved our goal of winning four titles in a row and hope to make it five next year,” Captain Sawyer S. (‘26) said.

In addition, Sawyer has won the five-kilometer run for the past two years, solidifying his reputation as one of the best IASAS runners.

With another title added to the record books, the boys’ cross country team ended their season with both team spirit and new friendships.

Girls Cross Country

The girls’ cross country team placed second in this year’s IASAS at JIS.

“The course this year was actually so nice — I really enjoyed it,” Asia H. (‘26) said.

Their hard work and dedication were evident in their performance, as four of their runners came out as top ten finishers, and even some finished in the top five.

There were also numerous unforgettable memories made off the course. “We were waiting for the closing ceremony for eight hours, so athletes from other schools performed magic tricks for us and did backflips for our entertainment,” she shared. 

The girls’ cross country team came back home to Taipei with silver medals on their necks and countless memories of Jakarta, but the spirit and friendships made were what made this IASAS truly unforgettable.