This April, the Latin American Society (LAS) continued a growing tradition with its annual futsal tournament in the Wannan Gym. Held during lunch as a part of Latin American History Month, the tournament has once again drawn very strong participation and attention across all grades, with students gathering to watch fast-paced games that combine energy, competition and community.
Organized by LAS leadership, the tournament reflects a bigger effort to celebrate Latin American culture in an accessible and engaging way. Senior and LAS head Daniel Rodriguez, explained the purpose behind the event: “We came up with the tournament because of soccer’s deep ties to the Latin American identity, we hoped and continue to hope that the tournament is a place for people to just sign up and have some fun along with the other teams and fans that show up to the high energy games.”
Rodriguez’s vision has been spot-on, shaping the tournament into a welcome event for all students, from those with no experience to those on varsity soccer teams.
The tournament structure remains simple, with short futsal matches played in an eight-team bracket format that keeps games competitive and engaging. Teams are student-formed, often made up of friends across different grades, which has contributed to the tournament’s wide appeal. While the winning team will receive Chipotle gift cards for each player, participants have said the experience itself is the most important part.
Sophomore Beau Amprey, a member of “Team Dih,” described his experience playing in the tournament, saying, “As a person who plays an individual sport and has always wanted to experience the community of a team sport, playing for Team Dih in the LAS tournament brings me that experience and allows me to have fun with my friends.”
His experience, like many others, fulfills Rodriguez’s hope that the tournament creates opportunities for students to connect and enjoy themselves beyond usual classroom activities.
On the court, several matchups have stood out, particularly Team Dih’s win over “Team Chudbir.” The game featured a series of electric plays, beginning with a goal from sophomore and captain Alexander Tam off of a corner kick. Team Chudbir’s sophomore Felix Pacheco responded with a composed Cruyff flick finish off of a cross, and Team Dih sophomore captain Ian Keyes secured the 2-1 win with a late goal after some impressive dribbling.
Alongside their performance, Team Dih brought a distinct presence before, during and after that game, arriving with a coordinated warmup, playing music from a large speaker, and celebrating goals with a Brazilian dance. Their distinct energy and team identity were met with great enthusiasm in the gym and have become a defining part of the lunchtime atmosphere.
Tam spoke to this environment, saying, “I like the tournament for its atmosphere, the passion, the adrenaline, the energy it brings, the intense competition, and every team shows who they are through the way they play.” His comments highlight the self-expression the tournament allows, through both style and approach to the games.
Other results have demonstrated the tournament’s competitive side. “Labubu and ‘em,” a team made up of freshmen, earned a notable win over a sophomore-dominated “Siete Amigos.” “KT Run Back Prom,” composed of senior boys, has advanced into the finals with wins over “BBSOC,” a team of sophomore girls and later Labubu and ‘em in the second round. In another matchup, team “Vamos FC” took a 2-1 win over the senior-led “Team Huang.”
As the tournament continues, the Wannan Gym fills up even more with students, becoming a loud gathering place during lunch, where students show up to support their peers. As sophomore Kabir Lakhanpal puts it, “The tournament was so fun because I got to play with and against some of my close friends. My most memorable moment was watching Team Labubu vs. the seniors.”
Now in its third year, the LAS futsal tournament has grown into a defining part of April at Sidwell. What once started as a new idea two years ago has quickly become a highly popular attraction. Through its mix of culture and competition, it continues to connect students through plays and memories, building a sense of connection among all students while offering an exciting outlet for energy and competition.