Addalee Taflinger to represent NMI in Patriot Games

Student-athlete Addalee Taflinger, a 16-year-old junior at Saipan International School, is preparing to represent and wave the CNMI flag high and proud during the inaugural 2026 Patriot Games on Aug. 9-11 at SPIRE Academy in Geneva, Ohio.

Taflinger is one of 120 athletes selected from across the United States, U.S. territories, and tribal nations for the new competition, which is part of the Freedom 250 celebration marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. She will represent the CNMI alongside high school athletes from across the country ages 14-17.

Taflinger, whose main sport is running, said that when she found out she was accepted, she was shocked. “There’s a lot of nominees and stuff and it’s like a big deal in the states right now, so I was really shocked that I got accepted and get to represent Saipan on this national stage,” she said.

Unlike traditional sports competitions, the Patriot Games combine a variety of physical and leadership challenges. Athletes earn points based on their finish in each event over the first two days. The top 16 boys and top 16 girls advance to Day 3, where the field is narrowed to eight athletes before the semifinal and final challenges.

Day 1 includes kickball and dodgeball, while Day 2 features a military-style obstacle course, and an All American Sports Circuit. The final day includes tug-of-war, Pop-A-Shot, and the semifinal and championship rounds.

Taflinger said the opportunity to represent Saipan means a lot, especially after the challenges the islands have faced in recent months—including two super typhoons.

“It means a lot. Coming back after the typhoon and being able to go to Australia [during the Oceania Athletics Championships]—this is just another opportunity for me to represent Saipan and everything that we’ve been through in the last couple months and just to go out there, show my island pride, and support Saipan in the sports that I’m doing.”

Her goal during the games, she said, is to “try and make it through the first round and just bring more awareness to the island of Saipan, because I know not a lot of people know about it even though it’s part of the United States. And so I just want to bring awareness about Saipan, the typhoons, and all that we’ve been through and how we’re still able to go out and do cool things like this after.”

The Patriot Games will stream on the ESPN App, while the finals will air on ABC on Aug. 13. The top overall male and female athletes will each receive a $250,000 college scholarship.