The Sports Leigh-Out: A Look Back 2025
From home soil to different corners of the world, the CNMI sports scene in 2025 was unforgettable—driven by pride, passion, and the will to represent. Here are the top sports stories of the year.
Medal haul, records broken in Palau Pacific Mini Games
Team Marianas' 161-strong delegation made a statement at the 12th Pacific Mini Games in Palau, wrapping up on July 9 with a strong showing of 31 medals—10 golds, eight silvers, and 13 bronzes—finishing sixth overall out of 23 Pacific nations.
The swim team, led by flag bearer Isaiah Aleksenko stormed the podium on each of their pool event days bagging the most medals for the team at 14—with six gold won by Aleksenko; young wrestler Seth Sablan earned a gold in his division; and athletics' standouts Tania Tan ran her way to two gold medals, with another gold by Lyle Andrew.
The silver medals were won by wrestler Vincent “Beng” Palacios; swimmer Maria Batallones (2); wrestler Miles Borja; swimmer Kean Pajarillaga; 4x200m freestyle swim team; weightlifter Joey Colisao; and beach volleyball duo of Logan Mister and Andrew Johnson.
The bronze medals came from the women's 3x3 basketball team; the baseball team; Tania Tan; Joey Colisao; the 4x100m medley relay swim team; weightlifter Leowell Cristobal (2); Vincent “Beng” Palacios; Kean Pajarillaga; Seth Sablan; the 4x100m freestyle relay swim team; and Maria Batallones.
Read more:
https://marianaspress.com/news/article/games-over-spirits-high-in-palau
20th CNMI Labor Day Softball Tournament in Tacoma, Washington
After the biggest Marianas event ever held in the U.S.—the 20th anniversary of the CNMI Labor Day Softball Tournament in Tacoma, Washington on Aug. 31—Only Famz once again took the crown in the men’s division. Isao dominated the masters division, SOW came out on top in the men’s lower division, and Lady Tribe ruled the women’s bracket.
This wasn’t just a tournament—it was the ultimate reunion. Sixty teams, over 6,000 spectators, tons of vendors, and three straight days of nonstop energy, culture, and island pride. On Labor Day weekend from Aug. 29-31, the Marianas community showed up and showed out like never before.
https://marianaspress.com/news/article/the-sports-leigh-out-aug-30-sep-5
NMI Davis Cup tennis team’s promotion to Group IV
The NMI’s 2025 Davis Cup team made up of Colin Sinclair, Robbie Schorr, Colin Ramsey, and Anthony Gregoire lifted NMI to the next level in the Davis Cup with a promotion to Group IV after a strong campaign from Nov. 19-23 in Isa Town, Bahrain.
The team closed out the promotional playoff finals with a win over Maldives and was one of two teams out of 14 that secured a promotion from this year’s Asia/Oceania Group V tournament.
NMI’s No. 1 Sinclair powered through his match against Maldives’ No.1 with a 6-1, 6-1 win, just before Ramsey and Gregoire completed the 3-0 win, 6-2, 7-6. Schorr started off the team’s momentum giving them a 1-0 lead, 6-0, 6-1, against Maldives’ no. 2 player.
The team started off the tournament strong with a sweep of Yemen with Schorr winning the opening act with a 1-0 lead, winning 6-0, 6-2. Sinclair followed up with the same 6-0, 6-1 score. Ramsey and Gregoire then made it a 3-0 sweep, winning the doubles 6-2, 6-1.
On Friday, they went up against Laos and won, 2-1. Schorr took the first win, 6-2, 4-6, 6-0; and Sinclair bagged the second point with a 6-1, 6-0 win.
Off-island athletes shine
-Antoni Ogumoro soaks in freshman year at University of Tennessee
Son of Micronesia, Antoni Kade Aguon Ogumoro, is soaking it all in during his freshman year at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where he plays on the offensive line for the football team.
He officially signed with UT on a full scholarship last year after graduating early from Elgin High School in Oklahoma. He was an early enrollee and started college in January.
In an interview during his rest and relaxation back at home in Oklahoma during their bye week in October, the 18-year-old said his college career has been going well so far.
“My college career has been good so far. It’s been a process for sure. [I] got there in January and then off season, just working out. Going into the season, nothing’s really changed. Just trying to change my body, getting in that work, technique, and getting in the field,” he said.
His first time on the gridiron was against East Tennessee State University, and he said that moment was surreal.
“For my first time ever, it was actually a home game… When I went in, it kind of felt unreal just knowing that the family was there too, but all the fans that were there and just being able to play for the first time and actual minutes in the game and just trying to make an impact,” he said. “It was definitely a surreal experience for me because it was like a lot of work leading up to that moment and just me being able to let it all out on the field.”
What he took from his first time playing was, of course, to first soak it all in. After that, it was time to lock in and rewatch the clips to see what he could tweak and improve on in his game.
The team is currently on a bye week and didn’t play, giving Ogumoro the chance to visit home for some rest, relaxation, and this catch-up interview. They have about 13 more games left in the season, and Ogumoro hopes to play more meaningful minutes.
With the season going by so fast, he said his short-term goal is to earn more meaningful minutes on the field. As a freshman, he comes off the bench, but down the line, his long-term goal is to become a starter and solidify his position on the offensive line.
Read more: https://marianaspress.com/news/article/antoni-soaks-in-freshman-year-at-university-of-tennessee
-Serving success: CNMI’s Carol Lee reflects on the past year of her pro tennis career
The CNMI’s Carol Lee is a rising professional tennis star, with big wins under her belt already just about a year into her pro career at 23 years old.
She has already surpassed her goal of cracking the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Top 500, reaching a career-high ranking of 216. In November, she took a well-deserved break from the tour back home to rest before diving back in, reflecting on a year full of big wins and special moments following her graduation from the Georgia Institute of Technology last year.
Training out of the T2B Academy based in Germany, her first professional title—theInternational Tennis Federation (ITF) W15 Monastir Tournament in Tunisia last March where she won after three grueling sets, set the tone for her pro tennis career. She won over Isis Louise Van den Broek in three tough sets, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2. “That meant a lot because I had ups and downs. One of my goals this year was to achieve to win a 15K so achieving that this year was really special for me,” she said.
The second biggest achievement for her was winning the title in the ITF W50 Lopota Tennis Open in Georgia last April after another marathon tournament where she played nonstop for two weeks. In the finals, she defeated Ekaterine Gorgodze, 6-7(7), 7-6(3), 6-4. “The past three matches were three hours long and the last match was 3 hours and 30 minutes and I won in three sets. I came all the way from qualifiers and without taking a break. And I did not imagine myself winning a 50K yet this year but I really, really wanted to take this opportunity and I was able to achieve it so that was also a very proud accomplishment,” she said.
Recently, she also competed and won a gold medal for her team in the Korean National Sports Festival also known as the “Jeonguk Cheyuk Daehoe” that’s held annually every October. She said it’s described as a “mini Olympics” where multiple sports are played, not just tennis.
Now at the level she’s reached, she expressed gratitude to everyone who supported her through the early challenges of her pro career: her family, her coach then at T2B Academy, Anne Aallonen, her teammates in Korea, her supporters back home, as well as her agent at 358 Sports Management and her many sponsors.
-Isaiah Aleksenko swims way to 5 gold, breaks records, is Sun Conference Swimmer of the Year
Swimming prodigy and 2024 Northern Marianas Sports Association Male Student-Athlete of the Year, Isaiah Aleksenko, is continuing to grow his list of achievements during his collegiate debut just as it did when he was still a high school student in the CNMI.
In his first official collegiate swim meet held last Feb. 6-8, reeled in five gold medals, broke four records, collected the title of National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Men's Swimmer of the Month for the second time this season, and for his overall performance in his debut, was named the Sun Conference Swimmer of the Year.
In the Sun Conference Championships held at the Florida Aquatics Swimming & Training facility in Ocala, Florida, the Keiser University Seahawk freshman splashed to the gold medal and broke NAIA records in the 100m butterfly with a time of 45.96 seconds, and 200m butterfly at 1:44.55.
In the 100m backstroke, Aleksenko won his third gold medal, and broke his school’s record and meet record with a time of 46.49 seconds. As for the relays, he won gold in both the 200m freestyle medley and in the 400m medley relay, where he set a new meet record at 3:12.17.
Read more: https://marianaspress.com/news/article/isaiah-swims-way-to-5-gold-breaks-records
-Tania Tans breaks multiple records
It was a storybook ending for Team Marianas as they wrapped up a strong run at the 2025 Palau Pacific Mini Games, finishing with a total of 31 medals—including a gold from Tania Tan and a bronze from the women's 3x3 basketball team on the final day, Wednesday, July 9.
When the dust settled, the sweat and tears dried, and the final tallies were in, Team Marianas landed in the top six overall with 10 golds, eight silvers, and 13 bronzes.
To start the last day of the games off, golden girl Tania Tan sped through the toughest course in Micronesia with a golden finish and a new national record in the half-marathon with a time of 1:28.40. Silver went to New Caledonia's Natalia Alfonso at 1:32.11, and bronze was Solomon Islands' Dianah Matekali.
Read more: https://marianaspress.com/news/article/her-story-made-team-marianas-hauls-in-31-medals
-The NMI athletes that competed at the 2025 Oceania Athletics Cup and Masters Championships in Tonga held from Oct. 29-Nov. 1, put on an exceptional performance, with NMI athletes representing Team Micronesia and the NMI Masters team earning medals, breaking records, and proudly carrying the NMI flag on the regional stage once again.
Representing Team Micronesia in the Oceania Athletics Cup, runners Tania Tan and Simon Tang, and thrower Maria Quitugua, who are no strangers to regional competition, showcased determination and team spirit across their respective events, and—just like clockwork, Tan broke two national records again—this time in the 1,500m with a time of 5:00.76, and a personal best and national record in the 3,000m with a time of 10:29.42.
-Tania Tan returned to the races with even more pep in her step as the usual middle distance/long distance runner took to the indoor 1-mile race at The Circuit NYC and broke the CNMI record with a time of 5:22.51.
The event was held at the Armory Track in New York on Feb. 15. The old 1-mile record was her previous run in 2020 at the Armory Last Chance with a time of 6:02.33.
Then, just two days after her record-breaking mile, she competed in the NYRR Night at the Races #4 and set a season’s best in the women’s 3,000m with a time of 10:31.31.
The indoor track is different from the outdoor track, where the indoor track is 200 meters with six lanes, and eight laps equal one mile, while the outdoor track is 400 meters per lap, with four laps making a mile. The indoor 3,000-meter race was 15 laps.
Read more: https://marianaspress.com/news/article/tania-tan-resets-indoor-1-mile-natl-record
-Logan, Andrew continues to impress in AVP circuits
From the small island of Saipan to the sands of the Association of Volleyball Professionals, (AVP), Logan Mister and Andrew Johnson have made their mark this summer with podium finishes and a jump onto U.S. beach volleyball’s biggest stage.
After the duo collected silver at the 2025 Palau Pacific Mini Games, they followed it up with a bronze at the AVC Pingtung Open in Chinese Taipei, and then claimed second at the AVP Next SandBox Open in Ohio. Mister later teamed up with Rowdy Lennon to crack the main draw at the prestigious AVP Manhattan Beach Open, finishing 13th and officially establishing “AVP status.”
At the Pingtung Open from July 17-20, Mister and Johnson got their breakthrough medal on the Asian tour, rallying through the quarterfinals before sweeping Japan for bronze. It was a big step forward after falling short in earlier Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) tournaments. “We’re proud to represent CNMI and bring home a medal,” Mister said. “Two years ago we played in a AVC tournament in Thailand and we did not win a match. We have proved our resilience.”
Read more: https://marianaspress.com/news/article/logan-andrew-continues-to-impress-in-avp-circuits
-Wrestler Aden Attao attains double silver in Bulgaria
Saipan son Aden Attao brought home two silver medals in the Petko Sirakov-Ivan Iliev International in Sofia, Bulgaria held on Feb. 14-16.
First, in the 130-kg Greco-Roman division, Attao pinned Akarys Berdashov of Kazakhstan in the final round for his first silver of the tourney.
Then the next day, he secured his second silver in the 125-kg Freestyle division. He went up against hosts’ Georgi Ivanov and lost, 0-10 in the finals.
He is currently a member of the U.S. Senior Greco-Roman National Team, after placing third in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
https://marianaspress.com/news/article/the-sports-leigh-out-feb-28-mar-6
-Rota son is 1st Calabasas wrestling champ
CNMI sons continue to make waves in the sport of wrestling as Micah Wegman, whose mom is from Rota, made history by becoming the first Calabasas wrestler to win a California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section (CIF-SS) title in the Coastal Division boys finals on Feb. 15 at Fountain Valley High School.
The Calabasas High School sophomore competed in the 126-lb division and locked down the title after beating his opponent in the finals.
He also reached the state meet for the first time by placing fourth in the 126-lbs gold division. There, he lost to the state champion in his first fight.
Wegman’s other accolades include being nationally ranked for Judo and he went to the 2022 Judo PanAmerican Championships in 2022 as a United States delegate and placed 4th. Last year, he was the first freshman in Calabasas High School to make it to CIF Masters. Also last year in July, he made it to USA Wrestling Junior & 16U Nationals but did not place at that competition.
Wegman was born and raised in California to Rota’s Donna Manglona Wegman and Stephen Wegman. His maternal grandparents are Rita and Joaquin Manglona.
https://marianaspress.com/news/article/the-sports-leigh-out-feb-28-mar-6
-Leowell Cristobal records PBs in Senior World Champs in Norway
The Northern Marianas’ Leowell Cristobal competed in the 2025 IWF Senior Weightlifting Championships in Fjord, Norway on Oct. 4. He competed in the men's 65 kg weight class at a bodyweight of 64.71 kg. He posted three personal bests or PBs with a 108 kg/238lb snatch, 145kg/319.73lb clean &jerk, and a total of 253 kg/507.87lb.
Cristobal has been competing in weightlifting since 2020 when he entered local contests in the United States. He went on to compete at several US National Championships where he earned several gold medals.
He first represented the CNMI in 2022 at the NMI Pacific Mini Games. Since then he has represented the CNMI at the 2023 Solomon Islands Pacific Games\Oceania Senior Championships; 2023 IWF Grand Prix 2 in Doha, Qatar; 2024 Oceania Senior, Junior, & Youth Weightlifting Championships in Auckland, New Zealand; 2024 IWF World Championships in Manama, Bahrain; 2025 Palau Pacific Mini Games; 2025 IWF World Championships in Fjord, Norway.
The 27-year-old 1st Lieutenant in the United States Air Force is currently serving his country in Okinawa, Japan.
CNMI Weightlifting president, John Davis is hopeful that Lieutenant Cristobal will again represent the CNMI at the 2026 World Cup in Samoa in April 2026.
https://marianaspress.com/news/article/the-sports-leigh-out-oct-11-17
-CNMI lifters bag medals in Guam; Cristobal is best overall lifter
Four veteran weightlifters—Raymond Santos, Leowell Cristobal, Leonardo Apelo, and David Barnhouse, competed and bagged multiple medals in the 2025 Guam Weightlifting Federation Open Invitational Championships on Dec. 20.
They went up against 27 other lifters from Guam and Palau, with Cristobal bagging the best overall lifter award. The airman, at 67.55-kg, earned gold medals in the 71-kg Open weight category, Military category, and Best Overall (Sinclar) with a 102-kg/224.91-lb snatch, and 145-kg/319.73-lb clean & jerk, for a total of 247-kg/544.64-lb.
https://marianaspress.com/news/article/the-sports-leigh-out-dec-20-26
-Jericho Cruz claims PBA Finals MVP, brings pride to CNMI roots
Jericho Cruz, a former Marianas High School basketball standout, has been named Finals MVP of the Philippine Basketball Association’s Philippine Cup—Asia’s oldest professional basketball league.
Cruz played a pivotal role in the San Miguel Beermen’s six-game championship series win over TNT Tropang Giga, averaging 13.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. His biggest performance came in Game 4, where he scored a team-high 23 points to give San Miguel a 3-1 series lead. The Beermen eventually clinched the series 4-2, denying TNT a rare grand slam.
The 34-year-old Cruz, who now plays for Guam’s national basketball team, credited San Miguel’s championship run to the controversial end of Game 1, where a potential game-winning dunk by Mo Tautuaa was disallowed after a late video review. TNT went on to win that game, but the incident reportedly served as motivation for the Beermen the rest of the way.
San Miguel sports director Alfrancis Chua also played a role in Cruz’s resurgence after an underwhelming Game 1, urging him to rediscover the fiery style of play he’s long been known for. Cruz responded with an emotional and aggressive performance the rest of the series—marked by his signature high-energy, sometimes confrontational, on-court presence.
However, his style drew criticism from TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa, who described Cruz’s behavior as “childish” during a post-Game 4 interview. Lastimosa had previously coached Cruz during his stint with the NLEX Road Warriors. Despite the tension, Cruz said the matter was later resolved privately.
Off the court, Cruz acknowledged the support of his family, teammates, and coaching staff. He also expressed gratitude to the community in Saipan, where he was raised, calling them a continued source of motivation throughout his 14-year professional career.
Cruz, who holds ties to both the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam, said he hopes his story inspires other young athletes from the Pacific to pursue their basketball dreams, whether in the Philippines, Japan, Korea, or the United States.
NMIFA celebrates 20 years; U20 women’s team makes history in AFC
-NMIFA hosts 20th anniversary kick-off
The Northern Mariana Islands Football Association hosted its 20th year anniversary celebration kick-off on Feb. 8 at a colorful NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.
Despite the overcast and wet weather, the six clubs—Kanoa FC, MP United FC, Paire FC, Latte FC, Shirley’s FC, and Matansa FC—provided a stark contrast as they wore their bright uniforms and gathered for an afternoon of celebration and appreciation.
NMIFA’s executive committee members present included president Jerry Tan, vice president Vickie Izuka, members Alex Sablan, Catherine Attao-Toves, NMIFA deputy general secretary Merlie Tolentino, general secretary Ross Zapanta, technical director Konomi Suzuki, and treasurer Elna Curate.
After Tan, Zapanta, and Izuka’s remarks, Tan had club officials line up in front to be awarded with the Club Assistance Initiative. Tan said through the initiative, each club will receive $5,000, and will have more storage space to store their equipment—which was met with applause.
Tan, who’s been the president for 20 years said, “There’s so much that we have achieved in the past 20 years. 2005 was like just yesterday when we first started NMIFA… and here we are, in 2025… I feel very blessed because what we are able to accomplish is truly amazing and is truly teamwork… I always know that nothing could have been accomplished if not because of all of us—everyone in this venue, plus many more.”
He also thanked each stakeholder including international partners from the East Asia Football Federation, Asian Football Confederation, the CNMI Public School System’s Athletics Program, NMIFA’s staff, coaches, referees, its individual clubs and players; and the government through the Department of Public Lands.
Read more: https://marianaspress.com/news/article/nmifa-hosts-20th-anniversary-celebration-kick-off
-U20 women’s soccer team honored after historic AFC victory
The NMI U20 women’s national soccer team was honored at a special lunch celebration at the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, following a groundbreaking performance that etched their names into the history books with NMI’s first-ever win in an AFC qualifier on Aug. 10.
The team closed out the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers in historic fashion, defeating Bahrain, 3-0, in a dominant final match. Star striker Kaithlyn Chavez led the charge with two goals and an assist, setting up Summer Manahane for the third.
The win came after a tough start to the tournament—losses to Uzbekistan, 0-8, and Jordan, 1-6, but the team bounced back with resilience, growth, and a history-making performance they’ll never forget.
The team, with Chavez and Manahane, consists of Mia Abuan, Abrey White, Iris Rasa, Joselyn Atalig, Orica George, Ye Lynn Ha, Cassidee Flores, Audrey Castro, Deseha Mendiola, Julie Chavez, Rizza Relucio, Sophia Quintos, Stacy Arriola, Alyssa Borlongan, Fiona Regan, Cassie Regan, Tamia Kileleman-Hix, and Megan Elayda.
They were joined by Head of Delegation Luam Khen Koo; head coach Chi Ming Tang; assistant coaches Shuk Fan Wong, Mae Ito, and Ronnel Ocanada; team manager Khristelle Itaas; assistant team manager Yu Hung Lee; and team doctor Robert Zarajczyk.
Read more: https://marianaspress.com/news/article/nmi-u20-womens-soccer-team-honored-after-historic-afc-victory
Bronze for U15 and U19 national badminton teams
-U15 badminton team bags bronze in New Zealand
The U15 Junior National Badminton Team bagged bronze in the Pacific U15 Invitational Team Challenge 2025 at the North Harbour Badminton Centre in Auckland, New Zealand held from Feb. 10-12.
They toughed it out against Guam on their last day of matches for the podium finish as they won three out of their five matches.
The roster was made up of Evan Seguritan, Benjamin Cai, Thaddaeus Tolentino, Breanna Lopez, Danielle Joson, and Keala Takeda. Pacific Games medalist Janelle Pangilinan coached the girls and was the team manager, while national player Nate Guerrero was the coach for the boys.
The group trained since mid-last year for the competition that also featured New Caledonia, Cook Islands, Wallis & Futuna, and Guam.
New Caledonia won gold in the tourney, while the Cook Islands bagged silver.
https://marianaspress.com/news/article/the-sports-leigh-out-feb-7-13
-Bronze for Team NMI in U19 Oceania Champs
It was a debut to remember for Team NMI’s U19 Junior National Badminton Team as they bagged the bronze medal in the VICTOR Oceania Junior Mixed Team Championships 2025 after the finale on Tuesday, June 10, at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
After a whirlwind three-day tourney filled with intense action, spirited rivalries, and emotional moments in front of the home crowd, NMI racked up a total of four wins and two losses to snag a place on the podium.
Gold went to powerhouse Australia who won all six of their matches, while silver was New Zealand at five wins and one loss.
The last opponent NMI faced in the tourney on Tuesday was neighbor rival Guam, who they came out of almost unscathed, 4-1.
Dave Odicta and Shaina Malonzo set the tone for the day as they overpowered Yu Xia and Allan Zeng, 15-8, 15-8, in the mixed doubles, followed by a dominant performance by team captain Lina Tsukagoshi over Kristine Deng, 15-6, 15-8. Tsukagoshi then teamed up with Malonzo to secure their third win as they beat Deng and Offeia Yordy, 15-6, 15-10. NMI capped off the tourney with a come-from-behind win by Odicta and Jude Mallari over Xia and Zeng, 12-15, 15-10, 15-11.
On Day 2 on Monday, it was the defining moment for NMI as they pulled an upset over team Tahiti and won, 3-2. Prior to that, they swept Fiji, 5-0, then also narrowly beat Cook Islands, 3-2 on the first day on Sunday.
https://marianaspress.com/news/article/bronze-for-team-nmi-in-u19-oceania-champs
PSS brings sports to Tinian and Rota
-Instead of only hosting Tinian and Rota teams during championship tournaments, the PSS Athletic Programs is expanding play to those islands—giving their high school athletes more game time and experience in three sports: volleyball, fastpitch softball, and basketball.
The PSS Athletic Programs and the NMI Volleyball Association wrapped up a three-day midseason girls high school volleyball tourney on Tinian on Sept. 28, while Rota hosted its debut midseason boys fastpitch softball tourney from Sept. 18-20.
For volleyball, five teams—two from Tinian, two from Saipan, and one from Rota, duked it out in the whirlwind 3-day tournament at the sweltering hot public gym. Despite the heat and humidity, the girls competed with heart all three days.
In the softball tourney held on Rota, Kagman High School, Saipan International School, Tinian High School, and Dr. Rita H. Inos High School faced wet weather but managed to squeeze in games at the newly renovated Joaquin “Tun Kindo” M. Ogo Baseball Field.
PSS Athletic Programs director Nick Gross said these midseason tournaments are part of a larger effort to give Tinian and Rota athletes more opportunities to compete. “Being able to pull it off has certainly been a milestone for us and we’re hoping that we can continue to keep our funding leveraged in a way that we can continue to bring kids out,” he said. “And beyond the experiences that the kids get in being able to come out, it really is an opportunity to kind of give back to the economies of Tinian and Rota by bringing out these groups of nearly 50 people.”
Read more: https://marianaspress.com/news/article/pss-expands-midseason-sports-to-tinian-and-rota
Sports businesses/facilities open
-Ocean Drive Golf opens in Garapan
A new indoor golf spot has opened up in Garapan—Ocean Drive Golf—giving everyone a chance to practice their swing, pick up a new hobby, or just have some fun indoors, rain or shine.
The place is owned by avid golfer Luther Taylor and his dad, CNMI Sports Hall of Famer Jeff Taylor. Luther and his wife also own the cafe Hafa Bean, which is right downstairs.
For Luther, opening Ocean Drive Golf is a dream come true. “[Golf] has always just been a passion of mine. Especially after college, I really got serious into it. It’s nice to be around what you love and when you love what you do, it’s not work and I love it,” he said. “I wouldn’t be able to do it without my parents, my wife, her parents, and all my family involved. I’m very thankful for this opportunity and I can’t wait to share my passion with others and have fun with it.”
Speaking from experience and falling in love with golf at a young age, he said the sport can be especially good for the youth. “It’s a game of a lifetime. It teaches you discipline, it teaches you how to have a positive attitude, it teaches you a lot of life lessons and I think for the youth, this is going to be very beneficial for them and they’re going to have fun at the same time too.”
The main attraction is their state-of-the-art golf simulator, which can analyze your swing, clubface angle, and ball flight in real time. It’s loaded with more than 1,000 virtual courses and even includes fun mini games like long drive and putting contests, so there’s something for everyone—from first-timers to seasoned players.
It’s not only a place to level up your game but your tee-time wardrobe too, with golf apparel and clubs available for sale, as well as club repairs and fittings.
https://marianaspress.com/news/article/ocean-drive-golf-opens-in-garapan
-Marianas Batting Alley opens in Gualo Rai
A new business is hoping to hit a home run with the community as the only indoor batting cage facility in the CNMI—MC Marianas Batting Alley—held its grand opening on Feb. 22 in Gualo Rai.
The event was attended by dignitaries, as well as family and friends of the owners, May Cabrera and Cat Dela Cruz.
Cabrera and Dela Cruz are local business owners who also own the clothing store 670 Rock Steady Shop, which is also located in Gualo Rai.
Born out of Dela Cruz’ love for the bat-and-ball sport, the batting alley is the first of its kind in the CNMI. It caters to people of all ages—individuals or groups of friends and family looking to try something new, baseball/softball enthusiasts, or teams in need of an indoor training facility.
The warehouse is located just off the dirt road leading down from the left of the U.S. District Court in Gualo Rai. The alley features six cages—four with pitching machines, one for self-pitching, and one bullpen.
https://marianaspress.com/news/article/marianas-batting-alley-opens-in-gualo-rai
-Wrestling fed rolls out open house to grow the sport further
The Northern Marianas Wrestling Federation hosted its first open house on Dec. 6 at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium, with about 30 participants in two sessions—younger kids aged 5-12, and 13 and above.
The open house’s purpose was to get more word out to the community about the federation’s mission, vision, core values, and goals for future competitions and training both off-island and locally. Participants also went through some wrestling drills and watched demonstrations by members of the national team.
According to the federation, their goal is to build an inclusive and growing wrestling community in the NMI and help athletes reach the regional and international level.
NMWF head coach Rick Bauer said after the open house, “the most important thing is growing the sport at the grassroots level—having fun on the mat.” For the younger group, Bauer said they made their session fun, fast-paced, and interactive; as for the older group, they dipped into more knowledge of the sport.
The federation also handed out QR codes for participants to fill out their preferred training days and time slots. Bauer said they’re not going to set a formal training schedule until they review the responses and see what will work best. “We want to have times that work to get more people in the room,” he said.
The open house was made possible by a full wrestling mat donated by Palau and a new home for the federation in one of the rooms north of the gym. There, the federation holds informal practices on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 5pm to 6:30pm and anyone is welcome to join.
https://marianaspress.com/news/article/wrestling-fed-rolls-out-open-house-to-grow-the-sport-further
-Saipan Ultimate Pickleball Hub opens in Tanapag
The CNMI’s first-ever indoor pickleball courts—the Saipan Ultimate Pickleball Hub in Tanapag—officially opened to the public on Sep. 27. The facility features four courts and offers both monthly and daily rates.
Dozens of pickleball enthusiasts gathered for the opening of the hub, which was created for players of all ages and skill levels. It adds much-needed options for the growing community of pickleball players on the island.
Membership fees are set at $20 per month, with open play available from morning until midnight. Starting at 7pm, courts can be reserved for $8 per hour, per court.
The courts meet international standards, with the long-term goal of attracting players from around the world to compete here in leagues and tournaments—and eventually preparing CNMI players to compete off-island.
Gail Manalang, part of the pickleball group, said the owners wanted a safe and reliable space for players regardless of the weather.
https://marianaspress.com/news/article/saipan-ultimate-pickleball-hub-opens-in-tanapag
Saipan Little League Baseball returns
The smell of spring, the sound of bees buzzing, the swirl of dirt, and the slick of dew on the grass signal the start of baseball season, and this year brings back Little League Baseball after the reformation of the Saipan Baseball League Inc.
After a five-year hiatus, eager children are back on the diamond with a full season of baseball that started on March 15-16.
There are 10 teams in the major league division (11-12-year-olds), and four teams in the minor league division (9-10-year-olds) that are played at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Pangelinan Baseball Field. At the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field, there are six teams in the junior league division (13-14-year-olds), and three teams in the senior league division (15-16-year-olds).
Before the first games that started the season, an opening ceremony and a parade of teams were held that was attended by each team, parents, supporters, and the SLLB board including president Ray Yumul, vice president Annie Flores, treasurer Piding Tenorio, secretary Luisa Cabrera, player agent Lina Aguon, and safety officer Mike Guerrero.
The junior league division started the whole day of games with a showdown between the Braves and the Blue Jays, with the Braves collecting their first win, 14-2. The major league division saw the Ol’Aces win, 19-9, against Falcons II—which is the only team in the league that consists of a majority of girl players.
In other results of the junior league, the Bears mauled the Cobras, 29-22, and Ol’Aces drowned the Marlins, 25-10. In the other major league games, the Comets flew past the Cobras, 9-6, the Cubs clobbered the Falcons, 17-9; the Braves beat the Marlins, 12-2; and the Dodgers shot down the Blue Jays, 11-5.
As for the senior division, Ol’Aces beat their foes on both days—9-8 against the Braves, and 14-11 against the Comets.
After the ceremony, Yumul spoke with Marianas Press. He said there are 23 teams in the season that will stretch until early June and he is “looking forward to a very wonderful playing season.”
https://marianaspress.com/news/article/play-ball-little-league-baseball-is-back
Oleai Sports Complex rehabilitation approved
Conditional Use Application No. 2025-2812 for the Oleai Sports Complex Development Center—featuring a new swimming pool, tennis courts, bullpen and batting cage, and a concession stand—proposed by the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, was unanimously approved by the Commonwealth Zoning Board during a regular meeting at its Marianas Business Plaza office on Aug. 14.
During the public hearing, the plan was presented, and members of the public—including stakeholders in the sporting community, athletes, and their families—expressed gratitude, pleas, and support for the addition of the swimming pool and tennis courts before the board’s vote.
The project includes the construction of an Olympic size swimming pool with associated facilities, the construction of a storage facility, and the rehabilitation and renovation of the baseball stadium and associated facilities.
The CNMI Office of Planning and Development outlined various benefits to the community, including youth access for sports, recreation, and after school programs, a regional sports hub, healthy lifestyles, and shared community pride.
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