The Sports Leigh-Out August 8-14, 2026

Hafa Adai and Tirow sports fans, this is Leigh Gases with this week’s Sports Leigh-Out brought to you by Joeten Motors!

Let’s take a closer look at what our athletes have been up to in off-island competitions and on their home turf—whether it’s on the pitch, mat, courts, fields, track, pools, or the beautiful ocean.

Carol Lee savors milestone first WTA 125 title in Warsaw

Carol Young Suh Lee described winning the first WTA 125 title of her career as a special moment after years of challenges, with the Saipan-born tennis standout saying the breakthrough made the work she has put into her professional career even more meaningful.

“It is a special feeling to win my first WTA title this year. There have been so many ups and downs, adversities, and lessons along the way, so to finally have a moment like this makes all of that work feel even more meaningful,” Lee told Marianas Press via social media.

The 24-year-old Lee captured the biggest title of her career last Saturday, Aug. 8, after defeating the Czech Republic’s Gabriela Knutson, 6-4, 7-5, in the final of the T-Mobile Polish Open in Warsaw, Poland.

Lee, ranked No. 162 in the world, completed a memorable run on the clay courts that began with a 6-4, 6-4 upset of top seed Elsa Jacquemot of France.

The Saipan Community School alumna said she tried not to treat the championship match differently despite what was at stake.

“My mindset was to approach the final the same way I’ve approached every match this week — stay focused, fight for every point, and just enjoy the match,” she said.

Her title run included a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Czech Vendula Valdmannova and a come-from-behind 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-1 win against Polish wild card Weronika Falkowska. Lee then rallied from a set down to defeat Belarusian Aliona Falei, 2-6, 6-3, 6-1.

Knutson, ranked No. 217, had also put together an impressive run, including a 6-3, 6-4 victory over second seed Ella Seidel of Germany before reaching the final.

For Lee, however, the Warsaw championship carried significance beyond the trophy.

The former Georgia Tech standout remains the only ranked WTA player from the Northern Mariana Islands. In 2019, she became the first player from the NMI to compete in a junior Grand Slam when she played at the Australian Open. She also won five ITF singles titles in 2025 before making her breakthrough at the WTA 125 level in Warsaw.

Read the full story on our website.

Addalee and Richard represent NMI at Patriot Games

CNMI high school athletes Addalee Taflinger and Richard Zhao represented the CNMI at the Patriot Games held from Aug. 9-11 at SPIRE Academy in Geneva, Ohio.

They were two out 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. They represented the CNMI alongside high school athletes from across the country ages 14-17.

Stay tuned for the full story.

Tang embraces experience at world athletics u20 championships

CNMI athlete Simon Daniel Tang described competing at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon, as a "crazy" but rewarding experience, surrounded by some of the world's most competitive young athletes.

Tang said the atmosphere has been especially inspiring because he is competing alongside athletes who share the same goals and ambitions. "It's like I'm here, but I'm around people who want exactly what I want," Tang said.

"I did my best, and I know that with time comes progress," Tang explained. "I will eventually get to where I want to go."

Tang told Marianas Press that he ran the 100m with a personal best of 11.50 seconds. He said he was the only athlete competing from the CNMI and was just one of five from the Oceania region.

Batallones takes swimming career to Drew University

Maria Batallones will take the next step in her swimming career with the Drew University Rangers, joining the NCAA Division III program in the Landmark Conference in Madison, New Jersey, after years representing Tsunami Saipan Swimming Center and the NMI in regional and international competition.

The recent Marianas High School graduate told Marianas Press via Zoom that she will also pursue a biology degree on a pre-physical therapy track while continuing competitive swimming in college.

Batallones said Drew’s swimming coach reached out to her before she enrolled after seeing potential in her performances and encouraged her to join the team. She said she is already on the roster.

Because NCAA Division III programs do not offer athletic scholarships, Batallones said her opportunity instead came with increased academic scholarship assistance.

Looking back at her years with Tsunami Saipan, the 18-year-old said it was difficult to single out one favorite memory because the swimming club has been such a large part of her life.

“Everything is very special to me. That place that I grew up in really means a lot,” she said. “I've learned a lot as a person and it really helps me to become who I really am today.”

Among her accomplishments, Batallones singled out being named Athlete of the Year in 2024 and her performance at the NSW State Age Championships in Australia as particularly meaningful moments in her high school swimming career.

Batallones also credited longtime Tsunami Saipan head coach Hiroyuki Kimura with teaching her lessons that extend well beyond the swimming pool.

“One thing that I've learned from my coach is probably to never be numb to my environment,” Batallones said.

She said Kimura taught his swimmers to appreciate the people and resources around them even when circumstances are difficult, whether that meant having a pool available, training in the ocean, or being able to rely on teammates, captains, Kimura and Tsunami Saipan manager Yuko Kimura.

“Just don't be numb to your environment and that's one of the biggest lessons that I've learned,” she said.

The transition from tropical Saipan to New Jersey will also require some adjustment, particularly when winter arrives. Batallones joked that she barely owns long-sleeved shirts or long pants and plans to buy warmer clothing after arriving in New Jersey.

Read the full story on our website.

Watanabe taking swimming talents to Arcadia University

Tsunami Saipan Swimming Center standout Kouki Watanabe will take his swimming career to the NCAA Division III level after choosing Arcadia University in Pennsylvania for college.

The recent Marianas High School graduate told Marianas Press that he will continue competing in the sport he has been involved in since childhood when he heads to the U.S. mainland.

“I'll be going to the States for college and yeah, swimming also there,” Watanabe said.

Watanabe said Arcadia emerged as his preferred destination after he considered three other schools. He said the university’s swimming coach initially contacted him by email while he was looking at colleges.

“In the end, Arcadia was my best choice,” he said.

Watanabe said he received a good academic scholarship from Arcadia. He expects breaststroke to remain his primary event in college, although he said his coach has yet to finalize what events he will swim.

Before heading to Pennsylvania, Watanabe is currently in Japan preparing for college while making sure his training does not skip a beat. He said Tsunami Saipan head coach Hiroyuki Kimura helped arrange for him to train at a swimming school there.

“I didn't want to like, slow down in swimming,” Watanabe said.

Moving from tropical Saipan to Pennsylvania will also require a different kind of adjustment. Watanabe said he plans to stock up on thick winter clothes before experiencing his first truly cold climate.

He said what he will miss most about Saipan are the everyday moments with his friends and Tsunami Saipan teammates, particularly enduring difficult workouts together and hanging out after practice.

Watanabe said representing the CNMI internationally stands out as his proudest achievement so far.

“I'm like very proud of myself for training hard to be on the national team,” he said.

He also credited Kimura with teaching him one of the most important lessons of his swimming career: perseverance.

“Maybe the biggest is to never give up. Like that's the biggest I've learned from him,” Watanabe said.

That lesson is reflected in Watanabe's long relationship with Tsunami Saipan.

Read the full story on our website.

Saipan Submissions Academy turns 2

Saipan Submissions is celebrating two years of training, competition, and community on Saipan. The martial arts school marked the milestone by reflecting on its journey and the people who have helped build its growing community.

Marianas Press spoke with members about the school's two-year journey and what's ahead.

Youth Sportsfest 2026 held

Youth from across the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa came together at Ada Gym on Aug. 8 and 9 for Youth Sportsfest 2026.

The two-day event featured basketball and volleyball, bringing young athletes together for competition, fellowship and community.