The Sports Leigh-Out: Feb. 7-13

Hafa Adai yan Tirow sports fans, this is Leigh Gases bringing you Marianas Press’ weekly wrap up—the Sports Leigh-Out for the week of February 7-February 13.

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, or the beautiful ocean.

PSS Sports: Rota, Tinian gets some action in coed elementary v-ball; SIS beats SSHS, 8-3

Rota’s Sinapalo Elementary School and Tinian Elementary School made their short trips to Saipan worth it by participating and winning a majority of their games last Feb. 7 in the PSS-NMIVA Co-ed Elementary School Volleyball Tournament 2024-2025. Both teams won four games each.

As for the kick-off of PSS-NMIFA Girls High School Interscholastic Soccer League, Saipan International School overpowered Saipan Southern High School, 8-3, on the second day of play on Thursday. In the other game that day, Marianas High School varsity team showed no mercy to Kagman High School JV and won, 14-1.

NMIFA celebrates 20th year anniversary

The Northern Mariana Islands Football Association hosted its 20th year anniversary celebration kick-off last Saturday 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 some 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.

U15 badminton team bags bronze in New Zealand

NMI’s U15 National Badminton Team bagged bronze in the Pacific U15 Invitational Team Challenge 2025 at the North Harbour Badminton Centre in Auckland, New Zealand last Wednesday.

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.

Saipan Submissions Team haul in medals

Martial artists of the Saipan Submissions Team grappled their way to multiple medals in the 2025 Marianas Pro Tokyo gi tournament that was held last Saturday.

Professor and founder of the academy, Bryan Deleon Guerrero, practiced what he preached and won gold in the Adult Black Belt Light-Feather weight division.

For the rest of the adult team, John Villagomez was a double-gold recipient as he toppled his opponents in the Master 30 White Belt Lightweight and Master 30 White Belt Openweight.

James Garcia hauled in a silver in the Adult White Belt Medium-Heavyweight, and bronze in the Adult White Belt Openweight. Peter Sablan won a silver medal in the Master 30 Featherweight, and bronze in the Master 30 Openweight.

Masaki Kitami won the team another silver in the Adult Blue Belt Roosterweight; while Jacob Yamagishi won bronze in the Adult Blue Belt Featherweight, and Jesus Attao also won a bronze medal in the Adult Blue Belt Medium-Heavyweight.

The young, up-and-coming martial artists also showed off and racked up a few medals themselves. Notably, Reiden Travilla won gold in the Kid 5 Grey Belt Roosterweight division; then, Leighton Palacios bagged silver in the Juvenile 16-17 White Belt Featherweight division; Chance Attao won bronze in the Kid 3 White Belt Featherweight; and Urijah Sablan also settled for bronze in the Kid 3 Grey Belt Light-Featherweight.

Blue Jays soar above Marlins, 15-0

The Blue Jays soared above the Marlins, 15-0, in the first week of the Saipan Baseball League Masters League postseason last Wednesday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field.

Their offense dominated the Marlins' pitching and the game ended early just in the fourth inning as the Marlins could not connect with the Blue Jays’ heaters. The Blue Jays moved on and were joined by the Brewers after their close game against the Falcons last Thursday, 16-15.

Undefeated Pound Town wins Rota’s ‘Strike Out Violence’ tourney

Undefeated team Pound Town were crowned the champions of the 2025 Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Division of Youth Services Strike Out Violence Softball Tournament in Rota last Saturday.

Pound Town didn’t play around and got down to business as they solidified their reign after back-to-back wins and no losses in the event that was for raising awareness for domestic violence, teen dating violence, and sexual abuse. According to DCCA DYS, it was about standing up, speaking out, and making a difference.