The Sports Leigh-Out July 12-18

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.

Dozens join NMIFA 20th Anniversary Youth Festival celebration

In celebration of two decades of commitment to the community through sport, the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association hosted a Youth Festival last Saturday afternoon at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville with an overall goal of encouraging athleticism while building community connections.

142 young 4-H Marianas Magalahi campers, from 5 to 19 years old, along with their parents, joined NMIFA for the festival, which included a facility tour, a short ceremony, refreshments, and the main event on the field, where campers participated in several colorful soccer drills. NMIFA players also took part in overseeing and coaching campers through the exercises.

The event had been a partnership with the Northern Marianas College, NMC CREES, and 4-H Marianas. NMIFA’s 20th anniversary celebration is under the theme: 20 Years of Passion, Purpose, and Promise.

Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds joins annual Congressional Women’s Softball Game

Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds joined Team Congress in the 2025 Congressional Women’s Softball Game on Wednesday, July 16 at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.

The team won over D.C. Press Corps by a score of 5-3 in a game that was cut short in the fourth inning due to inclement weather. In a social media post before the game, she said, “This is a fundraiser to raise money for cancer. Beat cancer, I love you!”

She was then featured by CBS News that aired yesterday. In that interview, she said one of the reasons she joined was because her mother and sister are both breast cancer survivors. She added that it was a nice break from partisan politics.

Victor, Tammy top Roll Out 5K

Victor Nash Santos and Tammy Ackerman topped the Inaugural Roll Out 5K organized by the Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority last July 9, starting from the Garapan Fishing Base along Beach Road.

Santos, fresh from breaking the CNMI national 10,000m record in the 2025 Palau Pacific Mini Games, paced everyone with a time of 18:43. Jody O'Sullivan was second in the men’s field after clocking in at 20:41, while Pony Tang completed the Top 3 in 20:56.

Ackerman, who won the July 4th Independence Day 2-Mile Race 2025 the week prior, was without peer among the women after crossing the finish line in 22:40. Krista Hawley and Rosemarie Chisato came in second and third with times of 24:34 and 26:56, respectively.

Back-to-back derby winner dedicates trophy to Shayne

Only Reels repeated as Governor’s Cup grand prize winner of the 41st Saipan International Fishing Tournament held last July 12 and 13 in the waters around the Northern Marianas.

Skipper Aaron S. Benavente and his brothers, Anthony and Austin, and cousin Jesse Ramon reeled in a 241-pounder to beat all comers. The Only Reels crew pocketed $3,000 for their feat, plus the over $5,000 side bet.

Aaron dedicated their win to good friend, former Saipan Fishermen’s Association board member Shayne Villanueva, who passed last May.

“For this victory this year, I dedicate it to my brother, Shayne Villanueva, Roil Soil. You know, he left us in May. I miss him. He's a very avid fisherman. He's a part of the SFA. So, I dedicate this derby [win to him], that's why I'm wearing this shirt.”

Aaron said that during the two-day derby, he was asking for Villanueva’s guidance, and it worked.

“I was out there asking him to give me that help to land this fish to become a grand prize. I was praying to him to guide me out there and help me out.”

The captain of Only Reels said they caught the monster fish on Day 2 of the derby at 1pm using a Mors lure.

As for the more than $8,000 in winnings they won in the derby, Aaron said after divvying it up among his brothers and cousin, he will use the rest to fix his boat.

“I actually had to take a loaner boat for this. My boat is actually being worked on right now, but it'll be ready in a few months. And then we're going to go out and we're going to compete in, we want to go compete in Guam, we want to compete in Rota, and we want to showcase Only Reel skills.

More than eyeing a three-peat in the 42nd edition of the Saipan International Fishing Tournament, Aaron and company want to beat the record, which was a 942-pound blue marlin caught in 2012 by Mike James, Frank James, and John Hattig on the boat Emmanuel.

5th Pickleball anniversary tourney and Capital Hill court dedication held

The 5th Pickleball Anniversary 2-day tourney and Capital Hill courts dedication was held last July 12 and 13.

In a press release, it said, “As part of the Saipan Mayor's Office "Adopt a Place" program, the refurbishing of the courts was entirely privately funded, with the players doing all of the construction themselves. This project is a shining example of a successful partnership between the Public & Private sector. Both the Mayor's Office and Parks & Recreation were incredibly helpful in the success of this project.”

It was part of a two-day Pickleball Tournament that brought together 80 players and celebrated the five-year anniversary of Pickleball in the CNMI, along with the dedication of the new courts.

It was the first time anyone had played on the new courts, and players from Tinian joined us as well.

Play will now be nightly at both American Memorial Park and Capital Hill. Start times are 5:30pm daily.

Both of these courts are free and open to the public.

Meet and greet held for Mini Games athletics team

Northern Marianas Athletics held its first-ever Meet & Greet on Thursday, July 17 at the Gilbert C. Ada Gym Conference Room.

It was a chance for the community and media to meet some members of the young national athletics team members that competed in the 12th Palau Pacific Mini Games and hear their stories and accomplishments.

The athletes were double gold medalist Tania Tan, national record holder in the javelin Maria Quitugua, national record holder in the 400m hurdles Simon Tang, and sprinter Theodore Rodgers.

Tan’s half marathon time of 1:28:40 marked a major milestone for NMI, and the team’s strong showing at the Games sparked pride across the islands. Organizers also thanked the Northern Marianas Sports Association, sponsors, and the community for their continued support.

Mayor Camacho talks about the importance of youth sports

Saipan Mayor Ramon Blas “RB” Camacho talked with youth volleyball players on the importance of youth sports at a tournament organized by the CNMI Office of Youth Affairs and the Saipan Mayor’s Office, said a press release from the SMO on Wednesday, July 16.

Camacho talked with young athletes from Precinct 04 at a volleyball tournament and league and the importance of sports programs like these and how it keeps them on the right positive track away from drugs, crime, and other negative influences.

The mayor’s vision of a “Safe Community, Safe Village, and a Clean Island” heavily involves leading our youth to living positive and healthy lifestyles. He encouraged them to take advantage of this opportunity not only to build skills and learn new techniques but to also improve their fitness especially at a time when diseases like obesity are increasingly affecting younger generations.

Most importantly, these programs are meant to create a sense of friendship and community amongst the different youth groups of each precinct and encourage friendly competition. We want our youth to be connected with each other. (Diverse Community)

The mayor also thanked the CNMI Office of Youth Affairs for their support and cooperation in these programs. Their expertise and connection with our youth has played a big part in pushing these programs out in the community. Mayor RB pledges to continue these programs for our kids as long as possible and invites every young athlete from all of our precincts to join these programs.