The Sports Leigh-Out July 18-24, 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.

NMI Wrestling expands with new Olympic-sized mats

The NMI Wrestling Federation is growing bigger than ever after adding three brand new official-sized wrestling mats, which were rolled out for the first time during a takedown clinic at the Marianas High School Gymnasium on Wednesday, July 23.

The mats, from United World Wrestling, were purchased through a juvenile probation grant and cost more than $15,000. They also got additional equipment including crash pads, throwing dummies, and a wrestling weight scale.

NMI Wrestling Federation vice president and head coach Rick Bauer said the new equipment is an exciting step for the organization after years of work to grow the sport in the CNMI. “We’ve been working on it for years and this is our first practice with our full-sized mats,” Bauer said. “These are the same mats they use in the Olympics.”

The new mats were put to use during the federation’s takedown clinic, which welcomed wrestlers of all ages, from youth athletes to adults. The free clinic also attracted participants from other combat sports, including MMA and jiu-jitsu, alongside experienced wrestlers and newcomers.

After Super Typhoon Sinlaku, the federation had a limited schedule with only some beach wrestling training, making the clinic the first major training session back on a full-sized mat for athletes.

“We’re excited to be back, get some sweat on these mats and it’s looking up,” Bauer said. “We’ll continue to work and continue to grow and hopefully get a lot more out and just grow this sport.”

With the addition of the new mats, the federation is also looking for a larger, permanent space to continue expanding its program. Bauer said the organization is grateful for the support it has received from the Northern Marianas Sports Association, CTSI, Tan Holdings, and NMSA for providing space at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium, but the federation has outgrown its current setup.

Read the full story on our website.

Masuki defends title, Park strikes gold twice

With the first of three international badminton tournaments wrapped up, it’s on to the next this week, but not before Japan’s Sakura Masuki defended her women’s singles title and Korea’s Park Seul struck gold twice in the women’s and mixed doubles during the finals of the YONEX Northern Marianas Open on Sunday, July 19, at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Masuki successfully retained her women’s singles crown after defeating fellow Japanese shuttler Nodoka Sunakawa in straight sets, 21-15, 21-14. Speaking through an interpreter, Masuki said she was happy to win the tournament again after also claiming the title last year.

Compared to last year’s tournament, Masuki said she faced more matchups against fellow Japanese players, making this tournament a tough one. Still, she managed to defeat all of her opponents. She is also gearing up to compete in this week’s CROWNE PLAZA Saipan International and hopes to come away with another title.

For Park, she and mixed doubles partner Lee Hyeong Woo started the championship day with a bang, defeating Japan’s Tori Aizawa and Hina Hosawa, 21-11, 21-18. She later teamed up with Moon In Seo to capture the women’s doubles championship, beating Japan’s Miki Kanehiro and Yuna Kato, 21-16, 17-21, 21-15, for her second gold medal of the tournament.

Korea also added the men’s singles title through Park Sang Yong, who outlasted Japan’s Koo Takahashi in a thrilling three-set battle, 21-19, 19-21, 21-15. Park, who has competed in Saipan’s tournament for four straight years, said it felt great to finally win after becoming familiar with the level of competition. He said that experience helped him capture gold this time.

Japan earned its second gold medal in the men’s doubles, with Tori Aizawa and Daisuke Sano rallying past Korea’s Jin Sung Ik and Lee Hyeong Woo, 21-19, 13-21, 21-16.

NMI Men’s Tennis team in Sri Lanka for Davis Cup

The NMI Men’s National Davis Cup team is in Colombo, Sri Lanka, for the 2026 Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group IV.

Participating teams include the CNMI, Sri Lanka, Qatar, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Iraq, and Turkmenistan.

Stay tuned for results.

Profound Bandits host workshop for South Korea dance trip

From dancing outside the Marianas Business Plaza to hoping to learn new moves at the 1MILLION Dance Studio in Seoul, South Korea, The Profound Bandits are looking to take their passion for dance from Saipan to the international stage.

The Saipan-based hip-hop dance group is putting together fundraisers to help send 13 of its members to immerse themselves in the International Dance League on Saturday, Aug. 1, where they will also attend workshops.

Along with their GoFundMe page and an upcoming car wash, The Profound Bandits’ founder and director Jeroen “Jiro” Montenejo hosted a dance workshop on Friday, July 17, at the Marianas Business Plaza to help raise funds for the trip.

The International Dance League brings together some of the world’s top dance crews for a season-long competition, with teams traveling to different cities and earning points toward an overall championship.

Although The Profound Bandits will not be competing, members will have the chance to learn from experienced dancers, explore new styles, and experience a side of dance they usually only see online.

For Montenejo, who has been dancing since he was five years old, the opportunity to be surrounded by some of the world’s top dancers would be a dream come true. “Growing up, I’ve watched these dancers on TikTok, YouTube and anywhere, and just to be able to be there in the same place as everyone, it would be such a big dream come true as a dancer,” he said.

The group also hopes to bring those experiences back home. Montenejo said they plan to host two free workshops after the trip, sharing some of what they learned during their time at the 1MILLION Dance Studio with local dancers.

Read the full story on our website.

NMISAxDYS Summer T-Ball League underway

Even with two super typhoons disrupting sports in the CNMI this summer, the NMI Softball Association x Division of Youth Services 3rd Annual Summer T-Ball Tournament teed off on Sunday, July 19, at the Francisco "Tan Ko" Palacios Baseball Field. The tournament features four teams of players ages 5 to 8: the Blue Jays, Lady Jays, Comets, and Pirates.

The next games are scheduled for Saturday, July 25, at 9am and 10:30am; Saturday, Aug. 1, at 9am and 10:30am; with the playoffs set for Saturday, Aug. 8, at 9am and 10:30am, followed by the championship game at 2pm.

All games will be played using a point system, with the teams earning the highest point totals at the end of the season determining the playoff seedings.

Day 1 results:

Pirates vs. Lady Jays: 15-9

Blue Jays vs. Comets: 18-15

BASA League continues

Sundays are for softball once again with the return of the Budweiser Belau Amateur Softball Association masters and women’s league, but this time at the Capital Hill Softball Field. With the disruption and damages caused to the Dandan Softball Field due to the two super typhoons, all games will be played at Capital Hill, with the season extended until late this year.

7/19 Masters results:

Mix Breed vs. Peleliu: 21-4

Man Amigos vs. Hagu Lamun: 16-2

Tokahao vs. Wassup: 20-9

Asahi vs. Chalek Ha: 16-5

Sufa vs. Latte Faya: Sufa won via forfeit

7/19 Women’s results:

Lady Sufa vs. Rebelz: 18-2

Lady Akkari vs. Belias Bat Girls: 12-11

Bat Pitches vs. 89ers: 15-13

Pacifica Insurance supports Pickleball Fed

Pacifica Insurance Underwriters, Inc. supports the NMI Pickleball Federation in their quest to send a CNMI National Pickleball Team to the 2026 World Cup in Da Nang, Vietnam from Aug. 30-Sept. 6.