The Sports Leigh-Out Mar. 21-27, 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.

Muldoon leads triathlon team NMI in Palau with gold

Dr. Lily Muldoon is not only dominating the local triathlon season, but has also stepped up her game with a gold medal in the 2026 World Triathlon Development Regional Cup in Palau on Saturday, Mar. 21.

Muldoon left everyone in her dust in the sprint-distance race made up of a 750m swim, a 20km bike ride, and a 5km run that started at the Palau Pacific Resort and finished with a time of 1:13:24. A far second place was Samoa’s Manamea Schwalger at 1:19:40, and third went to Cook Islands’ Olivia Postrzygacz.

The NMI sent a three-member team down including Michael Denevan (1:15:33) and Jody O’Sullivan (1:16:27), who finished fourth place and sixth place respectively, in a field of 11 men.

Before the race was a 5-day camp where all three trained under the guidance of an elite coach from New Zealand.

New era: SSHS drowns out MHS for basketball title

Saipan Southern High School ushered in a new era of boys’ high school basketball as they claimed a long-awaited title after many years, defeating three-time champions and formidable rivals Marianas High School, 58-53, in the finals of the 2025-2026 PSS-NMIBF-IT&E Boys High School Basketball League at a rocking Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium on Friday, Mar. 20.

The undefeated Manta Rays came back with a vengeance this season after falling short last year, with their offense led by Matthew Peters, Kian Helgen, and Heman Addy. From the tip-off, a barrage of fast breaks and accurate shooting left MHS in the dust just minutes into the game, forcing an early timeout.

The first half was all SSHS, as their fans energized the south side of the gym with every basket, but MHS caught up toward the end, led by Dane Tibayan’s hot streak of 15 points. However, SSHS maintained their lead for a 32-28 advantage heading into the second half.

The second half’s intensity outmatched the first, as MHS’ pursuit of a fourth straight title and SSHS’ bid for their first in years hung in the balance. Tibayan, Marc Tengco, and Peyton Basa tried to rally MHS and close the gap, but SSHS’ core and bench proved more consistent and accurate.

With the game tightening in the final minutes, it seemed MHS might turn the tide, but SSHS pulled away once more—fueled by their fans in the bleachers and their hunger for the trophy—with Helgen delivering the final two points to seal the victory and the championship for his school.

Helgen finished with 15 points, Peters racked up 13 markers, and Ragbonshe, Jezpher Navarro, Dany Defang, and Heman Addy finished with six apiece.

Kagman High School finished in third place after losing to MHS in the semis.

MCS’ perfect season wraps up with softball title

It’s a season of new champions as Mount Carmel School Lady Knights redeemed themselves with the 2025-2026 title of the PSS-NMISA Fastpitch Softball League after beating two-time champions Tanapag Middle School, 16-4, on Saturday, Mar. 21 at the Dandan Softball Field.

With an undefeated season and the top seed, MCS went into the finals as strong as they could be. TMS did not have a complete roster so they had an automatic one out during each at bat, which did not work in their favor.

However, TMS still tried and managed to put up four runs despite going up against a strong arm on the mound—MCS’ pitcher Miana Dela Cruz. But, their short roster caused fatigue to quickly set in, and they remained stagnant at four runs, with MCS lighting up the field with their offense.

It was a big second inning for the Lady Knights as they brought in eight runs for a 12-2 lead. The last two runs for TMS came in the fourth inning, but by then, MCS had put up 14 runs, with two more on the way in the last inning.

Third place was Hopwood Middle School with a loss to TMS in the semis.

MCS’ roster included Seraphina Alvarez, Aliyani Basa, Ava Basa, Cali Cabrera, Chloe Cepeda, Miana Dela Cruz, Heaven Deleon Guerrero, Paige Muna, Brianna Palacios, Aiyana Pangelinan, Aycee Quitugua, Ava Sablan, Aleiyah Tarkong, Victoria Terlaje, and Kennani Villagomez.

TMS was made up of Aaleyah Fatialofa, Anjelene Quitano, Gianna Moses, Ishani Togawa, Kylee Mira, Kyria Ngiraked, Leeya Deleon Guerrero, Nekeisha Saimon, Proa Hiroichi, Rhiana Macalinao, Ziella Sablan, Alina Esakova, Iyannah Agulto, and Ivalyn Farnsworth.

Simon races to PB in Poland

Collegiate track and field athlete Simon Tang has set a personal best in the 60m sprint of his debut in the 2026 World Indoor Championships in Toruń, Poland held from Mar. 20-22.

In Round 1 Heat 7, he clocked a personal best time of 7.62 seconds.

The competition brought in athletes from powerhouse countries like the U.S., Jamaica, Great Britain, Poland, Ethiopia and Kenya, along with smaller nations.

The championships are the top level of indoor track and field, where athletes compete for world titles in a tighter, more controlled setting than outdoor meets. Events like the 60m sprint are unique to the indoor scene, putting the focus on pure speed from the starting gun.

Little 8ers claim 1st Girls With Game fastpitch title

Even with many rain delays, the Little 8ers kept their fire and claimed the championship of the Inaugural Saipan Little League Girls With Game Fastpitch Softball League after beating Diamond Divas in the finals, 14-10, at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Pangelinan Softball Field, on Saturday, Mar. 21

Kieffer reclaims NMC Golf Open crown

NMI’s Dominique Kieffer reclaimed the top spot of the two-day 2026 NMC Foundation Golf Open with a gross score of 145 at the LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort over the weekend of Mar. 21-22.

The tournament, which draws local golfers and players from around the region, including Guam and South Korea, had tough conditions, with strong winds and rough greens throughout the weekend.

Even with that, Kieffer opened with a 73, then followed it up with a 72 to close it out, finishing five shots ahead of the rest. She ran into trouble on the par-3 No. 15 and took a double bogey, but didn’t let it shake her.

Kieffer, who won the championship flight two years in a row before falling short last year, said it felt good to be back on top again this year. She said, “It’s redemption. I didn’t win last year so I’m very happy to just feel like my game is in a good place… I’m excited that my game is going in the right direction.”

The tourney also featured a $100,000 shootout challenge sponsored by Pacifica Insurance Underwriters, with a chance to participate decided by raffle. No one won it though and said, “The likelihood of making a 175-yard shot is extremely rare and that’s why the prize is so much. I usually feel like I’m a very good raffle person—I’ve been getting all the raffles this year so that was one of them. I was happy to get chosen and it’s fun to try but you know you’re not going to win.”

She then thanked the organizers and sponsors, as well as her employer GHD for helping out with her entry.

Zhi Yun Li claimed second place with a 150 (77-73), with Louie Sunga in third at 156 (76-80).

In the A Flight, John Anthony Muna took first place with a 168 after rounds of 82 and 86, followed by Kiwan (Michael) Nam in second with a 171 (81-90), and Jerry Lin in third with a 172 (84-88).

Over in the B Flight, Dong In Jang finished on top with a 165 (85-80), while James Ripple came in second with a 169 (84-85), and Sukyoung Yoon placed third with a 172 (84-88).

The C Flight saw John Terlaje lead the way with a 178 (85-93), edging out Augustin Palacios who shot a 179 (91-88), while Matt Deets rounded out the top three with a 180 (88-92).

In the Ladies Flight, Nalathli Vongjalorn posted the lowest score of the division with a 156 (80-76) to take first, followed by Hyun Sook Lim in second with a 159 (76-83), and Hyranie McAuslen in third with a 166 (84-82).

Joseph Sasamoto dominated the Seniors Flight with a steady 148 (74-74), while Mike Castro took second with a 155 (76-79), and Anthony Benavente also shot a 155 (80-75) to place third. And in the Super Seniors Flight, Joe “Kamikaze” Camacho finished first with a 163 (79-84), followed by Joseph Sablan in second with a 165 (83-82), and Edward Manibusan in third, also at 165 (81-84).

NMI sends beach v-ball team for Guam’s Pacific Jam

The NMI sent a four-member team to Guam to kick up some sand for the 2026 Pacific Jam beach volleyball tournament from Mar. 20-22.

Jermaine Salas, Erica Zandueta, John Matias, Jasmine John, Jiahang Wu, and Jairoh Guilas competed against teams from Guam and Palau.