The Sports Leigh-Out Sept. 13-19

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.

Run Saipan hosts 5K in honor of Dr. Ron Snyder

Run Saipan, in honor of Dr. Ron Snyder, who was instrumental in the formation of the run club, held a final 5K on Wednesday at the Beach Road Pathway in front of the Oleai Beach Bar and Grill.

Surrounded by friends, colleagues, students, and his two best fur-friends Gilligan and Sophie, they took on the pathway heading south despite the steady pour of rain and cold breeze. It was also a time race with Rex Pixley in first, Andre Guerrero in second, and Joshua Kim in third in the men’s division. In the women’s division, Addalee Taflinger was first, Jian Chun came in second, and Kaylen Taflinger finished third. Finish times are not available at press time.

Stay tuned for the full story.

MOC competes in Inaugural Va’a Japan Champs

The NMI’s Marianas Outrigger Club joined history on Sept. 14 competing in the inaugural Va’a Japan National Championships in Enoshima.

The team arrived in Tokyo on Sept. 12 before traveling south to the race venue, where they trained with host club Shonan Outrigger Canoe Club and adjusted to Tahitian V6 canoes. Calm practice waters turned rough on race day, with strong winds and swells forcing officials to shorten the course and delay the start.

There were eight race categories—OC6 and V6 men’s/women’s open; and OC6 and V6 men’s/women’s masters 45.

MOC competed in the V6 women’s and men’s open.

The women’s crew of Lori Rabe, Ana Mendiola, Marisol Ladino, Elaine Sablan, Sakura Halstead, and Momoko Halstead came in with a time of 1:06:30, placing just behind Suruga Chigasaki United at 1:06:12. VRC Wahine secured the division’s fastest time at 1:07:32, while Team Imanja and Taputapuatea rounded out the field.

The MOC men’s crew—Jose Quan, Jason Tarkong, Steve Beyer, Tim Asaivao, Darian Salas, and Dirk Sikkel—started well in the V6 Open but swamped a mile and a half into the course as waves broke over their canoe. With assistance from Japan’s safety crew, they recovered and paddled back but did not record an official finish.

But, despite the tough seas, the NMI paddlers left their mark on Japan’s first-ever national championships, showcasing both resilience and the growing reach of va’a in the Pacific.

Reserves Mario Salas, Ashley Pangelinan, Maggy Moussalem, and Tsukushiko Halstead provided support throughout the weekend.

Theodore competes in World Athletics Champs

From the tracks of the CNMI to the second biggest stage of athletics competition, Grace Christian Academy alumni and national team sprinter Theodore Rodgers competed in the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

The sprinter ran on the first day of the event on Sept. 13. He was in Heat 3 of the Preliminary Round and was the youngest in the heat full of more experienced and veteran track athletes. He finished last with a time of 12.13 seconds.

The event marks a return to Tokyo for the first time since 1991, making it only the second time the Japanese capital has staged the prestigious competition. In total, this will be the third World Championships held in Japan. Over 2,000 athletes from around 200 countries took part in the competition that will last until Sept. 21.

Interscholastic sports are back

From the courts to the pitches to the fields, student-athletes of every age are charging into the 2025–2026 interscholastic sports season.

Girls Middle School Soccer

The rain held off long enough to kick start the PSS-NMIFA Girls Middle School Soccer season on Tuesday at the NMI Soccer Training Center in Koblerville.

Saipan International School started off strong with a clean sheet—a 9-0 win over Chacha Ocean View Middle School. Right after, another clean sheet was registered—this time after a battle between southside teams Hopwood Middle School and Francisco M. Sablan Middle School, with the Lady Hilitais closing it out with a 7-0 final.

All Schools Cross Country

Schoolchildren of all ages took to the races in Saipan’s unforgiving terrain and unpredictable weather during the 2025-2026 PSS-NMA All Schools Cross Country, with the second qualifier wrapping up on a wet and slippery Saturday at American Memorial Park.

After sweat, sand, grass, dirt, and puddles clung to hundreds of runners, top athletes from various schools gave their teams an edge as they head into the third qualifier this Saturday at Banzai Cliff.🏃🏽‍♀️🏃

*Cross country results show how fast each runner finished, but the team score comes from adding up the places of the top five runners—lowest score wins. If there’s a tie, the sixth runner’s place decides the winner.

Boys High School team results:

🥇Saipan International School- 24 points

🥈Agape Christian School- 25 points

🥉Marianas High School- 43 points

Girls High School team results:

🥇Agape Christian School- 24 points

🥈Saipan International School- 28 points

🥉Marianas High School- 29 points

Boys Middle School team results:

🥇Agape Christian School- 54 points

🥈Dr. Rita H. Inos Jr./Sr. High School- 54 points

🥉Dandan Middle School- 59 points

Girls Middle School team results:

🥇Saipan International School- 14 points

🥈Saipan Community School- 25 points

🥉Dandan Middle School- 47 points

Boys Elementary team results:

🥇Garapan Elementary School- 48 points

🥈Brilliant Star School- 53 points

🥉Kagman Elementary School- 53 points

Girls Elementary team results:

🥇Brilliant Star School- 22 points

🥈William S. Reye Elementary School- 26 points

🥉Mount Carmel School- 68 points

Girls High School Volleyball

The PSS-NMIVA Girls High School Volleyball season is back and better than ever! The competition is just as fierce and unforgiving as the heat inside the Marianas High School Gymnasium. On Tuesday, the gym was rocking with cheers from the crowd, and school spirit had never shone brighter.

In the varsity division, Marianas High School came out on top for their second straight win after three tough sets against Kagman High School, 17-21, 21-10, 15-8; Saipan Southern High School is undefeated along with MHS after their win over Saipan International School, 21-14, 21-18; and Grace Christian Academy tore down Mount Carmel School, 21-16, 21-17. As for the junior varsity division, MHS III won against MCS II, 21-17, 21-13, 15-10; KHS II beat SIS II, 21-17, 21-13; MHS II defeated SSHS II, 21-16, 21-15.

Boys High School Fastpitch Softball

The diamond is always electric and full of energy and with the PSS-NMISA Boys High School Fastpitch Softball season back, the action is as heated as ever!

On Saturday morning, it was a battle of private schools, with Mount Carmel School running away with a 20-10 win over Saipan International School. After that, the junior varsity squads of Saipan Southern High School and Kagman High School went at it in a clash to the finish, with the southsiders edging out a narrow 18-17 victory.

The teams will continue the tournament in Rota on Sep. 18, 19, and 20. Saipan games will resume on Wednesday, Sept. 24, with the championship series slated for Oct. 23, 24, and 25.

Bella strikes gold with 255-lb marlin

The boat Bella, captained by Justice Perry Inos, landed the payload of $20,900 with their 255-lb haul during the 3rd Annual Saipan Fishermen Association Elijah Craig Bourbon Billfish Jackpot Tournament on Saturday at the Smiling Cove Marina.

A close second was just a pound behind—a 254-lb marlin reeled in by Borrow Fan, which also took the side bet prize of $2,000. The boat was captained by Jerry Babauta with anglers Alfred Muna, Wayne Martin, and J-Boy Taitano.

The anglers of Bella, Dixie Inos and Carlos Rivera, had the fight of their lives off the waters of Saipan—which turned out to be just enough to edge Borrow Fan and secure the jackpot.

The crew was then given the check for $20,900 and a bottle of Elijah Craig.

After, a solemn and emotional awards ceremony was held on the dock of Smiling Cove, with SFA chairman Curtis Dancoe announcing that the next tourney will be named after former Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente, an avid fisherman, who was diagnosed with acute leukemia.

Stay tuned for the full story