By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

MEMBERS of the Saipan Revolution 12-and-under and the Saipan United 10-and-under squad will lead the awardees in the NMIFA Youth Recognition and Award Ceremony tomorrow at the American Memorial Park Amphitheater.
Saipan Revolution and Saipan United will be honored for their impressive showings in the Guam Football Association/Cars Plus Robbie Webber Youth League Jamboree last month.
Saipan Revolution was undefeated in five games, whipping two selections of Guam’s top youth strikers in exhibition matches. In the regular games, the 12-and-under squad beat the Lady Crushers, 2-0 and blanked ASC Gat-Gold, 5-0, and Tumon, 3-0.
Saipan United is composed of Juliana Muna, Kallie O’Conner, Cyrena Pattillo, Doreen Ravell, Grant Rhee, Shu Sato, Crosby Schultz, Kaisei Toda, Clay McCullough-Stearns, Christian Miller, Ryan Baron, Bo Barry, Grace Brostrom, Mason Fruit, Andrew Johnson, Angelo Jones, Jake Lee, R.J. Knecht and Jellian Majors.
Emily Gries is the team’s coach with John Ravell assisting her.
“I was in awe and so proud of each and every single one of these young football players. I was very happy and pleased to see the teamwork shine through as football is a team sport. It’s hard sometimes to share the ball when you are beating everyone or scoring goals. But these players shared the responsibility with each other to bring home an incredible victory in history of football here,” Gries said.
Saipan United also held its ground against Guam teams winning three matches and drawing two.
The 10-and-under squad won over Isa Asuit, 3-0, Strykers Blue, 2-0 and the Wolverines, 1-0. It’s two exhibition matches had similar results at 1-all.
Saipan United is composed of Jordan Butcher, Mickey Coleman, Kennedy Izuka, Jonrey Gilles, Misaki Cramer, Enrico Del Rosario, Michah Griffin, Brilliant Star’s Hirai Masami, Jewell Hunter, Jehn Joyner, Lester Passion, Masami Sato, Tomas Nishta, Kristina Folta, Phalai Frink, Taylor Knecht and Gabriel Race.
Norman Camacho coached the team and was assisted by Elisa Long.
More even than the wins, the coaches of the two teams were proud of the young strikers’s behavior during and after the games.
“They showed respect for the sport and appreciation for the hosts by personally thanking the adults, the Guam players, and even the referees. I saw several of our players cleaning the perimeter of the youth fields, without being told. They had fun celebrating at the hotel afterwards while making safe decisions, and being respectful to the hotel staff. On my way out, the front desk staff extended their compliments for the mature behavior of our kids, noting that the visiting sailors should learn from their example,” said Rob Schultz in a letter he wrote for parents who sent their kids to Guam.
Meanwhile, aside from Saipan Revolution and Saipan United, the Northern Mariana Islands Football Federation will also recognize coaches, sponsors, referees and the kids who helped during the East Asian Football Federation qualifying match on Saipan last March.
Coaches who have completed the “F” license will also be recognized and will be receiving certificates from the Guam Football Association.
The award ceremony will start at 5 p.m. with NMIFA requesting age group players to wear uniforms during the event.