The mixed division team of Mount Carmel School pushes through the final leg of the Mixed 1000m event during the PSS-NMNPSF Interscholastic Outrigger Race Series SY24-25 on Saturday at Kilili Beach.
Photo by James F. Sablan Jr.
FOR the past couple of years, the PSS-NMNPSF Interscholastic Outrigger Race Series had only three participating schools — Marianas High School, Saipan Southern High School, and Kagman High School. But for the SY24-25 season, Mount Carmel School has returned to the scene and plans to stay for the foreseeable future.
“I think it was just the genuine interest of the students,” MCS team coach Dayna Macaranas said. “Initially, only a handful of students reached out about rejoining the outrigger race series and, after some thought and time, decided to go through with the decision. Honestly, I’m actually really glad they all brought up the idea of having a team and eventually the rest of the kids tried it out and liked it.”
Although the MCS paddlers are new and inexperienced athletes, they still made waves in this year’s competition. The MCS girls, in particular, finished third, which is not a bad start for a returning team.
“It was great,” Macaranas said. “Honestly, I am so proud of the Knights. They did a fantastic job, considering that they’re all new paddlers, and they only had two months of training to be exact —they did amazing,” she added.
“There were some mishaps here and there, but it was just a matter of blending as a crew,” she said.
When asked if they will return for another year of competition, Macaranas said, “We’re coming back for everybody. We’re looking towards making this a permanent spot in the outrigger community.”
Macaranas thanked the Northern Marianas National Paddle Sports Federation and its president, Justin Andrew, MCS, its students the parents of the paddlers, and the outrigger community.
“I really am appreciative that they all showed up — thanks to everybody!” Macaranas added.
Macaranas and her co-coach Darian Salas are both Mount Carmel School graduates.
