(NMSA) — Team Marianas will have 115 athletes and officials participating in the 2024 Micronesian Games, which will be held in the Marshall Islands from June 15 to 24, 2024.
The Team Marianas delegation will compete in eight sports: athletics, basketball, beach volleyball, fast-pitch softball, swimming, tennis, weightlifting, and wrestling.
“The registration for the 2024 Micronesian Games has officially closed last May 15 and the Northern Marianas Sports Association submitted the names of 90 athletes and 25 officials for accreditation for this year’s Micro Games. Team Marianas athletes have been preparing for their respective competitions for months and we have full confidence in their ability to put on a strong performance against our brothers and sisters in Micronesia,” Chef De Mission Valerie Hofschneider said.
Team Marianas is led by familiar names that have either competed in the 2018 Micronesian Games in Yap or represented the NMI in the 2023 Pacific Games in Solomon Islands. Among them are Isaiah Aleksenko of swimming, Tania Tan and Zarinae Sapong of athletics, and Antonette Labausa of weightlifting. Aleksenko won four medals (one gold and three bronzes) in the 2023 Pacific Games, while Tan had a pair of gold medals (5,000m and 10,000m) in the same competition. Sapong notched four medals (gold, silver, and two bronzes) in the 2018 Micro Games, while Labausa brought home three gold medals in the weightlifting competition.
Labausa and six other NM weightlifters will compete on June 16 and 17, while Team Marianas beach volleyball players will be the first to see action in the Micro Games as their tournament will be held from June 15 to 18. Athletics will run from June 19 to 24; basketball (5×5) and fast pitch will be from June 17 to 24; tennis is slated from June 20 to 23; and wrestling will take place on June 23 and 24. All these competitions will be held in Majuro, while the swimming events are scheduled in Kwajalein from June 17 to 21.
Team Marianas was able to assemble more than 100 delegates for this year’s Micronesian Games because of the strong support it received from the business community and NMI residents.
Team Marianas is sponsored by Mariana Express Lines Pte. Ltd, Skechers, Joeten Daidai Foundation, Triple J Motors, E-Land Group, D&Q, TakeCare Insurance, IT&E, Bank of Guam, Black Construction Corporation, Dial-Rent-To-Own, RNV Constructions, GPPC/Apex Builders, Matson, Chinese Association of Saipan, Y.K. Corporation, LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort, P&A Corporation, Jose & Ruri Ayuyu Foundation, and Zoom Café.
“On behalf of NMSA, we would like to acknowledge the commitment of the athletes and officials and their respective national federations for the Micro Games and as well as the generous support of Team Marianas sponsors and our local community that participated in the fundraising efforts for our delegation,” Hofschneider said.
“We are all in this together, sharing the responsibility to be able to participate in the 2024 Micronesian Games, represent the NMI well, and bring honor to our beloved islands,” she added.
The athletes
The following are the athletes and officials of Team Marianas:
Athletics: (Athletes) Tania Tan, Zarinae Sapong, Lia and Kina Rangamar, Maria Quitugua, Cheraline Epity, Casey Cruz, Takeru Jim, Daniel Joab, Alexander Camacho, Dereck Rangamar, Christopher Cruz, Jared Ayuyu, Lyle Pedro, Pony and Simon Tang, Theodore Rodgers, Justin Camacho, Cody Shimizu, and Douglas Schmidt; (Officials) Robin Eugenio, Ronald Olopai, and Elias Rangamar
Basketball: (Women’s) Silvina Simram, Yasmeen Younis, Kaia Travilla, Michelle Kautz, Lia Rangamar, Destiny Pangelinan, Madeleine Alegre, Azriel Fatialofa, Lalaine Pagarao, Cassandra Camacho, and Alliyah Fernandez; (Men’s) Lucio Aldan, Airson and Aiferson Atan, Douglas Schmidt, Preston Basa, Coby Santos, Jericho Cruz, Chioni Dela Cruz, Gregory Sablan, Marvin Rabauliman, Djay Ong, James Lee, Joaquin Liza, and Antoni Ogumoro; (Officials) Connie Camacho, Marlene Lumabi, Rufino and Carlos Aguon, and John Henry Sablan
Beach Volleyball: (Athletes) Aurora Santos, Kathleen Winkfield, Dylan Mister, Jermaine Salas
Fastpitch Softball: (Athletes) Ashilie Aguon, Christy Aldan, Jaylina and Kiara Borja, Angel and Rayna Deleon Guerrero, Jenisha Dubrall, Mayiah Duenas, Britney Gopez, Destiny Pangelinan, Allannah Sablan, Rosie Saralu, Kiana Aldan, Jhaneeka Atalig, Kiana Camacho, and Keolani Rios; (Officials) Mark Flores, Manuel Sablan Jr., Mariano Aguon, and Derron Flores.
Swimming (Athletes): Sari Barman, Maria Batallones, Maria Guerrero, Shoko Litulumar, Frances Raho, Nagi Tenorio, Isaiah Aleksenko, Justin Ma, Michael Miller, Kean Pajarillaga, Kouki Watanabe, and Richard Zhao; (Officials) John Hirsh, Hiro and Yuko Kimura, Dirk Sikkel, and David Roberto Jr.
Tennis (Athletes): Hannah Chae, Isabel Heras, Hoo Wang, Irin Chung, La Hunn Lam, Colin Ramsey, Robert Schorr, and Si Woo Lee; (Officials) Jeff Race and John Bradley
Weightlifting (Athletes): Riella Ichiuo, Antonette Labausa, Kaya Rasa, Jaden Andrew, Leowell Cristobal, Lucio Eugenio, and Joseph Pangelinan; (Official) John Davis
Wrestling: (Athletes); Frank Camacho, Ryan Babauta, and James Attao-Green; (Officials) Jason Tarkong and Richard and Kerri Bauer.
