DONIVAN Benavente Mendiola, who has reached several personal milestones in local sports and the United States armed forces, is an inspiration to the local youth.
The 28-year-old infantry fire team leader in the U.S. Army is also happily married to wife Jarene for seven years now, and they have two wonderful kids: Janeya Paige and Jaedon Scott.
Recently, he was promoted to the noncommissioned officer corps. In Nov. 2021, Mendiola was named Soldier of the Month, and in the following month, he was the Soldier of the Quarter.
In Jan. 2022, he completed the Basic Leader Course.
“I will be competing for the Soldier of the Year Award and if I do win that then I will be competing in Hawaii for the PACOM Soldier of the Year Award,” Mendiola said. “That has been one of my goals that I have been chasing for about a year now.”
He is currently stationed in South Korea with the 8th Army HHB, TANGO Security Force.
He said sports turned him into a fitness buff.
“I was a chubby kid growing up. Always loving and enjoying island food. But in 2010 I lost 60 pounds when I joined the junior varsity basketball team of Marianas High School.”
Since then, he had also competed in discus throw, hammer throw, shot put and long distance events.
But that was not the end of it. He likewise participated in the Saipan Marathon and the Hell of the Marianas 100km bike race, and was an MMA fighter.
Then in 2015, he started joining bodybuilding/physique competitions.
“[Gold’s Gym trainer] Aaron Tomokane invited me to join a Dee Clayton Classic Competition and I fell in love with the sport since then,” Mendiola said.
He placed third in 2015 and in 2017 he won the overall bodybuilding championship and finished first in his weight category.
He also competed on Guam and won third place in two Hawaii events: the Ikaika Classic and the Shawn Ray Classic also in 2017.
“I plan to compete sometime in the near future here in South Korea, to test my skills against their bodybuilders,” Mendiola said.
On Saipan, he trained with Derek Cutting, owner of Latte Built gym, for the South Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea and became one of the gym’s personal trainers in 2017 and 2018.
Mendiola is an elite trainer of the International Sports Sciences Association and is working to become a master fitness trainer.
“What influenced me to become a personal trainer is my experience in life as a chubby kid, not knowing what to work out on or eat,” he said. “Also, as an athlete, not knowing much about how muscles work and develop and how crucial nutrition is.”
Mendiola added, “I just want to help people who want to be healthy and lead a fit lifestyle, or athletes or soldiers in the Army who want to have a better PT score or those who want to compete in any type of sport.”
Mendiola said he loves “taking on challenges that will help me grow, succeed and become a more resilient leader. Not only as an Army leader but also as a father and husband at home. I want to be able to be a role model for my kids and show them that anything is possible if you put hard work, time and effort into any goal or dream of your choice.”
A typical day for Mendiola includes waking early for his first workout. He also works out before bedtime.
“As long as you get the right food into your body and have a good amount of time for your body to rest then it’s very much possible to get these workouts done,” he said.
“Also, I’d like to say I wouldn’t be where I’m at today if it wasn’t for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and most importantly my wife who always supports me with every goal I set.”
Donivan Mendiola was named Soldier of the Quarter in December 2021.
Donivan Mendiola, center, poses with Dee Clayton, left, and Derek Cutting, right, after winning 1st place in the Dee Clayton Classic in 2017.
