THE Northern Marianas Sports Association honors six athletes for their outstanding athletic performances in September and October.
They are eligible to be named Athletes of the Year and will be recognized at the annual NMSA awards banquet early next year.
Awardees for September
Female Student Athlete of the Month
Azriel Fatialofa – Basketball
Azriel Fatialofa is a student of Grace Christian Academy and winner of the first Player of the Week honors in the IT&E Interscholastic Basketball League, Middle School Division. The Week 1 honors covered the September 15 and 17 games and Azriel scored 34 points to lead the GCA Eagles to a 3-0 lead. She was such a dominant force in the league that, at one point when Hopwood Junior High School 1 (September 29) was threatening to hand GCA its first loss, Azriel came off the bench and scored 20 of the Eagles’ 28 points. Azriel led GCA to an unbeaten record (7-0) in the regular season. Azriel is also part of the NMI National Basketball Program, attending select players’ training sessions on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
Male Athlete of the Month
David Barnhouse – Weightlifting
David Barnhouse successfully competed in the first ever Oceania Weightlifting Championships to be tested via Internet. Competing in the 109+ kilogram category, he snatched 110 kg (242 pounds), clean and jerked 145 kg (319 pounds), for a total of 255 kg (561 pounds). His efforts earned him a silver medal and his first ever rank in the Oceania Weightlifting Federation and International Weightlifting Federation. His accomplishments are particularly noteworthy because there were no crowds or audience to cheer/motivate his efforts. Additionally, David is the head coach for the CNMI national weightlifting team, doing double duty as an athlete and as a coach.
Awardees for October
Female Student Athlete of the Month
Beatrice Gross – Soccer
Beatrice Gross was selected as the most valuable player in the Summer Season PSS Elementary Interscholastic Soccer League or ISL that ended on October 6, 2021. The 10-year-old is a multi- sport student-athlete of Saipan International School. Playing as a goalie in the Summer Season of the ISL, her defense helped the SIS Elementary Team win the Championship against the Spring Season champion Koblerville Elementary School. Beatrice also played for the U-12 Coed Division of the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association’s Youth League under Paire Football Club. Beatrice is also a trainee of the NMIFA Junior National Academy. The academy is the pool of elite players being groomed to be future members of the NMI national teams.
Male Student Athlete of the Month
Jazzroy Villagomez – Soccer
Jazzroy Villagomez, a 5th grader at Garapan Elementary School, was the best player on the school’s team that won third place in the Summer Season PSS Elementary Interscholastic Soccer League that ended on October 6, 2021. He was very dominant throughout the league and was the Golden Boot winner. He scored a total of 29 goals, including 10 goals in the quarterfinals match. He averaged almost 5 goals per match in league play. Jazzroy is now a very active soccer player. He plays for Paire Football Club in two competitive divisions — U-12 Coed and U-15 Boys. Jazzroy is also among the trainees of the NMIFA Junior National Academy. The academy is the pool of elite players being groomed to be future members of the NMI national teams.
Female Athlete of the Month
Malou Malasarte – Badminton
Malou Malasarte reigned supreme in two divisions in the TakeCare Badminton Open 2021. She first clinched the women’s B singles title after beating Rowena Houck, 21-20, 21-5. Earlier in the semis, Malasarte was paired with the much younger and quicker Angie Ito and pulled off a 21-14, 14-21, 21-17 win to move into the singles finale. In the doubles, Malasarte teamed up with Hajin Oh and they topped Bracket A and eventually lorded it over in the division after beating Bracket B winners Lance Gallardo and Hannah Choi, 21-18, 21-10. Malasarte also played in the women’s B doubles, but she and Houck lost to Choi and Windy Fernandez in the semis.
Male Athlete of the Month
Sefric Veloria – Badminton
Sefric Veloria took home two titles in the TakeCare Badminton Open 2021 after topping the men’s C singles and doubles events. He was undefeated in the single play, securing the championship following a 21-14, 21-18 victory over Paulo Quidato. In the doubles competition, he and Dez Antonio were unbeaten in four games to reach the finals. Veloria and Antonio lost to Leonard Manuel and Noel Waitwat in the first game of the finals, 17-21, but recovered in the last two, 21-12, 21-17, to win the division. Veloria is among many newcomers in the badminton community, but is able to improve his game quickly as he regularly trains with players in the Class A level.
Azriel Fatialofa
David Barnhouse
Beatrice Gross
Jazzroy Villagomez
Malou Malasarte
Sefric Veloria
