Marianas High School’s Cody Shimizu, center, the U18 boys MVP, with McDonald’s Middle Road general manager Jocelyn Asistores, Northern Marianas Athletics development officer Elias Rangamar, McDonald’s of Guam and Saipan Executive Assistant to the President Mable Ayuyu Glenn, and PSS Athletics Program Director Nick Gross, during the awards ceremony at McDonald’s Middle Road on Monday.
Saipan International School’s Kaithlyn Chavez, center, the U18 girls MVP, with McDonald’s Middle Road general manager Jocelyn Asistores, Northern Marianas Athletics development officer Elias Rangamar, McDonald’s of Guam and Saipan Executive Assistant to the President Mable Ayuyu Glenn, and PSS Athletics Program Director Nick Gross, during the awards ceremony at McDonald’s Middle Road on Monday.
Saipan International School’s Moshe Sikkel, center, the U14 boys MVP, with McDonald’s Middle Road general manager Jocelyn Asistores, Northern Marianas Athletics development officer Elias Rangamar, McDonald’s of Guam and Saipan Executive Assistant to the President Mable Ayuyu Glenn, and PSS Athletics Program Director Nick Gross, during the awards ceremony at McDonald’s Middle Road on Monday.
Tinian Jr. High School’s Ysabelle Lanteja, center, the U14 girls MVP, with McDonald’s Middle Road general manager Jocelyn Asistores, Northern Marianas Athletics development officer Elias Rangamar, McDonald’s of Guam and Saipan Executive Assistant to the President Mable Ayuyu Glenn, and PSS Athletics Program Director Nick Gross, during the awards ceremony at McDonald’s Middle Road on Monday.
THE Most Valuable Players in the 2022-2023 McDonald’s-PSS All School Athletics tournament were recognized Monday at McDonald’s Middle Road.
They are U14’s Ysabelle Lanteja of Tinian Jr. High School and Moshe Sikkel of Saipan International School, and U18’s Kaithlyn Chavez of Saipan International School and Cody Shimizu of Marianas High School.
In her remarks, McDonald’s of Guam and Saipan Executive Assistant to the President Mable Ayuyu Glenn said: “It is both an honor and privilege to host today’s ceremony. Each of you receiving today’s award symbolizes excellence in athleticism and played a key role in contributing success to your entire team. You also represent motivation, courage, dedication, and above all, teamwork.”
She added, “We will continue to play a role in supporting you and the sport that you’ve grown to love and enjoy. Thank you for molding the next generation of athletes that believe in good sportsmanship. On behalf of McDonald’s of Saipan and the Ayuyu family, congratulations to our distinguished MVPs — you are an inspiration to the schools you represent and the island that we call home.”
Ysabelle Lanteja, who represented Tinian Jr. High School, won gold in the 100M, 200M, 400M and long jump.
“I was really surprised to have so many trophies,” Lanteja said, adding that athletics is something she wants to pursue as a career.
She has been into athletics since second grade, and her strengths are in the short distance events. “I don’t have a lot of stamina, but it feels so good to win first place,” she said.
Moshe Sikkel excelled in the 200M and 400M events, placed second in the 800M, and third in the 1500M.
“I feel like I shouldn’t have gotten this award,” he said. “I think they [the competition] are faster than me, but I like to stick to my own events.” His advice to upcoming athletes is, “Don’t give up even if you lose one year, you can always win next year.”
In the U18 division, Kaithlyn Chavez recorded a perfect score of 50 points by winning gold in the 400M, 800M and 1500M events. She was also part of the SIS team that won gold in the relays.
“I was actually surprised [to win the award] because there were a lot of good runners,” she said. “When I found out I got this award, I knew all the hard work paid off. I’m very happy, props to my girls — without them I would not have gotten this award.”
She added, “Thank you to my team, [SIS headmaster] Dr. Ron Snyder and my parents — they have always been there and are one of my biggest supporters.”
Cody Shimizu claimed the U18 boys MVP award with 46 points. He earned a silver in 200M, gold in 400M and 800M, was fifth in long jump, and helped MHS earn a medal in the 4X400 relay.
