NMSA seeks Hall of Fame nominees

NMASA president Michael White, right, is congratulated by NMASA secretary Ross Igitol after the former was inducted to the CNMI Sports Hall of Fame during the 2014 NMASA Awards Banquet held early this year at the Seaside Hall of Kanoa Resort. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

“The Northern Marianas Sports Association’s special committee for the Sports Hall of Fame is now accepting nominations for individuals to be considered as inductees for 2015. As many as four individuals will be inducted in to the SHOF in February 2015 as an athlete, coach, official, or administrator,” said committee official and CNMI Hall of Famer Dr. Kurt Barnes.

Individuals selected will get recognition at the 2015 NMSA Annual Sports Banquet and will join the elite group of athletes and officials who made significant contributions to the Commonwealth sports. Besides Barnes, others who made the select circle were Jean and Bill Sakovich, Kurt Barnes, Mike VIllagomez, Jeff Race, Frank Castro, Tony Rogolifoi, Tony Satur, Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios, Cecilia Lisua, Jose Tenorio Sablan, Ricardo Duenas, Antonio Benavente, the late Jess Wabol and Irene Alpet, Mel Sakisat, Michael White, and Bertha Chong. White, Sakisat and Chong were the latest inductees, as they were lauded early this year during the 2014 NMSA Annual Sports Banquet at the Seaside Hall of the Kanoa Resort.

NMSA and its special committee for the CNMI Sports Hall of Fame have set criteria for SHOF nominees. Athletes and officials must be at least 35 years old and should be involved in his/her sports for at least 10 years. For coaches and administrators, age requirement is at least 45, while minimum involvement in sports is 15 years. Nominees must be a U.S. citizen or have achieved distinction as a CNMI representative and must have resided in the Commonwealth for at least 10 years. Nominations could be made only by local federations that have good standing with NMSA. Deadline for submission of nominees is set for Sept. 30.

“Nominations should contain a cover letter detailing the individual’s name, age, years in specific sport, specific sport being nominated for, whether the individual is an athlete, coach, administrator or official and why the individual is being nominated. A second page must include statistics or information regarding the nominee’s experience background,” Barnes said.

Selections will be made during the NMSA meeting at the end of the year. NMSA is allowed to choose as many as three athletes every year, but no more than two could be of the same gender and no more than one from one sport. As for the other categories, only one coach and one administrator/official may be inductee to the elite circle every year.

Nomination documents can be dropped off at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium or emailed to Barnes at dr.kurtbarnes@rocketmail.com. For more information, contact Tony Rogolifoi or Elias Rangamar at 234-6674 or Barnes at 235-5853.