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Babauta vows stronger Oceania Wrestling performance
CNMI wrestler Ryan Babauta vows to have a stronger performance in the 2016 Oceania Wrestling Championships to be hosted by Hamilton, New Zealand on March 11 and 12.
The CNMI’s Ryan Babauta, left, poses with a female participant in the beach wrestling event of this year’s Oceania Wrestling Championships in Majuro, Marshall Islands.
(Contributed Photo)
Babauta said, in a Facebook post, that he still managed to overcome the odds despite the hardships he faced preparing for this year’s Oceania championships, which was a qualifying tournament for the Junior World Championship in Brazil last August and Senior World Championship in Las Vegas last month September.
“I had so many downfalls in the 2015 OWC. Dieting wasn’t good, injuries left and right, and just overall unprepared for what was to come. But I still tried my best for my island of Saipan,” said Babauta.
Cadet, junior, senior, freestyle, Greco-Roman, women’s wrestling, and beach wrestling are the events that will be offered in the OCW in New Zealand.
In this year’s OWC in Marshall Islands, Babauta represented the CNMI in an international tournament for the first time. He won six medals, two of which were gold (high school wrestling and juniors Greco-Roman) in Majuro.
He also won a silver medal in junior freestyle and bronzes in high school wrestling, seniors Greco-Roman (96kgs), and beach wrestling (85kgs).
Department of Public Safety acting public information officer Jason Tarkong was his coach and trainer.
Babauta added that Tarkong, who is also his uncle, urged and helped him prepare for the OWC in Majuro to gain experience in an international tournament.
“So, this coming 2016 OWC, I will be more than ready to represent Saipan again and bring back more medals. For the honor and glory of the island of Saipan.
It was the Marshal Islands’ first time to host an Oceania Championship in any sport and a total of 100 delegates from 16 Pacific Island nations—American Samoa, Australia, the CNMI, Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia (Tahiti), Guam, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, and Tuvalu—joined the OWC.
