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Villacrusis eyes swimming in collegiate level
Christian Villacrusis gets out of the pool after racing in the 12th Oceania Swimming Championships held in Papua New Guinea in June this year. (Oceania Swimming Championships)
Saipan Swim Club’s Christian Villacrusis hopes to race in collegiate level when he moves to Oregon.
“I am moving to Oregon so that I can continue my studies and swim career in George Fox University,” Villacrusis told Saipan Tribune.
George Fox University is a Division III school and just hired a new head coach in Natalie Turner. The Bruins compete in the Northern Conference and are the only Christian school in Oregon to offer men’s and women’s swimming as intercollegiate sport for the 2018-2019 school year. George Fox’s new season won’t open until this October.
At George Fox, Villacrusis will be majoring in exercise science.
“I plan on becoming a physical therapist,” the Mt. Carmel School graduate said.
With Villacrusis leaving SSC this fall, he hopes other swimmers of the club and future members of the CNMI national team will continue working hard and step up.
“To everybody from SSC and Tsunami Saipan, keep swimming hard and make the most out of the opportunities given to us by the federation. We have many big meets coming up, including the Worlds (world championships) and the Mini Games (2021 Pacific Mini Games), so make sure to give it your all,” Villacrusis said.
“I would also like to thank you guys for all the good times. I genuinely love all of you. You all know that I consider you guys as my family and I hope I was able to help ‘break the wall’ enough while I was there, right Juhn (Tenorio)?” he added.
Villacrusis also thanked those who allowed him to try other sports.
“While swimming was my main sport, it helped me become more athletic and I eventually made my way into triathlon, representing the CNMI in the Philippines. I was gifted with another great experience by Ricky Castro and TRAC (Triathlon Association of the CNMI), so I would like to thank them for giving me this opportunity and supporting me along the way,” he said.
Villacrusis added he will always represent the Commonwealth every time he races in the U.S.
“I will always remember where I am from and will continue to represent the CNMI in the mainland.”
