CNMI Weightlifting begins recruitment for Mini Games

Antonette Labausa, CNMI Weightlifting Team coach for the upcoming Pacific Mini Games, trains during the Northern Marianas Cup Weightlifting Tournament held at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe last March. (Kimberly B. Esmores)

With the 2022 Pacific Mini Games a little over a year away, the CNMI Weightlifting Team has started to see interest from a handful of individuals.

According to Antonette Labausa, CNMI Weightlifting national coach for the upcoming Pacific Mini Games, although nothing has been set in stone yet, around eight individuals have already expressed their interest in participating in the 2022 Pacific Mini Games.

“We have a few athletes who have shown interest but nothing is official just yet I think there is about eight people who have shown interest including me and [co-coach] David Barnhouse,” she said.

Labausa said recruitment continues so anyone interested can reach out to her or Barnhouse to become part of the team, the catch, you must be committed and hardworking.

“Our training has always been all year round and we are always training people however, officially starting as national coaches, we are currently in the process of looking to create our national team of hardworking and committed athletes to start training together,” she said.

Labausa and Barnhouse were recently appointed as national coaches for the CNMI Weightlifting Team to represent the islands in the upcoming Mini Games which is a huge honor according to Labausa.

“I feel honored to be chosen as one of the national coaches. I am excited to see what we can do in this short amount of time that we have before the Pacific Games but I’m also hoping we continue to build and develop weightlifting even when the games are done. This is just the beginning,” she said.

According to CNMI Weightlifting president John Davis, Barnhouse and Labausa were selected as the national coaches for their extensive experience in weightlifting both nationally and internationally. In addition, they both are certified coaches with USA Weightlifting.

“CNMI Weightlifting is pleased to announce the selection of national coaches David Barnhouse and Antonette Labausa. Both Barnhouse and Labausa are experienced athletes, as well as coaches with certification from USA Weightlifting, the national governing body overseeing the sport of weightlifting in the United States,” said Davis.

The pair will serve in these positions until December 2022.

Everyone interested in competing in weightlifting at the Pacific Mini Games must be a member in good standing with CNMI Weightlifting, must compete in at least two local level competitions, must be at least 15 years old, must produce a passport and/or proof of residency at the time of weigh-in at the Pacific Mini Games, and must be selected to the national team.

For more information, interested participants can contact Barnhouse at 789-7636 and Labausa can be contacted at 285-2286.