4 named top athletes of the month

Richardson

Four earned top athletes of the month honors from the Northern Marianas Sports Association after their outstanding performances in different competitions last April.

Marianas High School’s Jerlyn Castillo and Koblerville Elementary School’s Jose Maratita were named Tan Siu Lin Foundation/NMSA Female and Male Student Athlete of the Month after leading their respective teams to victories. NMI Rollers Basketball U19 Black Team’s Matthew Richardson and biker July Rose Felipe, on the other hand, were presented with the NMSA Male and Female Athlete of the Month.

Castillo

Castillo played for the Shirley’s Football Club in the Dove Women’s Spring League 2021 and towed the team to the title win in Division A. In April, she scored two goals in their 7-2 win over TanHoldings FC, while he recorded three in their 5-2 triumph over Kanoa and one in the 3-3 draw versus Southern United FC to finish the season with 13 goals.

Maratita

Maratita was also on target in the 2020-2021 NMIFA Interscholastic Soccer League, firing 17 goals, including a hat-trick that lifted Koblerville to a 6-2 title victory over Saipan Community School last April 22. The 10-year-old student was the Golden Boot awardee of the competition.

Richardson earned the nod of NMSA members and officials for the Male Athlete of the Month recognition following his triple-double performance in their championship game against the Sonics, 92-54. The Northern Marianas College student scored 11 points, 12 assists, 16 rebounds, and 4 steals to hand the NMI Rollers Basketball U19 Black Team the division crown and win the Finals MVP as well.

Felipe

Felipe completed the April honor roll for clinching first place in the women’s division of the 40K Saipan Unity Lions Club Bike Race held last April 25.

Napu women’s outrigger team recognized
Meanwhile, NMSA also handed out the Team of The Month honors and it went to the Napu Outrigger Canoe Club’s women’s crew.

Jenisha Dubrall, Maiyah Duenas, Momoko Halstead, Heather Calderwood, Kaya Rasa, Kiara Kaipat, Nadja Norita, Clarissa Tagabuel, Danika Tagabuel, Megan Barnes, Wallis Kaipat, and Alisa Gathamgeg are the team members and they made it to the April honor list after sweeping the 500m, 1,000m, and long-distance races in the 2021 Northern Marianas National Paddle Sports Federation season opener.