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Hall of Fame selection committee formed
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Posted on Feb 16 2012
By Roselyn Monroyo
Reporter
Reporter
Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association has created a selection committee for the CNMI Sports Hall of Fame.
The committee, composed of Tony Rogolifoi, Kurt Barnes, Jeff Race, Elias, Rangamar, and Rose Igitol, is given the right to nominate individuals to the elite list of CNMI athletes/officials.
NMASA president Michael White during the association’s meeting early this month clarified that although a selection committee has been created, NMASA member-sports federations can still nominate individuals to the CNMI Hall of Fame. He added that the committee was formed just to give individuals not affiliated with any NMASA member associations, but made significant contributions to CNMI sports the recognition they deserve. In the past, only NMASA member-groups are allowed to nominate individuals to the Hall of Fame.
NMASA started inducting athletes/officials to the select company in 2004 with Bill and Jean Sakovich, Tony Rogolifoi, and Mike Villlagomez making the list first and were later joined by the late Irene Alpet, Tony Satur, Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios, Kurt Barnes, Cecilia Lisua, Jose Tenorio Sablan, Ricardo Duenas, Antonio Benavente, Jess Wabol, Frank Castro, Jeff Race, and Tino Olopai.
The CNMI Hall of Fame was created in 2003 through House Bill 13-113, introduced by Reps. Daniel O. Quitugua, Ramon A. Tebuteb, and Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero.
NMASA banquet today
Meanwhile, the NMASA Annual Sports Banquet will take place today at the Saipan Grand Hotel.
The ceremony starts at 6pm and monthly awardees and officials of NMASA-affiliated associations are invited to attend the annual event.
NMASA will honor the top coaches, teams, athletes, and officials in the awards ceremony for their significant performance in 2011. Winners of the Male and Female Athletes of the Year and TSL Foundation Student Athletes of the Year came from the monthly awardees.
Last year, tennis’ Christian Miller and athletics’ Lia Rangamar took the student plums, while sprinter Yvonne Bennett and swimmer Rezne Wong claimed the adults awards. Baseball’s Rogolifoi was named 2010 Coach of the Year, while Olopai was inducted to the CNMI Hall of Fame.
