Interscholastic sports competitions return

The Saipan Southern High School Manta Rays boys team is the defending champion of the Public School System Interscholastic Outrigger Canoe Race. They are seen here celebrating after coming in first in the 1,000m during the final day of the 2021-2022 competoition held in the waters off Kilili Beach in Susupe last April. (MARK RABAGO )

First up in a series of interscholastic sports competitions for the last half of the 2022-2023 school year is the continuation of the middle school girls volleyball tournament, followed by a long list of sporting events that will wrap up the school year.

For the third quarter of the school year which runs from January to March, middle school girls volleyball finished up the regular season last night, with the playoffs set for tomorrow, Thursday, Jan. 12, and the championship games scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 14.

Co-ed high school badminton is scheduled to begin on Jan. 21; co-ed high school va’a set to begin Feb. 4; boys middle school volleyball—dates TBA (to be announced); co-ed elementary grass volleyball; boys high school basketball—dates TBA; and girls high school fastpitch softball (pending fields and officials with dates TBA); and girls middle school soccer set to begin on March 26.

Nick Gross, Public School System Student Support Services Athletic Program director, talks during the opening day of badminton competition at the TSL Sports Complex last October. (LEIGH GASES)

For the final quarter of 2023 from late March to May, is the PSS/McDonald’s All School Athletics Championships (9U, 12U, 14U, & 18U divisions for both male and female students); co-ed elementary “coach pitch” softball (pending fields and officials with dates TBA); boys middle school basketball; girls middle school fastpitch softball (pending fields and officials with dates TBA); girls high school soccer; and boys high school volleyball.

Nick Gross, Public School System athletics program director, said via an email interview that the “PSS Athletic Programs aims to continue strengthening our partnerships with NMSA Member Federations to improve the delivery of sport, as well as implementing our long awaited Fastpitch softball seasons as we are looking forward to refurbishing many of our school campus ballfields.  Our programs will continue seamlessly throughout the remainder of the school year (June 2023).”

The beginning of the 2022-2023 school year saw the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic which began in 2020, that interscholastic sports saw an uninterrupted sports season. With that, Gross was asked how he would rate the program and he said an 8/10.

“Although this equates to an 80%, I feel that 2022 was a great year in returning to more ‘normal’ (whatever that means) programming and providing students with access to meaningful athletic opportunities. It was disappointing to forgo our annual PSS/McDonald’s All Schools Athletic Championships, last school year due to the preparations required to host the 2022 Pacific Mini Games, but now that we have a brand new (again, again) resurfaced track, we are super excited [to] offer the program again this spring. Overall, 2022 was a great year to re-start the programs we offer students and we hope to continue in 2023!”

Even with the Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games 2022 canceling the athletic championships last school year, Gross said that PSS’ role in the Games was a huge highlight of 2022. “Narrowing 2022 down to one specific highlight is difficult, but the role PSS played in ensuring a successful hosting of the Pacific Mini Games was surely one of the major highlights as it provided a platform for the students of the CNMI to witness Oceania’s top athletes firsthand and improve our local sport infrastructure, ensuring top-notch sport venues for years to come!”

Gross then encouraged more people to take part in the PSS Athletic Programs. “I would like to encourage the entire community to take a more active role in creating the community they wish to be part of! PSS Athletic Programs and all of our partner federations are continually looking to expand our offerings and improve the delivery of sport. With the support of the sporting community, we can and will accomplish these goals!”