NMSA announces 2022 athletes, teams of the month 

NMSA 2022 Male Student Athletes of the Month, Isaiah Aleksenko, fourth from left, Andrei Derek Tenorio, Juhn Tenorio, Michael Miller, and Lance Lerio pose with their plaques during the during the 2022 NMSA Annual Sports Award Banquet last Tuesday evening at the Hibiscus Hall of the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan.(LEIGH GASES)

Several student and adult athletes along with teams were named the Athletes of the Month for the respective months in 2022 during the 2022 NMSA Annual Sports Award Banquet last Tuesday evening at the Hibiscus Hall of the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan.

Only two student athletes—Isaiah Aleksenko and Kaithlyn Chavez—were named Athlete of the Month for two months. 

Aleksenko claimed the title for February and December in the sport of swimming and triathlon, while Chavez claimed February and October for athletics and triathlon.

Other male student athletes were Andrei Derek Tenorio for the sport of basketball and received the award for the month of April; Juhn Tenorio received the award for June for swimming; Michael Miller for athletics received the award for October; and Lance Lerio for the sport of basketball received the award for November.

NMSA 2022 Female Student Athletes of the Month Destiny Pangelinan, fourth from left, Zhimin Jin, Azriel Fatialofa, and Maria Batallones pose with their plaques during the 2022 NMSA Annual Sports Award Banquet last Tuesday evening at the Hibiscus Hall of the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan. (LEIGH GASES)

For the other female athlete awardees, Destiny Pangelinan for the sport of basketball won the award for April; Zhimin Jin for golf received the award for June; Azriel Fatialofa for basketball received the award for November; and Maria Batallones for swimming received the award for December.

For the male adult athletes of the month, Nate Guerrero of badminton won for February; Coby Santos of basketball won for April; for June, Colin Sinclair of tennis received the award along with weightlifting’s Raymond Santos, David Barnhouse, Jason Limes, and Joey Colisao; Javin Okawa of bodybuilding won for November; and Manny Sitchon of cycling won for the month December.

The female adult athlete of the month of January and April was Tania Tan who also received the Athlete of the Year; Alliyah Fernandez of basketball received the award for January; Janelle Pangilinan of badminton received for February; E’anna Won of basketball received for June; Zarinae Sapong of athletics won for July; Denise Myers of athletics received for October; Kaia Travilla of basketball received for November; and Robyn Spaeth of cycling received for December.

The team of the month for February was the NMI National Badminton Team consisting of Nathan Guerrero, Andreau Galvez, Jordan Pangilinan, Ezekiel Macario, Daniel Macario, Leonard Manuel, Paulo Quidato, Janelle Pangilinan, Jenine Savellano, Jeanalyn Cardinio, Patricia Surima, Windy Fernandez, and Mikamaika Serrano. 

For the month of April, the team of the month went to Saipan Southern High School boys outrigger team made up of Tyler Andrew, Skye Kawgdoo, Philip Aldan, Marion Sayas, Josh Socorro, Eric David, Mikee Peters, Noel Roque, Casiano Aldan, and Jerriko Gaan.

The month of June went to the CNMI Weightlifting National Team. The team consists of Pipit Ball, Cheyanne Manuel, Riella Ann Ichiuo, Joseph Tudela, Angel San Nicolas, Raymond Santos, Jason Limes, Leowell Cristobal, Joey Colisao, Emmanuel Aquino, Leonardo Apelo Jr., Antonette Labausa, and David Barnhouse Jr.

The Saipan International School U18 female cross country team won the award for October. The team includes Julie Ann Chavez, Serin Chung, Kaithlyn Chavez, Tiana Cabrera, and Aubrey Castro.

The SIS middle school badminton team won the award for November. They are Nara Kim, Lina Tsukagoshi, Frank Li, Allen He, Michael Zhou, and Jason Yu.

Finally, for the month of December, the NMI National Swimming Team won the award. The team consists of Isaiah Aleksenko, Jinnosuke Suzuki, Maria Batallones, and Shoko Litulumar.