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Swimming paves the road to success
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Posted on Feb 16 1999
Attaining goals through swimming has worked with many. Mike Villagomez, teacher of William S. Reyes School, testifies that this formula to success works.
Since the beach is just a stone’s throw away from the community, he took an early interest in swimming. This took him to college and later to school children in his effort to keep them busy after school.
Last Saturday, he was among young swimmers, as he looked back with thanks to the sport he came to love and continues to cheerish.
Together with Val Welch, a teacher of San Vicente School, both have championed the discipline, skills and glory of swimming using an after school grant from the federal government.
Villagomez hopes that one of their young members will follow his footsteps.
It was his swimming coach at Mt. Carmel School who believed his potentials. Since there was no scholarship on island (and until now) which recognized athletic talents, he sent letters to various schools in the mainland endorsing his student.
Vincent school, a junior college in Indiana, took Mike where he pursued an associate degree while he polished his swimming. He proceeded to the University of Annapolis where he finished his degree.
The path he took was shared by some of his friends who also secured a swimming scholarship in the mainland.
“A number who have gone off-island have swimming scholarships,” he said.
Upon his return, he wasted no time to encourage swimming among the youth.
“I think the local swimming team has gone a long way,” he said. Before, the only off-island swimming race he knew was held on Guam. Today, swimmers see action in Japan, Palau and even Hawaii.
He considers swimming as a potential revenue making for the government. Given the proper facility, the CNMI can lure swimmers to train and compete here. He cited the recent visit of the Buffalo team from Japan. The team makes this yearly visit to play on Saipan.
Blessed with a year-round tropical climate, the CNMI as a swimming destination is also beneficial for the government, he said.
He earlier reaped its rewards.
