Over a hundred students compete in swim meet

Relays always play a big part in any sports competition, and on Saturday at the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool teams got their feet to cheer their respective teams on during the three relay events, a part of the 13-event schedule.

Nineteen teams from different schools around the island, including Tinian Elementary and Tinian Jr. High School, competed in the 8th All School Swimming Championships. The largest division was the elementary schools with 13 public and private schools participating, plus six junior high and five high school teams.

Saipan International School quite handily led all their competition with full squad of 18 swimmers. Although SIS only won three individual titles with Nicole Calvo, Melissa Halaby and Natasha Good leading the way, along with wins in both 200 Freestyle Relays, it was the support from the rest of team placing in the top six of each event for points that led to their win.

Tinian’s Seth Manglona took Tinian’s sole first place, and Cory San Nicholas also won Tinian a ribbon in this division.

Whispering Palms won second place with Ashkon Mahmoudi’s first place finish along while several other swimmers earned second place finishes, including their relays. Whispering Palms had 73 points, followed by San Vicente with 55 points, led by Myana Welch with two first place ribbons.

Several other swimmers substantially lowered their times by six seconds or more, including Priscilla Cabildo, Lilyjean Asanuma, Minerva Cabrera, Shanne Joseph, Efrain P. Camacho, Amanda Johnson and Mitchell Sinclair.

The Saipan Community School team had several of its elementary students competing at the junior high level so that they could continue their string of eight consecutive championships, as they did, beating second place Hopwood Jr. High (with their best finish with only three swimmers), by over 100 points, and third place went to Saipan International School with only two swimmers.

Bobby Cruz, Andi Negrete and Daniel Kim, Katie Nicholls and Dean Palacios made big time drops in times winning events in their junior high division, and again, Tinian’s Mark Lero picked up two ribbons.

The high school division, with the smallest number of swimmers entered was won by NMA, who won this meet on two previous occasions, with 38 points, followed by Eucon with 30 points and MBA with 29 points. MHS’ team of two swimmers Keoni Ichihara and Tamiko Winkfield was fourth with 28 points. Keoni and Tammy each won two events, but did not have enough swimmers to compete in the relays. Dean Palacios, Shoko Eri and Seung Gin Lee turned in good winning times.

While officials were tabulating the scores for the team perpetual trophies to be given to the winners of each division a waterpolo exhibition was held by Saipan Swim Club team members coached by Alan Buchanan. The white team won, scoring a 4-1 victory over the blues.

The trophies were then presented to Saipan International School, for winning the Elementary Division, Saipan Community School for winning the Junior High Division, and Northern Marianas Academy for winning the High School Division.

Final Team Scores

Elementary Schools

1. Saipan International School 123 pts.
2. Whispering Palms 73 pts.

3. San Vicente Elementary 55 pts.

4. GCA 35 pts.

5. Mt. Carmel School 22 pts.

6. Saipan Community School 21 pts.

7. WSR Elementary 19 pts.

8. Oleai Elementary 16 pts.

9. Tinian Elementary 13 pts.

10. Home School 12 pts.

11. Garapan Elementary 11 pts.

12. Kagman Elementary 1 pts.

13. GT Camacho 0 pts.

Junior High School

1. Saipan Community 163

2. Hopwood Jr. High 28

3. Saipan International 22

4. Tinian Jr. 8

4. Eucon 8

5. MBA 7

High School

1. Northern Marianas Academy 38

2. Eucon 30

3. Marianas Baptist Academy 29

4. MHS 28

5. GCA 14