DFS plays Santa Claus anew to swim club

Duty Free Shoppers Galleria stuffed Saipan Swim Club’s stockings full this past Christmas with a cash donation, which was recently turned over at the local business’ office in Garapan.

No less than Marian Aldan-Pierce, DFS Saipan division president, was on hand to present the $1,000-check to swim club coach Michael Stewart and assistant coach Stan Good. Tony Mosley, the swim club’s president, also joined the two coaches in the check presentation.

“DFS has always supported the team over the years. It has been a great corporate citizen that helps out with many community projects,” said Mosley.

For her part, Aldan-Pierce noted that this wasn’t the first time DFS extended a helping hand to the swim club.

“The swim club holds a fundraiser every year whereby swimmers go out and solicit for the club. DFS has always supported this effort,” she said.

Aldan-Pierce also said that the recent $1,000 donation was supposedly for needed repairs of the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool, which is the main facility used by the swim club.

“I read in the newspaper about the [starting] block that needed to be repaired, so I called them and wanted to make a donation for that purpose. Later, Stan Good advised me that Kan Pacific had already decided to do that on their own. So our donation was put in their general fund for other purposes,” she said.

Mosley said DFS’ donation would go a long way in the swim club’s goal of building a great community program and promote fitness throughout the CNMI.

“With the help of DFS, and other generous contributors such as Microl Toyota, the American Red Cross, and the CNMI government, we can keep building on a 30-year tradition of excellence in swimming,” he said.

Mosley went on to say that the swim club’s current coaches are continuing the hard work laid down by founders Bill and Jean Sakovich. He also thanked Marianas Resort and the entire community of Saipan for their continued support.

“Mike Stewart and Stan Good are down at the Marpi pool everyday to support the 60 plus children currently in the program. The Marianas Resort’s continued support of the pool and facilities has also been a godsend for the program.”

The Sakoviches established the swim club in 1974 when they started training 13 swimmers in the waters behind the Saipan Community School.

Over the years, swimmers from the club have brought home over 70 gold, 55 silver, and 50 bronze medals from the Micronesian Games and the South Pacific Games.

Many former swim club members have gone on to attend U.S. colleges, several on swimming scholarships.

Among them are Keith Ludwig, Mike Villagomez, Lora Harvey, David Palacios, Anneka Sakovich, Jon Sakovich, and Xenavee Pangelinan.

Other notable former Swim Club swimmers include Charles Cepeda, David Aldan, Dr. Ben Aldan, Ty Izuka, Ed Temengil, Mike Sablan, Frank Ada, Phil Sablan, Tim Goodwin, Vanessa Kosack, Jennifer Furey, Kristy Springer, and Jessica Jordan.