Swimmers and sprinters hailed

Swimmers David Palacios and Nina Mosley, as well as sprinters Darrel Roligat and Jacque Wonenberg took center stage last night as the four were recognized as the top athletes in 2005 during the Annual Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association Awards Banquet at the Saipan Grand Hotel.

Palacios made a successful return to the sport he loves and represented the CNMI well in the South Pacific Mini Games in Palau last summer by hauling in seven medals.

The 26-year-old veteran of numerous international competitions bagged five silver medals in the 50m butterfly, 100m butterfly, 200m butterfly, 50m backstroke, and 400m medley relay while netting two bronze medals as part of the 400m freestyle relay and 800m freestyle relay.

“I’m very surprised,” Palacios said shortly after receiving the award. “I had no idea. I was just sitting and wondering who the athlete of the year was going to be and I never thought it was going to be me.”

Palacios said he was happy with his performance in Palau and looks to continue training for future meets.

“I felt that I did very well. I trained very hard. I was thinking of this being my last year but I was thinking about going to Samoa, so maybe I’ll train hard. Swimming pays I guess,” he said.

Also proving herself with impressive performances throughout the entire year was Mosley, who was athlete of the month four times in 2005.

Mosley first grab bed attention after dominating a meet in March as she swam in four events, winning them all while setting a new Saipan Swim Club record, as well as CNMI National record in the 50m freestyle with a time of 28.57 seconds. She also competed in and won the 2.5K Ocean Swim.

Mosley then returned to the top of the sports scene in May after a successful stint in the Arafura Games in Darwin, Australia where she won two gold and two bronze medals while competing in nine events. Mosley also set six personal best times and three Saipan Swim Club age-group records while also breaking two CNMI National records.

Mosley’s shiniest moment came in July, as she struck gold for the CNMI in the opening night of the Mini Games in Palau. Mosley netted two gold medals in the Games, winning the 50m freestyle and 100m freestyle and added eight silver medals from the 200m freestyle, 400m freestyle, 50m butterfly, 100m backstroke, 5,000m open water swim, 400m freestyle relay, 800, freestyle relay, and 400m freestyle relay.

Mosley also took the bronze in the 200m backstroke and 400m individual medley.

In December, Mosley shared athlete of the month honors with athletics’ Dolores Rangamar after dominating two meets in Guam where she won 14 of the 15 events she competed in. On Dec. 10, Mosley won the High Point Trophy in the All Islands Meet and repeated her feat at the International Invitational, which also featured swimmers from Guam, Japan, Hong Kong, and the Federated States of Micronesia.

“I didn’t really expect it because it was tough competition with Dolores [Rangamar]. She’s an exceptional athlete and so I didn’t really think I had it [last night] but as soon as I heard it I was just really excited. It’s mixed emotions right now so it will settle in later.”

With all her accomplishments in sports, Mosley said she ranks the award as No. 1.

“I think this is the top so far,” she said.

For his part, 16-year-old Roligat had a sensational year in athletics in which he also competed in the World Championships in Helsinki, the World Youth Championships in Morocco, and the Mini Games and was athlete of the month in March.

He sprinted to victories in the 100m and 200m in the All Comets Meet, breaking the CNMI Junior record in the 100m with a time of 11.25 seconds. He also anchored the winning 4x100m relay team.

In July, Roligat headed to Morocco and again broke the CNMI Junior record in the 100m sprint while placing fifth in his heat.

Roligat then traveled from Morocco to Palau for the Mini Games and from there to Helsinki for the World Championships.

In December, Roligat anchored the CNMI medley relay team to a bronze medal finish. When he took the baton, the CNMI was in fourth place and Roligat was able to gain ground before taking the third spot at the finish line.

“I’m very happy because it just shows that all the work that I did really paid off. It’s a success. It will push me to work harder and continue to do my best in track,” he said.

Meanwhile, 13-year-old Wonenberg was athlete of the month twice in the year, winning the plum in May and in October.

The Hopwood Junior High School student was ahead of the competition in the McDonald’s All Schools Track and Field Championships, winning gold medals in all four events that she competed in including the 100m, 200m, and 400m sprints, as well as the 4X100m relay. Her 400m performances also set a new Junior record with a time of 1:08.17.

While trying to qualify for the CNMI team to the Micronesia Athletics Championships, Wonenberg broke the junior record again in 400m with a time of 1:05.64. She also won the 100m sprint in 14.25 seconds and the 800m challenge in 2:52.49.

In December, Wonenberg won five medals in the MAC, which featured athletes who have competed in various international competitions. She took silver in the high jump and 400m and bronze in the 800m, 4X100m relay, and Medley Relay.

“I was surprised I didn’t think I was going to get this [last night],” she said. “It was fun training with my friends and my family really supported me and I’m thankful.”

Wonenberg volunteered that her best moment in the sport the past year was competing in the MAC.

“I really enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to competing more,” she said.

The four athletes each received a replica latte stone carved out of wood.

NMASA also recognized swimming coach Mike Stewart as the 2005 Coach of the Year after guiding athletes of the Saipan Swim Club to another successful year.

At the Palau Mini Games, Stewart led the male swimmers to hauling a total of 17 medals—eight silver and nine bronze, while his female swimmers took home a whopping 29 medals—two gold, 18 silver, and eight bronze.

Stewart also helped the CNMI National Triathlon Team to a gold medal finish in the team competition, while swimmer Melissa Coleman also took home a bronze under his guidance.

Stewart also guided Mosley to bagging four medals at the Arafura Games.

Stewart was also credited with launching a masters swim program for adults with swim background, the Lunch Bunch Swim program for adults with little or no swim background, and the developmental swim program for children will limited swim background.

Also taking top honors were Cecilia Lisua and Jose T. Sablan as the two multi-sport athletes were lauded for their efforts in shaping the local sports scene.

Both Lisua and Sablan were inducted in the CNMI Sports Hall of Fame, with Lisua making a name for herself in volleyball, fastpitch softball, and athletics.

Sablan, meanwhile, dominated as a pitcher on the fastpitch softball scene while also making his presence felt on the golf course and bowling alley.

NMASA also recognized all athletes of the month winners for 2005, as well as athletes of the month for 2004.