Local lass to swim for Division I school

Mary Louise Owen DeLeon Guerrero became the latest tanker from the CNMI to swim for a Division I school after getting accepted to the Boise State University varsity swimming team.

She is expected to participate in the Western Associated Conference championships in February 2007.

DeLeon Guerrero will be swimming the sprint portions of the competition’s 50m and 100m breaststroke and freestyle. She will also be participating in the 200m and 400m IM relays.

Currently, she is in training for meets held in Colorado, California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, and Texas.

The 22-year-old DeLeon Guerrero has already dropped 15 seconds from her time in the 50m freestyle and four seconds from her 100m breaststroke personal best since the beginning of the program.

According to BSU’s new head swimming and diving coach, Kristin Hill, formerly of Texas A&M, DeLeon Guerrero is getting noticeably stronger and faster as the swim season progresses.

When asked about how she feels, DeLeon Guerrero replied, “I am so very proud to be able to represent the CNMI in the collegiate level. I am working very hard to make my parents and the CNMI proud. I hope that by my being a varsity athlete, the youth of the CNMI will aspire to join more sports and participate in more athletic events.”

DeLeon Guerrero added, “It is possible to take what you enjoy doing and make it something that you can be proud of and look back to say that you did something that not a lot of other people can say they have done.”

DeLeon Guerrero is attending BSU as a Criminal Justice major. She is a member National Deans List of Outstanding College & University Students and Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society.

Recently she has been nominated for The International Scholar Laureate Program Delegation of Diplomacy and she will be attending their summer 2007 program in Eastern Europe.

DeLeon Guerrero was a lifeguard and sports recreation coordinator and Clubmate for Pacific Islands Club Saipan from 2004 to 2005.

She also gained local fame as “That Verizon Girl” model and spokesperson for Verizon Cell and Prepaid Phone Cards.

In 2005, she participated in Stellar Marianas Miss CNMI beauty pageant. DeLeon Guerrero graduated high school with honors from Mount Carmel in 2002 and attended Northern Marianas College prior to moving to Boise to continue her education.

She is the daughter of Edward C. and Eve O. DeLeon Guerrero of Koblerville. (PR)