PTI donates to Tsunami Saipan

Tsunami Swimming Center Saipan’s upcoming off-island campaigns got a big boost after the club received a donation from PTI last month.

Tsunami Saipan coach Hiro Kimura and club president Stan Good received the $2,250 check donation from PTI general manager Larry Knecht and PTI regional comptroller Rose Soledad.

The donation will be used to purchase new warm-up jackets and equipment, which will help prepare Tsunami Saipan swimmers for off-island tournaments.

“This donation is a big help in making the swimmers become more competitive for off-island meets and it will encourage more youth to join swimming,” Kimura said.

Good said the donation from PTI is greatly appreciated by the swimmers and the officials and members of the club.

“This generous donation demonstrates PTI’s commitment to the community and its support of sports for the youth on the island. Thank you, PTI,” Good said.

Tsunami Saipan swimmers are set to compete in the Guam International Swim in Hagatna on Dec. 27 and 28. The international event is for swimmers who have at least one A time, which represents a level equal to 84 percent of the National Reportable Time.

NRT or T16 represents a level that a swimmer must surpass to submit his name for consideration in the annual Top 16 list. The annual rankings are published in the Swimming World magazine and each qualifier receives certification from USA Swimming. Swimmers earning a NRT are in the top 1 percent of the American Age Group swimmers.

After the tournament in Guam this month, Tsunami Saipan swimmers will be busy preparing for eight off-island tournaments next year.

The list include Junior Pan Pacific Championships, which Guam will be hosting from Jan. 8 to 11.

Next up the Tsunami Saipan swimmers is the Short Course Championships, also in Guam on Feb. 21.

In March, Tsunami Saipan is scheduled to participate in two tournaments in Tokyo, Japan. Tsunami Saipan swimmers will compete in Tokyo Junior Sprint on March 14 and 15, and in the Junior Olympic event on March 28 and 29.

In May, Tsunami Saipan swimmers will travel to Darwin, Australia for the Arafura Games, which will run from May 17 to 19. Later that month, Tsunami Saipan will compete in the Guam Championships.

In July, Tsunami Saipan along with other selected CNMI swimmers will represent the Commonwealth in the FINA World Championships. Rome will host the world meet from July 19 to 31.

Tsunami Saipan will end the 2008-2009 season with its participation in the Junior Olympic Time Trial in Tokyo on July 26 and 27.