NMASA elects directors

Ten individuals were named to the Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association board of directors during the group’s first meeting of the year early this month at the conference room of the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Making the list are many time NMASA president Michael White, Northern Mariana Islands Tennis Association’s Jeff Race, Refaluwasch Golf Association’s Jess Wabol, Saipan Major League’s Rose Igitol, Basketball Association of Northern Marianas Islands’ Tony Rogolifoi and Elias Rangamar, CNMI Kanu Association’s Gilbert Birnbrich, Northern Marianas Swimming Federation’s John Hirsh, Northern Mariana Islands Football Association’s Ed Salas, and Saipan Bowling Association’s Gigi Zapanta.

The directors are scheduled to meet before the month ends to choose its officers and all officials will serve in the association for one year.

The NMASA board officials for the 2012-2013 season are expected to be recognized during the 2011 NMASA Annual Sports Banquet on Feb. 16 at the Saipan Grand Hotel.

The banquet will be the first official event for the board and they will announce the winners of the coveted 2011 Male and Female Athletes of the Year, 2011 NMASA/TSL Foundation Male and Female Student Athletes of the Year, 2011 Coach of the Year, 2011 Administrator of the Year, and 2011 Team of the Year awards.

The ceremony will start at 6pm and officials of each sports federation are requested to have their respective top awardees attend the recognition night.

Monthly winners of the male and female and male and female students plums are also invited in the ceremony, as NMASA will be handing out certificates to them. The monthly winners include (male athletes) bowling’s Robert Talavera, Raymond Zapanta, Paul Pangelinan, Simon Manacop and Alex Castro, badminton’s Dick Guintu, athletics’ Clayon Kenty, and CNMI baseball players Joshua Jones, Manny Sablan, Vicente Cepeda, Jerome Delos Santos, Franco Flores, Miguel Iguel, Jesus Iguel, Thomas Joab, Byron Kaipat, Keoni Lizama, Juan Maratita, Tyrone Omar, Craig Sanchez, Elton Santos, and Eric Tenorio;

For the female athlete, the list includes athletics’ Yvonne Bennett, football’s Lalaine Pagarao, triathlon’s Susan Marchitti, badminton’s Hannah Choi, and bowling’s Ron Cal Gloria Omechelang, and Lala Taitano.

In the students category, making the roll are (female) tennis’ Tammy Ackerman, Mikayla Lopez, and Thea Minor, athletics’ Rachel Abrams, and swimming’s Angel Marie Tan; and (male) Tsunami Saipan’s Lukas Kang and Kensuke Kimura, Saipan Swim Club’s Kento Akimaru, tennis’ Rafael Jones and Christian Miller, football’s Jehn Joyner, sprearfishing’s David Lizama, basketball’s Juan Maratita, and bowling’s Marion McKenzie.

NMASA selected the top athletes for 2011 from these list during the Jan. 5 meeting.