Elementary, middle school athletics MVPs announced

From left, Cody Shimizu, Gabriella Ruben, Dean Aldan, Ysabella Lenteja, Scarlett Burrell, Reyviel Escarlan, Moshe Sikkel, and Andrei Kaithlyn Chavez pose with their MVP trophies during the PSS/McDonald’s All Schools Athletics Awards Ceremony yesterday at the main McDonald’s branch in Chalan Kiya. (LEIGH GASES)

Northern Marianas Athletics, the Public School System, and McDonald’s awarded the top athletes of the 2022-2023 PSS/McDonald’s All Schools Athletics Championships that concluded over a week ago at the Oleai Track & Field.

In an awards ceremony held at the main McDonald’s restaurant in Chalan Kiya, MVP trophies were given to the 9U female and male divisions; the 12U female and male divisions; the 14U female and male divisions; and the 18U female and male divisions (which was reported in yesterday’s newspaper.)

The awardees for the elementary 9U female division went to Saipan International School’s Scarlett Burrell and the for the male division, Koblerville Elementary School’s Dean Aldan.

For the 12U female division, Oleai Elementary School’s Gabriella Ruben won the award, while Agape Christian School’s Reyviel Escarlan took home the MVP trophy.

The 14U female division MVP went to Tinian Jr. High School’s Ysabelle Lenteja, and the male award went to SIS’ Moshe Sikkel.

Burrell topped the 9U 100m and 200m; Aldan won the 9U 400m; Ruben got gold in the 12U 100m and 200m; Escarlan topped the 12U 400m and 800m events; Lenteja was first in the 14U 100m, 200m, 400m, and long jump; and Sikkel was golden in the 14U 400m and 4X400 relay, second in the 800m, and third in the 1,500m.

Burrell, a 9-year-old fourth grader, said that she’s happy about winning the award. The events for her were “fun and very competitive but it was hard.” 

Escarlan, a 12-year-old seventh grader, for his part said “I was really happy but it was kind of scary a little bit because I wasn’t sure what I was going up against. So, I was training a lot, just so that I could at least get first or second and at least get a medal. I really enjoyed racing with other people. I made a lot of friends and it was a fun experience overall.”

Lenteja, who won the MVP in her division again from 2021’s competition, said she flew from Tinian to Saipan just to receive her award. She said that with winning again she wasn’t surprised because she has so much focus on her training and in the competition. “My favorite event is probably short distance because I don’t have enough stamina but it still feels very good to have first place.”

As for Sikkel, he said he felt like he didn’t deserve the award because he didn’t do too well in the individual events. He did leave a message to the younger competitors and said “don’t give up. Even if you didn’t win in one year, you can still win the next.”

Nick Gross, PSS Athletics Program director, said after the awarding, “On behalf of the public school system, it is truly an honor and pleasure to be able to work with McDonald’s as well as NMA and all of the schools both public and private throughout all three islands to have this all schools competition annually in athletics.”

“We’re really excited about the future of athletics. This year was an incredible comeback with a brand new track—one of the premier tracks throughout all of Oceania.”

He added, “I look forward to seeing you all again in the near future. The next events for PSS Athletic Program with our partner NMA specifically will be the Cross Country series again in early September. We’re already back to the drawing board and putting together next year’s schools’ schedules along with the athletic programs, and we thank everybody for your continued support and partnership to live a healthier, more active life through athletics.”