GTC ends Whispering Palms’ reign

Gregorio T. Camacho’s Wataru Kadokura competes in the boys U8’s 50m breaststroke event of last Saturday’s SSC All Schools meet at the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

GTC collected 162 points from the 11 events it competed in to beat the 142 of Whispering Palms and end the former’s nine-year domination in the annual tournament. Points were awarded to schools based on how their swimmers finished in the various races.

The newly crowned elementary division champion fielded 14 swimmers in the weekend tournament. The list includes siblings Richard, Nieves, and Susana Villagomez, Akira and Wataru Kadokura, Kenta Tomie, Gabriel Retardo, Leo Takahashi, Taiyo Akimaru, Jinnosuke Suzuki, Nanaka Watanabe, Miles Timmons, Grace Allen, and Kate Ocanada,

GTC recorded one first place and runner-up finish in relay races, won seven events, finished second in five, and placed third in four more races to prevail in the elementary division.

Takahashi, Watanabe, Suzuki, and Akimaru teamed up in the mixed U10 200m medley relay and timed in at 3:08.77 to beat SIS (3:32.31), Whispering Palms (4:00.47), and GTC Team 2(4:04.42) composed of Richard Villagomez, Tomie, Akira Kadokura, and Allen.

In the mixed U10 200m freestyle relay, the quartet of Nieve and Susana Villagomez, Ocanada, and Wataru Kadokura submitted 3:53.83 to finish second behind Brilliant Star’s Cassy Chambers, Aasish and Ashley Dangol, and Savita Sikkel, who combined for 3:44.30. Whispering Palms’s two teams came in at third and fourth.

In the individual races, Watanabe, Akimaru, and Akira Kadokura handed GTC two first place finishes each. Watanabe ruled the girls U8 50m breaststroke after recording 49.79 seconds and the 50m freestyle (51.06 seconds). Akimaru also joined the 50m freestyle race and was the top finisher in the boys U8 division after clocking in at 39.04 seconds, while his other first place win was registered in the 100m freestyle (1:28.06). Kadokura competed in the boys 9 to 10’s 50m breaststroke and timed in at 51.31 seconds to down four others, while he also topped the 100m breaststroke after recording 1:58.17.

GTC’s other first place finish was courtesy of Suzuki, who raced in the boys 9 to 10’s 100m butterfly and completed the event in 1:38.40.

Meanwhile, William S. Reyes Elementary School joined GTC and Whispering Palms in the Top 3 after gaining 68 points. WSR defeated Brilliant Star in a close fight for third place, as the latter was just three point short of surpassing the former’s score. Saipan International School also had a tough fight for fourth place with Brilliant Star with the Geckos collecting 65 points. Garapan Elementary School (53 points), Grace Christian Academy (44), Saipan Community (41), Mount Carmel School (35), Seventh Day Adventist (20), Kagman Elementary School (18), Eucon International School (14), and Golden Harvest International (7) completed the field.

Meanwhile, results in the middle school and high school divisions will be reported in Saipan Tribune’s Friday edition.