Lady Dolphins take va’a tiara

The Marianas High School Lady Dolphins outrigger team out-paddled Saipan Southern High School and Kagman High School for the girls division championship in the high school Public School System Interscholastic Outrigger Canoe Race 2022-2023 last Saturday at Kilili Beach in Susupe. (LEIGH GASES)

The Marianas High School Lady Dolphins outrigger team reclaimed the championship tiara of the girls division in the high school Public School System Interscholastic Outrigger Canoe Race 2022-2023.

The Lady Dolphins rowed their canoes not gently down the shore—but with vigor and urgency into first place of the championship rounds last Saturday in the waters off Kilili Beach in Susupe.

The Marianas High School Lady Dolphins outrigger teams pose for a photo with the perpetual championship plaque, along with the Northern Marianas National Paddle Sports Federation president Justin Andrew, right, and Public School System Athletics Program director Nick Gross, second left, in the high school PSS Interscholastic Outrigger Canoe Race 2022-2023 awards ceremony last Saturday at Kilili Beach in Susupe. (LEIGH GASES)

They finished the season with an almost perfect 75 total points after out-paddling Saipan Southern High School Lady Manta Rays and Kagman High School Lady Ayuyus in the preliminaries and finals of the 500m, 1,000m, and long distance race. 

The Lady Mantas are second overall with 61 points and the Lady Ayuyus are third with 17 points.

In the overall 500m tally, however, MHS and SSHS were tied at first place with 32 points, with KHS at 8 points.

In the overall 1,000m tally, the Lady Dolphins were far ahead with 40 points; second was the Lady Mantas with 24 points; and third was the Lady Ayuyus at 8 points.

The Lady Mantas did put up the fight in the final girls 500m race and won with a time of 3:25.72. The Lady Dolphins got a close second at 3:27.06, followed by the Lady Ayuyus at 3:39.81.

Then in the final 1,000m race, the Lady Dolphins put their paddling into 5th gear and won by a long shot of 6:51.96. SSHS came in second with 7:09.96 and KHS came in third with 7:50.87.

Aside from last Saturday’s final race, point totals were accumulated from races held last Feb. 25, Feb. 18, and Feb. 11. The March 18 finals rewarded double points.

The Lady Dolphins include Asaka Litulumar, Cassandra Roque, Chareena Layugan, Cloe Lagmay, Eden Mendiola, Elialyn Castro, Emma Chong, Eva Weaver, Irene Wang, Kalista Klaver, Leilani Attao, Margarette Dolotina, Mary Grace Caras, Monique Mendiola, Tyana Cepeda, Vaniqa Torres, and Ylliana Poquiz.

MHS coach Tianna Aldan said that the win was very satisfying because they finally got the title back after losing last year which broke their previous three-year win streak.

“A lot of them have experienced a win and a loss, and the seniors wanted to secure the gold for themselves in their last year, so it’s really gratifying to see all the hard work they put in pay off at the end,” she said. “I have about 10 to 12 seniors so within the next two years, I should have a fresh new team.”

The MHS alumnae said that this is her first official year as a coach and since their training began last October, “I was just trying to make them have fun at the same time as learning how to paddle. I wanted them to value making memories with each other.”

Aldan then thanked “all the students for their hard work because they pushed themselves to come to practice Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, do the exercises, eat right, and drink a lot of water. And especially their parents and the school. Last but not least, I would like to thank my coach from Saipan Paddling Club, Justin Andrew, because without him, I wouldn’t be a coach for this team right now.”

Before the awards ceremony, Andrew, who is also president of the Northern Marianas National Paddle Sports Federation,  thanked the student paddlers for their hard work and the great season, and said he is looking forward to having them try out for the national paddling team.