Lee, Kabiriel lead NMSA top awardees

Tennis’ Carol Lee and canoe’s Ketson “Jack” Kabiriel reaped the fruit of their labor last year as they brought home the Female Student and Male Athlete of the Year awards during the 2015 NMSA Annual Sports Banquet held at the Hibiscus Hall of the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan.

Lee took the award that was sponsored by the Tan Siu Lin Foundation for the second time (her first was in 2013), while Kabiriel got his third.

“It’s a big honor to win the TSL Foundation/NMSA Female Student Athlete of the Year award again. The award is the product of all the hard work I put in during my training sessions and the tournaments I competed in 2015,” the 14-year-old Lee said in an interview with Saipan Tribune.

Lee joined and dominated both local and regional tournaments in 2015. She was ranked No. 1 in the entire Pacific after ruling the same age group contest in the 2016 Pacific Oceania Junior Championships in Fiji. She also competed in several Junior ITF Circuit tournaments where she earned 66.25 combined ranking points to land at the No. 747 in the world rankings—the highest ranking by any Pacific junior player.

“The award will inspire me to continue improving my skills so I can represent the CNMI in more international tournaments,” the Saipan Community School student said.

Kabiriel also said his third award is an inspiration to him, as he tries to stay active in sports despite considering himself past his prime.

“When I decided to quit competitive running and doing triathlon, I chose to do canoe racing just to stay in shape. I did not even think I will win this award again,” said Kabiriel, whose first two Male Athlete of the Year trophies came in the late 90s and early 2000s.

“Right now, I am also involved in standup paddling. I will always find a sport that I can do to stay active and fit. I hope I can encourage others to do to the same. Even if you consider yourself past your prime, just keep on trying and doing your best,” said Kabiriel, who got last year’s award for suiting up for the CNMI national canoe team that participated in the Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea.

Meanwhile, other top athlete awardees for 2015 were swimming’s Victoria Chentsova and athletics Donavin Ada. Both were off-island and had their family members receiving the awards.

Chentsova was the 2015 Female Athlete of the Year awardee, earning the recognition for the first time for her notable showings in the 2015 Pacific Games in PNG and in the 16th FINA World Championships in Kazan, Russia.’

The Saipan Swim Club member set both CNMI national and 17 to 18 age group records in the 400m freestyle (4:44.15) and 800m freestyle (9:48.87) during the world championship. In the Pacific Games, she posted a couple of personal best times and made it to the finals of the 200m freestyle race. The Saipan International School graduate is now in Massachusetts, studying at Williams College.

Ada, on the other hand, is now based in Colorado, and failed to receive his TSL Foundation/NMSA Male Student Athlete of the Year award. The former Marianas High School student won recognition after bringing home a bronze medal from Cairns, Australia. He finished third in the javelin throw in the Oceania Area Championships hosted by the Land Down Under. He also participated in the PSS/McDonald’s All Schools Athletics Championships and prevailed in the long jump and javelin and discuss throws.

Besides the top athletes for 2015, Northern Marianas Sports Association also honored the Sports Administrator of the Year and the newest members of the CNMI Sports Hall of Fame. Details of the other awardees will be reported in Saipan Tribune’s Tuesday issue.