Raulerson to try out in May

Raulerson

Former Saipan resident and Albany State University varsity player Asia Raulerson will fly out to Saipan in May to try out for the CNMI National Tennis Team for this year’s Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games 2022.

The 19-year-old, who is the daughter of former Marianas High School teacher John and Pattana Raulerson, said she’s looking forward to earn a spot in coach Jeff Race’s squad and is confident about her chances.

“I think my chances are high because I play at a collegiate level and we practice everyday. My strengths are my serve, mentality, and approach shot.”

Raulerson finished her freshman year with the Golden Rams with a 9-4 record in singles. ASU plays in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference of the NCAA Division II.

“I fund college tennis with an academic and sports scholarship. My most impressive outing was our game against Clark Atlanta University last year. I am super excited to represent the Northern Marianas. It has always been my lifelong goal to put our island on the map,” she said.

The 5’6” Raulerson, who went to San Vicente Elementary School, Hopwood Middle School, and Marianas High School before transferring to East Ridge High School in Clermont, Florida, said aside from taking part in the Mini Games she can’t wait to return to the island where she grew up.

“I miss the mix of different cultures and the unique environment Saipan is. Everybody knows each other and is around the corner.”

Raulerson will be one of five women players who will duke it out for the two remaining slots. The other four are Tania Tan, Malika Miyawaki, Hye Jin Elliot, and Serin Chung.

Six men’s players, meanwhile, will compete for the two remaining slots in the men’s team and they are Ken Song, Tony Atalig, Colin Ramsey, Bobby Cruz, Luther Lizama, and Morris Villanueva.

Race earlier named 2019 Mini Games gold medalists Colin Sinclair, Robbie Schorr, and Carol Lee and Samoa Mini Games veteran Isabel Herras to the Mini Games national tennis team.

A total of 116 players from 16 countries are expected to take part in the tennis competition of this year’s Mini Games that will be hosted at the American Memorial Park tennis courts in Garapan and the Pacific Islands Club Saipan tennis courts in San Antonio.

The 15 countries that have signed up are the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Guam, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis & Futuna, and the CNMI.