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‘A start for NMI weightlifting’
Ray Santos performs one of his lifts during last Saturday’s weightlifting event at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Contributed Photo)
CNMI Weightlifting Federation president John H. Davis said Saturday’s Olympic-style event held at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium was a start to promote awareness about their group and the sport.
Ray Santos, Joey Tudela, Angel San Nicolas, Brandy Onopwy, and Josh Mateo participated in the event and were given three tries within one-minute time limit in the snatch and clean and jerk. Their successful lifts were then tallied.
“This is just old school weightlifting and we plan to make this a series in preparation for the 2021 Pacific Mini Games that Saipan will be hosting,” said Davis. “This is a start and hopefully we could gain more attention in the CNMI.”
The five participants are in different weight divisions with Santos lifting a total of 190kg followed by the 185kg and 184kg of Tudela and San Nicolas, respectively. Mateo tallied 145kg, while Onowpy had 94kg.
“We’re also competing in Vanuatu for this year’s Mini Games in December. We could pull off some surprises but what we’re shooting for is the 2021 Games here on Saipan,” said Davis.
Weightlifting had been a source of medals for the CNMI. During the 2014 Micronesian Games in Pohnpei, the Commonwealth lifters collected 12 medals.
Davis added that despite the lack of funds, they would still promote weightlifting in the CNMI as they are counting on the help of private groups and other individuals. Some of the equipment they used last Saturday where loaned by the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium, courtesy of Elias Rangamar, Gold’s Gym, and personal plates by Tudela.
“What we really need are equipment and a place where our weightlifters could train. Right now, these guys train in different places. Hopefully, we could get a training space and that would be a lot of help in promoting weightlifting here,” said Davis.
He added that he’s also inviting Greg Calvo to join him in applying for licensure certification offered by the International Weightlifting Federation to become an international official.
“It would again benefit the local federation and we’re letting IWF that we have weightlifting here.”
Dee Clayton, Derek Cutting, Greg Borja, Jeanne Rayphand, and Alexa Saimon were among those that helped Davis in organizing and officiating the event.
