Chavez, Shimizu are HS athletics MVPs

Marianas High School junior Cody Shimizu, center, is the 18U boys MVP of the 2022-2023 PSS/McDonald’s All Schools Athletics Championships. She is joined by McDonald’s executive assistant Natalie Mabel A. Glenn, second right, PSS Athletics Program director Nick Gross, right, NMA athletics coach Elias Rangamar, second left, and a McDonald’s employee yesterday afternoon at the awarding ceremony in the McDonald’s main restaurant in Chalan Kiya. (LEIGH GASES)

Northern Marianas Athletics, the Public School System, and McDonald’s Saipan and Guam awarded the top athletes of the 2022-2023 PSS/McDonald’s All Schools Athletics Championships that concluded over a week ago.

Saipan International School’s Andrei Kaithlyn Chavez and Marianas High School’s Cody Shimizu took home the MVP trophies in the high school 18U division during the PSS/McDonald’s All Schools Athletics Awards Ceremony yesterday at the main McDonald’s branch in Chalan Kiya.

In attendance were McDonald’s executive assistant Natalie Mable A. Glenn, NMA official and athletics coach Elias Rangamar, PSS Athletics Program director Nick Gross, PSS staff, and the student athlete awardees and their parents.

Chavez, a 16-year-old sophomore, swept the championships and garnered gold in all the high school events that she joined for a perfect 50 points. She joined the 400m, 800m, 4X400m relay, and 4X100m relay.

Saipan International School sophomore Andrei Kaithlyn Chavez, center, is the 18U girls MVP of the 2022-2023 PSS/McDonald’s All Schools Athletics Championships. She is joined by McDonald’s executive assistant Natalie Mabel A. Glenn, second right, PSS Athletics Program director Nick Gross, right, NMA athletics coach Elias Rangamar, second left, and a McDonald’s employee yesterday afternoon at the awarding ceremony in the McDonald’s main restaurant in Chalan Kiya. (LEIGH GASES)

Chavez also previously won the award in 2021 and said that she was surprised that she won again. “There were a lot of good competitors so when I found out I got this, I was actually surprised. All my hard work paid off so I felt blessed and very happy to get this,” she said. On her perfect score, “I’m glad I was able to get a perfect score especially in the relay. It was really hard to get gold in the relay, so props to my girls. Without them I wouldn’t have been able to get gold for it.”

She then thanked her team, SIS headmaster Dr. Ron Snyder, and her parents. “Without them, I wouldn’t be able to get this and they’ve always been there for me, so thank you.”

For MHS junior Shimizu, he racked up gold in the 400m and 800m, and silver in the 200m, 4X400m, and 4X100m relays.

He said that “it feels good to win the award… the competition was actually very hard. I got MVP in a close match, but I’m glad I won.”

Before the ceremony, Glenn made her remarks and said “It is both an honor and privilege to host today’s award ceremony… Each of you receiving today’s award symbolizes excellence in athleticism and a key role in contributing to the success of your entire team. You also represent motivation, courage, dedication, and above all teamwork.

“McDonald’s is proud to shine the light on our young athletes and to highlight the importance of important events that bring people, families, and communities together like this annual track and field competition. We will continue to play a role in supporting you and the sport that you’ve grown to love and enjoy,” she said.

She then thanked the coaches, NMA, and the families “for the countless hours you’ve spent in molding the next generation of athletes that believes in good sportsmanship. On behalf of the entire McDonald’s of Saipan restaurants and on behalf of my family—the Ayuyu family, congratulations again to our distinguished MVPs. You are an inspiration to the schools that you represent and the island that you call home.”

Top athletes of the elementary and middle school divisions will be posted in the next issues of Saipan Tribune.