SY 2024-2025 school sports kicks off with X-country

With the school year 2024-2025 in full swing, the interscholastic school sports leagues are kicking off this Saturday, Sept. 7.

The PSS/NMA All School Cross Country season’s first meet and the Inaugural SBL-PSS Interscholastic Boys High School Fast Pitch Softball League will be underway first in a slew of competitions to kickstart school sports competitions.

Cross country’s first meet is set at the CPA Airport Field, with high school races to begin at 6:30am, middle school is at 7am, and elementary school is at 7:20am.

Dr. Ron Snyder, who is one of the cross country’s organizers, said in an email, “We are looking forward to a great season with lots of great courses. We start at a tried-and-true course on Airport Field. Meet No. 2 will be at [American Memorial Park] on a new and improved course that includes a short stretch on the beach. Meet No. 3 is the Gecko 5000 at Banzai Cliff and place medals will be available to first, second, and third place in each school division. The final race will be hosted by the Independent Schools Association but the location is still top secret.”

As for softball, the games are set at the Dandan Softball Field, with the first game between Mount Carmel School and Marianas High School varsity at 9am. Saipan International School and Kagman High School’s game is at 10:30am.

Then, boys middle school basketball is set to start next Friday, Sept. 13, at 4:45pm, at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

Girls high school volleyball is set for Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 4:45pm, at the MHS Gymnasium.

Elementary school and girls middle school soccer is slated to begin in the week Sept. 16-20, with no specific start date yet.

Nick Gross, Public School System Athletic Program director, said that they’re excited for the season during last month’s signing ceremony of the school year 2024-2025’s memorandum of agreement with its seven national sports federation partners.

“We’re certainly excited and ready to roll it out… we have more or less all of our season mapped out,” he said.

The seven national sports federation partners of the PSS Athletics Program include the NMI Football Association, Northern Marianas Athletics, NMI Basketball Federation, NMI Softball Association, NMI Volleyball Association, Northern Marianas Badminton Association, and the Northern Marianas National Paddle Sports Federation.

For inquiries regarding Athletic Program activities or how to get involved with coaching, officiating, or volunteering, contact the PSS Athletic Program via email at athletics@cnmipss.org.