Still going strong at 30

This month marks the 30th anniversary of the Saipan Swim Club—a 30-year winning tradition that continues today.

Organized competitive swimming began on Saipan in 1974 when Bill and Jean Sakovich started training 13 swimmers in the waters behind the Saipan Community School. The SSC competed in its first meet in Guam in 1975. That same year, a team comprised of Ty Izuka, Tony Taitano, Benson Songsong, Bill Sakovich, and Nobu Screen represented the NMI in the South Pacific Games. Over the years, the team grew and training was conducted in several hotel pools and the lagoon.

In 1981, Jon Sakovich, Alex Screen and Nobu Screen were ranked in the top 10 percent of the U.S. national rankings. The year 1986 saw the team move to the 50-meter Kan Pacific Swimming Pool in Marpi, the facility the team still uses today.

The Noumea South Pacific Games of 1987 saw the NMI win its first ever medals when Jon Sakovich brought home two golds, three silvers and a bronze.

More prestige from swimming came in 1988 when Sakovich competed in the Seoul Olympics. Sakovich swam for Guam since the NMI was not a member of the International Olympic Committee. Subsequently, Jon was offered a scholarship to the University of Florida. During this same time, Mike Villagomez accepted a scholarship to Vicennes University in Indiana where he helped his team qualify for the Junior College National Championships.

The list of the Saipan Swim Club’s achievements has continued. In 2001, Dean Palacios, Seung Gin Lee and Xenavee Pangelinan set 13 new NMI records at the World Championships in Fukouka, Japan. Seven more NMI records were broken the next year when Palacios, Lee and Tami Winkfield represented the CNMI at the Oceania Championships held in New Caledonia. Also in 2002, swimmers from the SSC came home with over 80 percent of the total medals won by CNMI athletes at the Micronesian Games in Pohnpei. The swimmers won 23 gold, 19 silver and 12 bronze medals during the games.

During 2003, Palacios and Lee were named to the Oceania Team and competed in two major meets in Australia. They returned with seven medals. That same year, Palacios brought home a silver medal from the South Pacific Games in Fiji.

This year, Nina Mosley and Juan Camacho represented the CNMI at the 5th Oceania Swimming Championships in Fiji.

Over the years, swimmers from SSC have brought home over 70 gold, 55 silver and 50 bronze medals from the Micronesian Games and South Pacific Games. No other sport has brought home more medals and championships to the CNMI.

Many former SSC swimmers have gone on to attend U.S, colleges, several on swimming scholarships. Keith Ludwig, Mike Villagomez, Lora Harvey, David Palacios, Anneka Sakovich, Jon Sakovich and Xenavee Pangelinan all competed on college teams. Other notable former SSC swimmers include Charles Cepeda, David Aldan, Dr. Ben Aldan, Ty Izuka, Ed Temengil, Mike Sablan, Frank Ada, Phil Sablan, Tim Goodwin, Vanessa Kosack, Jennifer Furey, Kristy Springer and Jessica Jordan.

The current year has been a year of transition for SSC. Bill and Jean Sakovich, who coached the team from its inception, retired and moved to Hawaii. For the first time ever, the team hired a professional coach. Coach Michael Stewart, who previously coached championship teams and Olympic medalists in Florida, is working hard to keep the winning tradition of the team going while at the same time getting new swimmers interested in competitive swimming.

Today, SSC offers swim lessons for new swimmers, a developmental program for novice competitors, and daily workouts for regular members. On any afternoon, you will find a diverse group of over 70 swimmers honing their skills at the Marpi pool. That is quite a change for a team that began with just 13 swimmers.

Anyone interested in learning more about the SSC can contact coach Stewart at 322-9474.