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Wrestlers express appreciation to sponsors
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Posted on Sep 16 2005
CNMI wrestlers Joe Ocam-po and Slade Adelbai recently expressed their appreciation to a couple of individuals and their businesses for their generous assistance that helped the two compete in the recent 2005 Palau South Pacific Mini Games.
Assisting the wrestling team were Mike Grandinetti of UMDA and Lisa Sablan of Sablan Topline Cleaning Agency.
“We just wanted to let them know that we really appreciate their help and their generosity went a long way for us,” Ocampo said.
Ocampo said both were approached almost a year before the team left for Palau. The two sponsors assisted with monetary donations.
Ocampo, who is still recovering from a rib injury sustained before competing in the Games, retired from competitive wrestling after winning a silver medal. He, however, remains close to the sport he loves and will serve as a coach for future NMI wrestlers.
In Palau, Ocampo showed the warrior in him, earning silver despite wrestling with injured ribs, suffered during a practice session before the competition.
Despite the pain, Ocampo was eager to represent the CNMI the best he could and advanced to the gold medal round by defeating David Salapwa of the Federated States of Micronesia.
With all wrestlers knowing about his injury, Salapwa aimed at Ocampo’s ribs, but despite taking so much out of the CNMI wrestler, was not able to beat Ocampo.
Ocampo finally rested and settled for the silver, giving Marshall Islands’ Waylon Muller the gold via walkover.
Adelbai also found success in his first match, beating Joejoe Roberts of Palau, but sustained an injury to his arm in the medal round and placed a respectable fourth.
