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Xenavee Pangelinan: testing different waters
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Posted on Jul 12 2000
Seventeen-year-old gifted swimmer Xenavee Pangelinan has practically swam across all beaches and pools on Saipan in over six years of mastering her most cherished sport: swimming.
After years of taking part in various swim meets and competitions on island one after another, this young athlete feels she is now ready to take her skills to the next level.
This month, Ms. Pangelinan is bound for Virginia to further pursue her swimming career and at the same time continue her final year in high school.
“It will be an opportunity for me to experience more competition because here on Saipan, all we have are regular Guam meets with the same people to compete with. This trip will help me develop more,” she said.
Ms. Pangelinan’s first scheduled meet will be held on the 21st of this month. She is also set to attend the Junior National in Florida come Aug. 1 after she qualifies in the initial competition.
The teen swimmer first discovered her inclination toward the sport at age 11 under the instruction and support of Sports Director Bill Sakovich.
Mrs. Sakovich later took on the role as Ms. Pangelinan’s advanced swimming coach.
“Swimming is the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” she said.
The Pan-Pacific Games in Sydney, Australia last year was the biggest competition Ms. Pangelinan has so far attended.
“There I saw a lot of big competitors,” she said.
Ms. Pangelinan also expressed disappointment on the local government’s lack of support for CNMI’s swim team.
“It hurts us that they do not recognize us in the way that they support basketball and baseball,” Ms. Pangelinan said, citing sponsorships freely accorded to the said teams.
Ms. Pangelinan will be transferring to the Colonial Forge High School in Virginia next school year.
Despite the many setbacks, Ms. Pangelinan still encourages youths to get into sports.
Her message to young aspiring athletes out there is simply: “go for it.”
“All you need is everything you’ve got. Even if you have to sacrifice for it, just do it because in the end, it’s worth it,” she advised. (MM)
