Antonette is flagbearer for Micro Games

National team weightlifter Antonette Labausa was chosen as Team NMI’s flagbearer for the 2024 Micronesian Games that will be held in Majuro, Marshall Islands from June 15 to 24.

The hour-long sendoff ceremony was attended by the over 100 members of the delegation, sponsors, Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang, Rep. Edmund Villagomez (Ind-Saipan), Senate President Edith DeLeon Guerrero (D-Saipan), Saipan Mayor Ramon “RB” Camacho, Northern Marianas Sports Association president Jerry Tan and NMSA members, and family, friends, and supporters of the team that filled up the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium last Monday night.

The delegation’s chef de mission, NMSA general secretary Valerie Hofschneider, introduced each team member in all the 10 sports represented, the team’s many sponsors, and the team’s flagbearer.

The eight sports Team NMI is competing in are swimming, athletics, weightlifting, tennis, softball, basketball, wrestling, and beach volleyball.

During the ceremony, speeches of well wishes and thanks were made by Tan, Apatang, Villagomez, Deleon Guerrero, Camacho, and Labausa.

Veteran weightlifter Labausa has a long list of accolades from competing over the years. Her medal haul began with a bronze medal for basketball in the 2014 Micronesian Games, then three gold medals in the 2018 Micronesian Games, three silver medals in the 2022 Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games, silver in 2022 Oceania Champs, gold in 2023 Guam National Championships, gold in the 2023 Marianas Cup, and recently, a bronze medal in the 2024 Oceania Championships.

In Labausa’s closing remarks, she said, “My fellow athletes, in this moment, we recognize all our hard work, sacrifice, dedication, and dreams that have brought us here together. We all have pushed our limits, faced challenges head-on, experienced setbacks but undoubtedly have grown stronger with every step. Stay confident, stay positive, and stay focused. Trust in your training, trust in your abilities, trust in your team and most importantly, trust in yourself.”

She added, “As we head off to the 2024 Micronesian Games, let’s compete with integrity, honor, and pride. No matter the outcome, let’s compete with a spirit that is fierce yet kind, determined and confident, yet humble.”

She also thanked the team’s coaches and support systems, and their families and friends.

For Tan’s remarks, he thanked the many sponsors of the team and said that without them, there would be no team for the Games. He said that overall, they raised $179,000, including $20,000 from the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation that’s currently pending, which went mostly to the airfare of the 110 delegates.

He said of the Micro Games, “It is a very good opportunity for our athletes… The eight national federations have been training for about six months to a year.”

Tan added that NMSA has 16 national federations, but with the addition of women’s softball, it is now 17. With that, he is grateful to all of them.

He also acknowledged that Nick Gross, Public School System Athletics Program director, is working hard with interscholastic sports which is the grassroots that help develop athletes.

And, not only is he happy with the domestic leagues, but mentioned that along with the Micronesian Games, teams have also competed internationally last year in Asia, Europe, and Oceania.

He then said, “We just want to thank every single one of you for taking the time here tonight to have a great sendoff and to give everyone best wishes in the Micronesian Games. Let’s go Team Marianas!”

Afterwards, there was a photo-op for the athletes and the sponsors and NMSA board members, then families and supporters came out to take selfies and group photos with the team.

The 22 sponsors of the team are Joeten Daidai Foundation, Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation, Skechers, Marianas Express Lines Ltd. as platinum sponsors.

Triple J Enterprise, E-Land, TakeCare Insurance, and D&Q International Distributors are gold sponsors.

RNV Construction, Bank of Guam, IT&E, Dial-Rent-to-Own, Chinese Association of Saipan, Black Construction Corporation, GPPC, and Matson are silver sponsors.

And P&A Corporation, Laolao Bay Golf & Resort, McDonald’s Jose and Ruri Foundation, Y.K. Corp., Zoom Cafe, Artman Corp., and I Love Saipan are bronze sponsors.