‘Everyone’s performing really well’

MAJURO, Marshall Islands—Yesterday marked five days into the 2024 Micronesian Games and the NMI delegation’s stellar performance so far has surpassed their medal haul from the 2018 Micronesian Games in Yap.

Chef de mission Valerie Hofschneider said in an interview yesterday morning that the NMI’s 50 medals as of last Tuesday is “fantastic” and the teams have been “performing well.”

With the teams that competed already, she said that the young fastpitch softball team have had some pretty tough competition, but still tried their best to keep up with the much more experienced teams. As for the women’s basketball team, she said, “I could see how talented our ladies are and how great sportsmanship they have.”

For the women’s beach volleyball team who bagged the first medal of the day last Tuesday, she said, “They did really well despite the heat.”

With a few more days of competition left, she said, “I would hope to see [Team NMI] play fair, most especially have fun, and enjoy their time here.”

The NMI National Swimming Team has garnered the most medals for the delegation with a total of 23 gold, 10 silver, and four bronze as of last Tuesday.

For beach volleyball, they won two bronze medals as the women’s duo of Kathy Winkfield and Aurora Santos bagged the team’s first medal with a bronze, while after, the men’s duo of Jermaine Salas and Dylan Mister completed the medal haul for the beach volleyball team with a bronze as well.

In weightlifting, they won three gold medals, five silver medals, and four bronze medals. Kaya Rasa claimed the three gold medals, while Leowell Cristobal went home with two silver and one bronze. Then, Riella Ichiuo scooped three silver medals and Antonette Labausa settled for three bronze medals.

Today, the athletics and tennis teams will get their first crack at the action.

NMI is seeded No. 1 for tennis and the team is confident in their abilities to medal. Young netters Irin Chung and Siwoo Lee said they have had to adjust to a different court than they’re used to, but said they’ve put in the work in their practices.

Stateside fly-ins Robbie Schorr and Isabel Herras will help lead the team along with Colin Ramsey.

Schorr, who flew in from Florida last Sunday, said, “We had time to get used to the courts and we’re looking forward to it—we think it’s going to be good.”

On the chance to represent the NMI again since the 2022 Pacific Mini Games, he said, “any chance I get to represent NMI, I’m going to take it. I love representing the NMI and I usually do pretty well, so I’m looking forward to it.” As for the rest of the team under the coaching of Jeff Race, he said, “I’m confident in them. I think the team has a lot of potential and I think there will be good things to come this week.”

For athletics, coach Elias Rangamar said they’ve had their practice sessions in since they got here last Sunday. He said the venue is nice, although in the Marshalls, it is hot, so that will be a slight challenge. He then said some athletes will also compete in other events other than their original ones as the organizers want to spread and even out the competitors. Other than that, he said he’s looking forward to the team competing.