Team Marianas athletes, officials arrive in Marshalls

Team Marianas’ wrestling, tennis, and beach volleyball teams are now in the Marshall Islands for the 2024 Micronesian Games that will kick off this Saturday with the opening ceremony at the Majuro Track & Field stadium.

Team Marianas chef de mission Valerie Hofschneider said the first batch of NMI delegates to the Micro Games arrived late Wednesday night and proceeded to the Athletes Villages to settle in. Yesterday, tennis coach Jeff Race and team manager John Bradley had a site visit at the NCD and USP tennis courts, while they were joined by netters Hannah Chae, Hoo Wang, Irin Chung, Colin Ramsey, and Si Woo Lee in the afternoon for some practice sessions. NMI tennis players will have a lot of time to practice, as their competitions will not start until June 20. Robbie Schorr and Isabel Heras complete the tennis team and will reunite with the group on June 17.

Beach volleyball’s Kathy Winkfield and Jermaine Salas also had their first day on the sand court yesterday and had a scrimmage with Palau players. The other members of the squad—Dylan Mister and Aurora Santos—arrived Thursday late morning via Hawaii. The NMI beach volleyball players will be the first athletes to see action for the islands, as their games will start this Saturday and run until June 18.

Five weightlifters—NMI flag bearer Antonette Labausa, Riella Ichiuo, Kaya Rasa, Jaden Andrew, and Lucio Eugenio—were part too of the first NMI delegation as well as their coach, John Davis. Joseph Pangelinan will join the team later this evening after leaving Saipan Thursday morning, while Leowell Cristobal is also scheduled to arrive in Majuro from Japan this Friday evening. The weightlifting competition will be held on June 17 and 18 at the International Convention Center.

Team Marianas’ weightlifting, tennis, and beach volleyball teams will be joined in the opening ceremony by the NMI National Women’s Softball Team, which left Saipan for the Micro Games Thursday morning. The NMI National Swimming Team also left Saipan Thursday morning, but will not be able to participate in the opening ceremony in Majuro, as the swim competition will take place in Kwajalein from June 17 to 21.

“Our athletes are settling in and are looking forward to the opening ceremony. This weekend, we are excited to welcome the teams from other sports (athletics and basketball) and by early next week, we will have the complete NMI delegation. Our athletes and officials are deeply grateful for the opportunity to represent the NMI in the Micronesian Games and thank all the organizations and individuals that have supported our Team Marianas,” Hofschneider said.

Team Marianas is supported by the following sponsors: Joeten Daidai Foundation, Mariana Express Lines Pte. Ltd, Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation, Skechers, Triple J Enterprise, E-Land Group, D&Q, TakeCare Insurance, IT&E, Bank of Guam, Black Construction Corp., Dial-Rent-To-Own, RNV Construction, GPPC/Apex Builders, Matson, Chinese Association of Saipan, Y.K. Corp., LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort, Jose & Ruri Ayuyu Foundation/McDonald’s, P&A Corp., Artman Corp., Zoom Café, and I Love Saipan. (PR)