Anatomy of the NMI Swim Team

Before any of his swimmers even dipped their toes in the Meyuns Swimming Pool much less medaled in Palau, Michael Stewart was already pretty upbeat about his wards’ upcoming stint in the 2005 South Pacific Mini Games.

The mercurial coach of the Saipan Swim Club offered a candid assessment of his swimmers a few days before packing his bags to Koror and revealed a quiet confidence on the abilities of all 10 of them.

Stewart first admitted that he has already ran out of adjectives to describe Nina Mosley, who on Monday snatched the CNMI’s first gold medal in the competitions.

“What can be said that hasn’t already been about Nina? Nina has been the anchor to the swim team all year long. The four-time medallist at the Arafura Games in Australia is our best bet for bringing home the hardware. Nina can do it all from sprints to distance events, including the 5k Open Water Swim. She is the NMI National Record holder in two events,” he said.

Stewart also said that Mosley’s abilities in the pool are not the only thing that sets her apart. He was also right on the money when he predicted that Mosley for sure would collect hardware in Palau.

“Nina not only brings her talents to the water, but is a great team leader on deck as well. She will definitely be the anchor for all our relays, which can be the difference in what color medal we are awarded. It is my prediction that Nina’s trophy case will have some new additions real soon,” he said.

The Marshall University (West Virginia) alumnus and former Sarasota YMCA also was impressed with the dedication and hard work exhibited by the three returning veterans of the 2003 Suva South Pacific Mini Games—Minerva Cabrera, Nicole Calvo, and Melissa Coleman—and said they are essential parts of the team’s success in the meet.

“Minny [Cabrera], having come off some time off during a recent trip to Pohnpei, has come back strong real quick. She turned in an impressive 200m Breaststroke in our most recent goal set. She should be contending for medals in all the Breaststroke and IM events. She will also shoot for a couple of our relays and will be in the running for some color of hardware.

“Nicole will be swimming all the sprint events, which are the most contested events in the games. She will be a favorite to final in a couple of events, and the medals may come if she has some impressive swims. She will also be an important part of our relays.

“Mel [Coleman], while pulling double duty with the triathlon team will also be an important part of some medal-hunting relays. Medals may happen in her best events, which are the middle distance, and distance events, including the 5k Open Water Swim, her specialty,” he said.

Stewart also lavished praises on the swim’s team’s Benjamin, Amanda Johnson, and come-backing Myanna Welch.

“Dah [Johnson] is our youngest contestant attending these games, however she will not be a quiet one. She has to be the most improved athlete we will be taking. She started having some breakout swims in Australia in May. She has become Saipan’s ‘Madame Butterfly’ with some great swims of late in the Butterfly events. Her strongest events will be both the butterfly and IM events. And will be a strong member of a couple of our relays.

“I predict that when these games are over Mon-Ya [Welch] will be saying ‘I’M BAAAACK.’ After coming off shoulder surgery Mon-Ya has had some impressive last couple of months, starting with the Arafura Games in May. In our last goal set she had a most impressive swim, 10 seconds better than in Australia, in the 200m Breaststroke. It was her LTB by more than four seconds. She will be a strong medal contender in all breaststroke and IM events. She will also be a strong contender on our relays,” said Stewart.

His trust on the abilities of the women’s team’s proved not misplaced when the foursome of Mosley, Coleman, Calvo, and Johnson came away with the bronze medal in the 800m Freestyle event.

As far as the men’s team was concerned, Stewart was candid enough to confess that it took a lot of prodding to get veteran David Palacios back on the team after the Division of Agriculture employee first made his intentions not to go earlier in the year.

“After enough arm-twisting, ‘Old Man’ David had finally agreed to get back in the water and help our young men’s team with some of his international swimming experience. David, a long time SSC star, returned to the pool in May and has done a great job getting himself ready to for some individual and relay medals. He will swim all the sprint events, 50m and 100m butterfly being his specialty. If the CNMI medals in relays it could be a direct result of David’s swimming and team leadership,” he said.

On Day 1 of the Mini Games, Stewart’s nagging of Palacios paid off for the two of them when the “Old Man” collected two silver medals in the 50m Backstroke and the 100m Butterfly.

Stewart also has a high regard on the talents of the Camacho brothers—Juan and Michael.

“Juan’s biggest strengths will be in all the backstroke and 5k Open Water events. He has been our men’s team leader all year long. Having not competed in a big meet since December, Juan looks to have some great time drops, which could and will surprise some of his competition. His leaderships on relays will be a big help in the men’s chances of medalling,” he said. “On the other hand, Michael maybe Juan’s younger brother, but he is not content to sit in his shadows. Michael maybe the hungriest medal hunter of us all having finished 4th on two events just out of medal contention at the Arafura Games in Australia. I am thinking he doesn’t want another fourth at these games. With some good time drops on relays Michael can come home with his just rewards for his hard work.”

Like Johnson, Stewart said the youngest member of the CNMI men’s team, Rezne Wong, is bound to create some waves in the pool.

“Resume [Wong] is our youngest member of the men’s team, however he is Saipan’s best breaststroke, and has a great chance of making finals in all the breaststroke and IM events. And once in the finals the medals are up for grabs. Rezne’s presents in our relays will help our chances of any chance of medalling.”