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Athlete of the Month banquet set for next month
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Posted on Jan 17 2006
The Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association has the tough task of selecting top athletes every month, but the task will become a lot more difficult as the time comes to select the athletes of the year for 2005.
In its January monthly meeting, NMASA officials discussed hosting the annual Sports Banquet sometime in mid-February. The banquet serves as a venue to recognize all athletes of the month for 2005, as well as announce the NMASA Athletes of the Year and Coach of the Year.
Four individuals are expected to take centerstage as NMASA will crown 2005’s top male, female, male student, and female student athletes.
Last year, NMASA recognized sailing’s Tony Stearns and basketball’s Beverly Igitol as male and female athletes of the year, respectively. Also taking home prestigious honors were Benjie Decena of tennis and athletics Bo Wang of athletics, both honored as student athletes, while longtime multi-sport coach Elias Rangamar was named 2004 Coach of the Year.
All athletes of the month will also be lauded, as certificates will be presented to them in recognition of their efforts and accomplishments throughout the year.
Also sharing the spotlight with the Athletes of the Year is the third group of inductees into the CNMI Sports Hall of Fame. Sports federations submitted their Hall of Fame nominees during the last meeting, and the only thing left is for NMASA to officially announce who the inductees are.
Last year, baseball’s Francisco M. Palacios (administration), athletics’ Kurt Barnes (coach), tennis’ Irene Alpet (athlete-posthumous), and softball’s Tony Satur (athlete), were inducted into the CNMI Sports Hall of Fame.
The athletes of the year selection will be among the important topics to be discussed at NMASA’s next monthly meeting, which is scheduled for Feb. 2 at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium conference room.
