WSR, Koblerville rule U12 league

William S. Reyes Elementary School and Koblerville Elementary School were crowned champions in the Inaugural 2008 NMIFA U12 Interscholastic Football League Saturday at Hopwood Junior High School Field.

WSR took the girls’ division title after beating Koblerville’s Lady Umangs in a shootout, 2-0.

Mary Jane Rengiil and Gian Rudolph scored against Koblerville goalie Angela Achime.

Luisa Marie Camacho was the Lady Kingfishers’ goalkeeper and she did a great job against Koblerville’s five shooters.

WSR had a chance to take a 1-0 lead in the first half of the title game, but Rudolph’s penalty kick was nullified, as one of her teammates stepped on the line.

The Lady Kingfishers were coached by Melissa Dickinson and Ray Aguon. Other members of the team were Almina Deleon Guerrero, Alyssa Benavente, Guillerma Corpuz, Melony David, Alyssa Villagas, Earlynn Ngirlamuut, Maria Valencia, Luisa Marie Camacho, and Eddianne Cabrera.

In the battle for third place, Whispering Palms/Brilliant Star defeated Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School.

In the boys’ finals, Koblerville connected on two headers to avoid a shutout in the championship round and downed Saipan International School, 2-0.

Emerson Feria and Freeman Defang scored for Koblerville in the first half.

Francis Mendiola and Joe Etpison coached the winning Umangs, who were composed of Keoni Borja, Norman Defang, Woo Souk Choi, Finson They, Fredrick Encabao, Franklin Lizama, Peterson Renguul, Glenn Zachras, Kelvin Deleon Guerrero, Kent Kalen, Dexter Walter, Erapson Kanaka, and Jesus Rabauliman.

Dandan Elementary School B thwarted Whispering Palms/Brilliant Star in the battle for third place.

The Top 4 teams received trophies during the awards ceremony.

The organizing Northern Mariana Islands Football Association also handed Fair Play plaques to GTC (girls) and SIS (boys) of the Northern Group and Southern’s San Vicente (girls) and Oleai (boys).

NMIFA president Jerry Tan, league coordinator Patty Coleman, and league commissioner Jonas Barcinas were present at the awards ceremony to recognize the top performers of the league.

The inaugural U12 league was participated in by 17 schools. Also on the list were Garapan Elementary School, Kagman Elementary School, Eucon, and Tanapag Elementary School of the Northern Group and Southern’s Dandan Elementary School A, Saipan Community School, and San Antonio Elementary School.