{"id":424482,"date":"2024-11-18T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-18T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=424482"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"Kaithlyn-commits-to-Grand-Valley-State","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/Kaithlyn-commits-to-Grand-Valley-State\/","title":{"rendered":"Kaithlyn commits to Grand Valley State"},"content":{"rendered":"

From the tropics to the cold, NMI Women\u2019s National Soccer Team player and multi-sport athlete Andrei Kaithlyn Chavez is heading to Grand Valley State University next year to play college soccer on a full-ride scholarship.<\/p>\n

The Allendale, Michigan school is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II school. Their women\u2019s soccer team won the NCAA Division II national championship in 2021.<\/p>\n

Last Friday, a signing ceremony was held at her high school, Saipan International School, where she is currently a senior. It was attended by her family, coaches, teachers, and close friends and teammates. According to SIS headmaster Dr. Ron Snyder, Chavez is the first Gecko to receive a sports-related scholarship opportunity.<\/p>\n

On why she committed to the Lakers, the high school class of 2025 graduate said, \u201cI was actually offered opportunities from various places, including D1, D2, and NAIA schools. However, for me, Grand Valley was the better option. I had a meeting with all the coaches, and they gave me a virtual tour. The campus was beautiful, featuring an indoor field and newly renovated lockers. I also had a meeting with the players, where I was able to ask questions about the school. This experience made me realize that GVSU would be the right fit for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

With the opportunity, she said, \u201cI feel blessed because not everyone is able to have this opportunity. I know the competition will be tougher out there, so I will need to work extra hard and dedicate a lot of time to the gym and self-training.\u201d<\/p>\n

She then said, \u201cI am truly grateful because, ever since I was young, one of my goals was to sign and commit to a school. I\u2019m forever thankful for my friends, teammates, coaches, and family. A big thank you to everyone who supported me throughout my journey and always believed in me. This achievement is for all of you, and I promise to make you all proud.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her parents are Jov and Magie Chavez. Her siblings are Mark and Julie\u2014both of whom are national team soccer players as well.<\/p>\n

Her soccer coach through the years, Mae Ito, said in her remarks, \u201cI think it\u2019s very obvious that she has a very pleasing and honorable work ethic throughout. She is very studious and diligent on and off the pitch. Obviously, she\u2019s a multi-sport athlete, but I think her heart really works well with team sports.\u201d She added, \u201cI\u2019m very happy and proud to see not only the football community, but the whole community behind Kaithlyn and her step toward her dreams and her goals. All the best of luck and for sure, a lot of successes, and if there are any failures, we\u2019re here to push you.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for Snyder, he said, \u201cI\u2019m very excited that she\u2019s had five different scholarship offers this year\u2014four for soccer and one for cross-country. So, she\u2019s an amazing athlete overall. She\u2019s been our cornerstone athlete for volleyball, basketball, soccer, cross country, and track. She\u2019s represented the CNMI in cross-country, soccer, track, and basketball\u2026 She\u2019s represented the CNMI in multiple sports, so we\u2019re very proud to have her. She\u2019s also a very active photographer as our class historian, and is a great student. We\u2019re going to miss her but we\u2019re very excited for her and the opportunity that she\u2019s going to have next year in Michigan, embracing the cold.\u201d<\/p>\n

After the ceremony, Chavez was gifted a puppy, whom she named Rio. There was also a celebratory cake, with icing in the shape of a soccer ball.<\/p>\n

She has been playing soccer since she was 4 years old and has earned numerous achievements and accolades with the national team, her football club Kanoa, and her school team.<\/p>\n

She competed in Palestine for the AFC U20 Qualifiers and Thailand for the AFC U17 Qualifiers, where she was able to score in both competitions. Just this summer, she was awarded the most valuable player and Golden Boot for her exceptional performance during the NMIFA Women\u2019s U21 Three Nations Cup.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Saipan International School senior Andrei Kaithlyn Chavez, flanked by her parents Magie and Jov, signs her commitment to Michigan\u2019s Grand Valley State University during her signing ceremony at SIS last Friday.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

Saipan International School senior Andrei Kaithlyn Chavez, center, poses with her family, mom Magie, second right, dad Jov, second left, brother Mark, far left, and sister Julie, far right, during her signing ceremony to Michigan\u2019s Grand Valley State University at SIS last Friday.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

Saipan International School senior Andrei Kaithlyn Chavez, center, poses with her friends and teammates, along with her coach, Mae Ito, far left, and NMIFA general secretary Ross Zapanta, far right, during her signing ceremony to Michigan\u2019s Grand Valley State University at SIS last Friday.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

Saipan International School senior Andrei Kaithlyn Chavez, second left, poses with SIS headmaster Dr. Ron Snyder and teachers Mili Saiki, second left, and Angela Taflinger, during her signing ceremony to Michigan\u2019s Grand Valley State University at SIS last Friday.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

Saipan International School senior Andrei Kaithlyn Chavez holds up her puppy, Rio, that she was gifted after her signing ceremony at SIS last Friday.<\/p>\n

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<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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