Senior Night, Saipan Style

Saturday concluded the fall sports season for MISO (Marianas Inter-Scholastic Sports Organization).  While some high school football fans were covered up with blankets, we were watching basketball in an air-conditioned gym while it was 85 degrees outside!  The fall sports calendar consisted of cross country, baseball, men’s volleyball, basketball cheerleading, and women’s basketball.  The women’s basketball tournament was played on Friday and Saturday and was officially the last event of the MISO fall calendar.  Nick Gross, the acting President of MISO (and our Athletic Director at MHS), and I wanted to do something special to recognize the seniors of all these sports from all the schools that participate in MISO (the three public high schools on Saipan, the one on the neighboring island, Tinian, and Saipan International School, who participates in MISO for Men’s Volleyball).  So, we invited all fall senior athletes and their families to the championship game of the tournament.  During half-time, each senior was escorted to center court, given a rose and balloon, shook Nick’s hand, and heard a little something read about his or her accomplishments both in and outside of his or her respective sport.  This was the first time something like this had been done on Saipan, and for the first one, I think it went well.  Fifteen seniors were recognized, and about 6 of them walked with family members.  The others walked with friends or by themselves.  What a difference from stateside!  Nick and I hope to have a Senior Night at the conclusion of the winter (and I use that term very lightly) and spring seasons.  Hopefully, it will become a MISO tradition!

Senior Athletes representing Kagman Baseball and Men's Volleyball (both won championships this season), Kagman Women's Basketball, Saipan Southern Women's Basketball, Marianas Cross Country, Women's Basketball, and Cheerleading along with Nick Gross, MISO Acting President.  Not Pictured were two students representing Marianas Men's Volleyball.

Undefeated and MISO Champions...Lady Dolphins!

Let's Hear it for our Dolphins!

We officially ended our season at the end of the tournament on Saturday.  We celebrated by going out for ice cream before the game on Friday.  Our t-shirts finally came in, and the team was so excited to have matching attire.  They looked adorable!  (Next up…uniforms, an island first!)  Throughout the season, I have lost some cheerleaders due to various reasons.  I now have about 25 left on the roster, with a core group of about 12.  I will be having tryouts for the winter season in a few weeks, but I don’t expect I will keep many more than 20. 

During this season, we have cheered for our volleyball and baseball teams (another island first).  We have been asked already by winter sport athletes to cheer at their events as well.  The other schools on the island know some of our cheers and will say them with us (Even opposing basketball players say the words and do the motions when their team calls a time-out!).  Our fans still clap for us every time we finish a cheer.  Many of them have learned the words to our chants and will yell them with us. 

Saipan International School, a private school on island, is thinking of starting a program during the winter.  A friend of ours, Becky Iseman, teaches at SIS and has agreed to coach them with my help.  I also found out last night that Kagman High School, one of the other public high schools on island, is also planning to start a cheerleading team.  The MHS cheerleaders are looking forward to working with their “sisters” during the winter!  So excited that the cheer nation has invaded the island of Saipan!!!  GO DOLPHINS!

Back Row L-R: Deveney DelaCruz, Captain, Maricris Zapanta, Jessica Apolinar, and Liezel Tiples; Middle Row L-R: Grace Enriquez, Maryann Mancao, CJ Tuburocol, Deza Rivera, and Riya Nathrani; Front Row L-R: Gie Bautista, Rachelle Rivera, Maryley Demapan, and Liezel Cristobal

Making our tunnel before the game with the help of students

Here come the Lady Dolphins!

Another God Moment

Colleen finally made me climb to the top of Mount Topochao the other day. (Thanks, Colly!)  Mount Topochao (or Topotchao, depending on who you ask) is the highest point on Saipan.  One can see neighboring islands Tinian and Managaha and the entire outline of Saipan.  A statue of Jesus and a cross sit at the top.  Every Easter, pilgrims carry a new cross to the top of Topochao in celebration.  As we stood there taking everything in, a rain cloud passed over us.  We were literally in the clouds!  Truly, a God moment. 

Tinian is the island far in the distance on the left...

Managaha Island

Statue of Jesus on Mt. Topachao

Our house is somewhere in the jungle in the middle of this picture

I Pas Mohon u Tachu Gi Hilo Tano is May Peace Prevail on Earth in Chamorron

Not So Average Joes

In a tournament that would definitely live up to the standards of the American Dodgeball Association of America (ADAA), “Huevos Grandes,” featuring Brian “Patches” O’Laughlin (complete with bandana and wristbands), emerged victorious.   Held at the Pacific Islands Club Resort (PIC), and with all proceeds going to charity, the tournament was a beautiful combination of trash talk, getting trashed, and junkyard dog level competitiveness.  Made up of most of our friends, Huevos rose up above it all to claim victory (secondary) and a case of beer (the primary motivation).  In last year’s tourney, they came in second, so this was sweet revenge.  All those hard hours of catching wrenches paid off.  Here’s to you, guys and gals of Huevos!

Huevos, Grandes that is

 If you want to check out the full article, feel free to check out...http://www.mvariety.com/2010111431962/local-sports/huevos-tops-dodgeball-tourney.php

Tuesday Night Trivia

History was made last Tuesday with the first-ever Tuesday Night Trivia at Wild Bill’s Bar and Grill (owned by a Texan and staffed by Philipinos - TIS).  We were lucky enough to get a sneak preview a couple weeks before, as Brian and Daniel tested a few different formats on our group of friends.  Thanks to the master question-making skills of Brian and Daniel, the promotional abilities of our friend Glen (“400 Facebook invites) Hunter, and the Ryan Seacrest-esque performance by our MC,  Jordan Davis, the opening night was a raging success.

Brian, Jordan, Daniel, and Glen

There were seven teams for the inaugural night (including a group of high school students).  Our team consisted of Colleen, Russ Lorfing (a friend of Daniel’s from Texas and the infamous Super Bear from Halloween), and a guy we met about an hour before trivia named Trey.  (Side note: Trey and Joey met at soccer practice Tuesday afternoon.  He played soccer at Heritage High School in Conyers, GA and is a UGA graduate.  When I worked at Oxford, I recruited one of his best friends.  He has been on Saipan for one week as a fish and wildlife biologist.  Small world, indeed!)   

Russ, Trey, Joey, and Colleen showing the obligatory "Hang Loose" sign

There were four categories of questions: Advertising Slogans, the Oscars, Sports, and Man-made Monuments (a visual round).  Joey and Jason (one of his Men’s club teammates) got a “little” passionate on a tricky question on the World Cup.  Much like his occasional rants at referees, the enthusiasm was a little over the top and a little misguided, but good natured in the end.

Overall, the evening was fabulous!  Fun-times had by all.  Prizes were given away to most of the teams.  We tied for second place, missing first by one point.  Our team received a $25 gift certificate to Wild Bill’s to pay for our tab for the evening.  Free food and drinks, fun with friends, and acquiring wrinkles in the brain…who could ask for more?!

Veteran's Day

 To commemorate Veteran’s Day, we went to a ceremony at American Memorial Park, a park in Garapan located near the site of the initial invasion of Saipan by U.S. forces during World War II.  Past, present and future (the Saipan Southern High School Army ROTC) service members from all branches of the armed forces participated in the ceremony .  The park was all decked out with flags for every state and territory.  Notice the one on the far left in the pictures below.  We haven’t seen that one flown in quite some time!  Governor Fitial, Congressman Kilili and several other local dignitaries were present.  One of the highlights of the day was recognition of a 94 year-old man who served in the Pacific during World War II.  Thanks to the efforts of representatives from Anderson Air Force Base in Guam, the ceremony ended in spectacular fashion - a B-52 Bomber flying over the park at a height of just 1,000 feet!  Considering the Northern Marianas role as the launching point for the pre-eminent flying fortress of another era (the B-29 – see our post about Tinian), this really seemed to be an appropriate end to a special day.

Reflecting on the experience, one can’t help but feel this day means just a little more to a place that actually felt the force of an invasion.  People here not only fought in World War II, they lived it as well.  From Banzai cliff (where Japanese civilians jumped to their death rather than be captured by U.S. forces) to Japanese tanks partially submerged right across the street from our high school, the traces of World War II are visible on a day-to-day basis.  People who run through the jungle have come across human skulls, unexploded weapons, and parts of planes.  I suspect this is how the residents of Normandy feel.  It’s different when the fight comes to your home, and nothing invokes appreciation for the sacrifice like that understanding.  Because we are in the Pacific, we want to specifically give our thanks to Grandad, Grandad Joe, and Uncle Tite, our family members who served in World War II.  We also want to thank Dad (Allen Smith), Craig Graybeal, and Tabitha Elliott's (Thomas Elger's wife) brother for serving our country in more recent times.  Happy Veteran's Day!

Cadets from Saipan Southern High School

Georgia state flag on the left!

Governor Fitial or Uncle Ben as he is referred to on Saipan

Congressman Gregorio Camacho Sablan Kilili

94 year-old veteran who fought in the Pacific during World War II

B-52 Bomber flying at 1,000 feet at the end of the ceremony