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06/18/2025 - The NMI National Weightlifting Team has been shaking it up in the weightroom of the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium as they gear up to beat some personal bests, get on the podium, and shine once again among other Pacific islands in the upcoming 2025 Palau Pacific Mini Games set for June 29-July 9.
The usual suspects in the CNMI weightlifting world are back at it to compete for podium finishes—with an addition of one new lifter.
The team is made up of Devine Pua, Riella Ichiuo, Angel San Nicolas, Jaden Andrew, Jason Limes, Joey Colisao, Leowell Cristobal, and 2024 Micronesian Games flagbearer Antonette Labausa, who is also the team coach.
Cristobal, who is in the U.S. Air Force and based in Okinawa, Japan, is training on his own. He will be competing in the 65-kg division. Meanwhile, Colisao is on Tinian for work but occasionally trains in Saipan with the rest of the team. He is competing in the 110+kg division.
San Nicolas is competing in the 110-kg division, Limes is in the 110+kg, Labausa is in the 86-kg, Ichiuo is in the 77-kg, Andrew is in the 79-kg division, and Pua is in the 63-kg division.
With less than two weeks before competition, 23-year-old Pua said that training has been good. “I’ve definitely seen a lot of progress and improvement within my technique so I’m really happy about that. I’m just doing the best I can, putting in the work everyday, and I’m excited.”
Pua has competed in local competitions and competitions on Guam, but this will be the first time she’s competing for Team Marianas in any of the Games. She said, “I’m okay with the nerves. This is my big first off island competition so I’m not really sure. I’m just gonna go into it with optimism and just trying to make sure to try and focus on my technique, try to remember what I’ve been told in training, and just give it my all.”
Her goal in the Games is to try and successfully lift six of six lifts. “I haven’t done that yet. It’s kind of hard going into it and having the pressure of having only six attempts, but I’m just going to focus on my technique and try to get as many green lights as I can.”
For veteran lifter Limes, the 31-year-old said he decided to compete in the Games because he’s not getting any younger. He competed in the last Mini Games held here in the CNMI and won multiple gold medals. His goal he said, is to do better than he did the last time he competed in March this year—130-kg for the snatch and 170-kg for the clean & jerk.
As for the youngest on the team, 15-year-old Andrew, whose parents are Palauan, he said, “It’s exciting to compete there because there’s more family.” Despite his age, he’s competed in multiple regional weightlifting competitions including last year’s Micronesian Games. Reflecting on competing on a bigger stage than the Micronesian Games, he said, “I just feel kind of intimidated because there’s plenty people from all over.”
Andrew is the son of NMI National Va’a Team coach Justin, and the brother of Lyle, who is competing in athletics, and Tyler, who’s competing in va’a.
The team is leaving for Palau separately—Andrew is first to fly on the 25th, Labausa, Pua, and Cristobal are flying on the 26th, and the rest are leaving on the 29th.
The 161-delegation Team Marianas is supported by the Office of the Governor, Saipan & Northern Islands Legislative Delegation, Joeten Daidai Foundation, ASC Trust, Triple J, Tan Holdings, Altanx, Quality Distributors, IT&E, Mobil, McDonald’s, IT&E, Chinese Association on Saipan, GPPC, Marianas Press, Matson’s, LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort, Dial-Rent-To-Own, NMI Local Peace Corps Reunion Committee, Y.K. Corporation, Shell/AFE Marianas, LLC, Wushin, I Love Saipan, BC Corporation, and Artman.
By Leigh Gases
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