Kosrae has 150 athletes competing in all sports in the Micronesian Games, except swimming, Micronesian All Around, football, men’s table tennis and women’s basketball.
“It’s always my dream to get more medals than what Kosrae got in the last Micronesian Games,” Wakak said.
In 2010, Kosrae took home twelve medals, unfortunately last time none of them were gold. This time hopefully they’ll ascend to the top of the podium in at least one sport.
Some athletes to look out for are the Mike brothers, Patrick and Kenneth, who will be competing as wrestlers. Patrick and Kenneth competed in the last Micronesian Games and they both took home medals for their state.
Wakak seemed very confident in his wrestling team and he expects them to rank high this year. Their commitment has been on show in the lead up to the Games, something Wakak has taken note of.
“Our wrestling teams are working really hard,” Wakak explains, only adding to their confidence of improving on their past results.
The basketball team is also a high medal chance this year. In the 2010 Games, Kosrae’s Men’s Basketball team won Silver, losing first place to Guam.
“I hope they can do the same thing, at least they can go forward and go for the medal also this time,” Wakak said.
Wakak’s passion for Kosrae’s performance at the Micronesia Games goes far past just love for his state, it has even infiltrated his family life. Whilst the Kosrae team includes many talented athletes, it also composed of a handful of Wakak’s own family. Along with his many nieces and nephews, Wakak has a daughter competing in not just one events, but two.
His daughter is the team captain for the Women’s Softball team and is also the only female from Kosrae participating in shot-put.
Athletes must participate in the annual Kosrae Games in order to be selected to be in the Micro Games representing Kosrae.
Starr Perman, Lexus Jano, Fritz Mihkel & Molly D'Arcy
United Youth Media
Last Modified on 17/07/2014 15:44