
By Jay Leon Guerrero
The GW Geckos football team enters another IIAAG season with the hopes of making it back to the championship game, a game they are familiar with playing. The Geckos have been to the championship game in the last decade with the exception of 2008 (finishing fourth).
Football legend Ryan Rios enters his 14th season as head coach for the Geckos and they are on another mission to continue their winning ways.
Like every other team in the league, the Geckos face challenges to fill holes left by graduating seniors and transfers. Probably the biggest loss is on defense with linebacker Jermaine San Nicolas and Damon Hocog gone due to graduation. Both were First Team All-Islanders and early draft pick ups in the GSPN All-Star Game.
Jose San Miguel and John Espino are key returnees for Rios’ defense. “He (San Miguel) has the strength of Damon and we look for him to have a good season as a returnee,” said Rios.
“We lost some really good players on defense but its not only going to me on defense, we look on working together as a unit to accomplish our goals,” said San Miguel on anchoring the defense. “Right now, our only focus is getting better with practice”.
OFFENSE
On offense, running back J-One Weires graduated and the speedy Xavier Naputi transferred to FD. Twins Timothy and Tommy Castro also graduated and their blocking abilities on the offensive line will be missed. Also, departing due to graduation was quarterback Isaiah Macias.
But the Macias household will still be there on the sidelines with Isaiah’s younger brother Ricky looking to see time at quarterback as well. Ricky Macias will share snap duties with Florencio Untalan also listed at quarterback.
The backfield will consist of returnees Francisco San Nicolas and Kastino Engichy. Keanu Salas will also see time in the backfield at running back. One of the main key returnees from last year is junior wide receiver Aaron Jamanilla. Jamanilla had big games last season for Rios and he looks to keep the chains moving for GW this season.
“I’m sure this team will do well if we keep working hard in practice,” said Jamanilla.
Jamanilla understands that he is one of the main offensive weapons for GW, but he said it will take the whole team to work together as a unit to get back to the championship game.
Rios said some underclassmen came out for the team who played youth football last year. The coaching staff are working with the new talent to get them ready for the high school level.
“The numbers are small this year compared to the previous year. The talent is there, this team is very young but they have potential,” said Rios.
School hasn’t started yet for GW (August 17th), but the numbers of players is likely to rise when school starts.
Rios’ coaching staff consists of Bill Quichocho (offensive coordinator), Mark Mesngon (offensive line coach), Danny Manibusan (offensive coach), Oscar Santos (defensive line coach), and Casey Cruz (secondary coach).
The Geckos’ first game is tentatively scheduled for August 26th vs Okkodo at the UOG Field at 3 pm. They play each team once with the final game of the season (scheduled for October 7th) vs FD. The Geckos finished with one loss last year in the regular season to FD.
PREVIEW: FD Friars
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Foody’s Fun Facts with Makayla Atoigue
ND Royals Rugby Player Makayla Atoigue lays down her Foody’s Fun Facts and shares her dream vacation spot
GPS Sports Calendar
May 2022
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for May
2nd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET #4
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
3rd
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL QUARTERFINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
5th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
6th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL SEMIFINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
7th
GPD HOT PURSUIT 5K
MARIANAS OPEN
ISA MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
Events for May
9th
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET #5
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
10th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER All-Star Meeting
IIAAG GIRLS BEACH VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG GIRLS SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL FINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
10th
Events for May
12th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL ALL-ISLAND MEETING
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
12th
Events for May
14th
14th JUDICA CRABAO 5K
ISA MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA GIRLS SOCCER FINALS
Events for May
16th
ISA TRACK & FIELD ALL-ISLAND MEET
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE All-Star Meeting
Events for May
17th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
18th
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
IIAAG GIRLS MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Events for May
19th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
20th
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL All-Star Meeting
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
21st
Pre-Memorial Day 13-Miler
GETTING GUAM HEALTHY 5K BUBBLE RUN/HEALTH FAIR
ISA MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD All-ISLAND MEET
ISA RUGBY LEAGUE FINALS
ALPHA WARRIOR ESPORTS CHAMPIONSHIPS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE FINALS
2022 Guam Track & Field National Championships
Events for May
23rd
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL SEMIFINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
24th
Events for May
26th
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL FINALS
GUAM MAJOR LEAGUE
Events for May
27th
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Events for May
29th
Events for May
30th

Volleyball
VOLLEYBALL ALL-STAR PLAYERS DRAFTED

Volleyball
TITANS COMPLETE PERFECT 2022 SEASON

Volleyball
VOLLEYBALL ALL-STAR PLAYERS DRAFTED

Baseball
DODGERS HAND TRITONS FIRST LOSS

Volleyball
TITANS COMPLETE PERFECT 2022 SEASON
Foody’s Fun Facts
Foody’s Fun Facts with Makayla Atoigue
ND Royals Rugby Player Makayla Atoigue lays down her Foody’s Fun Facts and shares her dream vacation spot
Foody’s Fun Facts
Foody’s Fun Facts with Makayla Atoigue
ND Royals Rugby Player Makayla Atoigue lays down her Foody’s Fun Facts and shares her dream vacation spot
COMING SOON …
- YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE KICKOFF June 4
- Todd Gurley Football Camp on Andersen
- GSPN Boys Volleyball All-Star Game
- Pacific Mini-Games in Saipan