
By Patrick Lujan
Get ready Guam, because the island’s strongest men and women are about to put on another display of strength and grit!
The 2023 GSPN I Mås Metgot Competition – Guam’s Strongest Man and Woman Event – is happening on Sunday, October 29 at the Ypao Beach Main Pavillion and the surrounding areas and once again, it’s open and free to the public.
MEN’S DIVISION
Elton Bautista (defending champion): 36, Dededo, 6-foot-0, 270 lbs.
Ariel Delos Reyes: 38, Dededo, 5-foot-6, 215 lbs.
Anthony Salas: 33, Yigo, 5-foot-9, 295 lbs.
J.J. Ambrose: 36, Tamuning, 5-foot-9, 170 lbs.
Peter San Nicolas: 29, Santa Rita, 6-foot-2, 290 lbs.
The construction working Bautista took the 2022 event by storm, winning four of the six events. Bautista literally builds homes during the day and trains solo at night. He has put on 20 pounds of strength this year in hopes of defending his title as Guam’s Strongest Man.
Ariel Delos Reyes, the oldest competitor at 38, has finished in second place in the past two Strongman events. Delos Reyes hoped to cracked the championship bottle, but Bautista spoiled his plans. The middle school teacher will have his support crew out once again in hopes of finally winning the event. He, too, has put on an extra 20 pounds of muscle since last year. Ariel was only 188 pounds in the 2021 event, showing the difference over the years.
Anthony ‘Big Tone’ Salas looks to win back his title that he won in the inaugural event in 2021. Big Tone put a lot of pressure on himself last year in his defense of the crown. Without that pressure this time around, Salas will have a more relaxed mindset.
The lightest competitor is back to show his strength. MMA fighter and current GSPN Athlete of the Year JJ Ambrose is not your typical 170 pounder. Him not finish last in the 2022 event was a huge testament to his strength and conditioning. Ambrose will be coming off a fight on Oct. 13 in Brawl 3, a similar rout he took last year.
The youngest and biggest competitor is first-timer Peter San Nicolas. The 29-years-old from Santa Rita has been training for three years of weightlifting under Fudoshin Weightlifting Club and has represented Guam on the national weightlifting level.
WOMEN’S DIVISION
Brittney Pereda Wallace (2x defending champion): 32, Barrigada, 5-foot-5, 240 lbs.
Jacinta Sumagaysay: 32, Asan, 4-foot-10, 135 lbs.
Miara LG Ruiz: 32, Barrigada, 5-foot-3, 130 lbs.
Tanya Gillins: 41, Dededo, 5-foot-6, 195 lbs.

Things have changed a bit for the two-time defending champion since winning the title last October. Brittney Pereda got married to Tim Wallace and moved to Layton, Utah. She’ll be flying back home just to take a shot at a three-peat.
Last year, there was no doubt she was the clear cut best, taking four of the six events. The other three competitors finished in a three-way tie – that’s how close it was for second place. Wallace has added 10 pounds since last year and looks to dominate once again.
National weightlifting champion Jacinta Sumagaysay is back to give it a go. She calls the Strongman event the toughest thing she’s ever done, but also the funnest. After experiencing the 2022 events, Ja is ready to showcase her power.
Miara Leon Guerrero Ruiz also got a new last name via marriage. She, too, has one year of experience and now knows what to expect. As the slimmest competitor, she shocked everyone last year by winning the Tombstone Walk.
Tanya ‘Traps’ Gillins is the new competitor who some think could be the wildcard, as was Elton Bautista in last year’s men’s division. She brings a CrossFit and weightlifting background. On the side, Tanya Traps is a freelance photographer who enjoys taking nature shots and a little bit of sporting events with GSPN.
EVENTS and SCHEDULE
What to Expect and What to Bring
The event is open and free for the public! There will be some food and refreshment trucks and non-alcoholic drinks on sale with proceeds going to the Guam Powerlifting Federation.
Bring your umbrellas and beach chairs to get up and close to the competition and cheer on these strong athletes.
GSPN will also honor Joe ‘Gå’ga”Pangelinan prior to the event. Gå’ga‘ was one of the first competitors in 2021 who didn’t know he had cancer at the time of the event. He made it through the 2022 event as a spectator before eventually succumbing to the cancer in December 2022.
The winners once again will receive $1000 in winnings and a cool championship belt from Big Mike’s Belts.


GPS Sports Calendar
December 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for November
1st
ISA BOYS SOCCER
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
2nd
IRON LEGENDS THROWDOWN
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
4th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER
ISA BOYS SOCCER
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
5th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for December
5th
Events for December
7th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER PLAYOFFS
Events for December
9th
40th GRC PLUMERIA ROAD RACE
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for December
10th
TOUR OF GUAM 2023
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
Events for December
11th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for December
12th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
12th
Events for December
14th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER FINALS
Events for December
15th
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for December
16th
3rd GUAM NINJA CHAMPIONSHIP
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
16th
Events for December
18th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER ALL-ISLAND MEETING
Events for December
19th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
19th
Events for December
23rd
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
ISA HS BASEBALL FINALS
Events for December
23rd
Events for December
24th
Events for December
25th
Events for December
27th
Events for December
29th
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Events for December
30th

Baseball
ROYALS DOWN FRIARS IN STATEMENT GAME

Basketball
3×3 HOOPS REPEAT AS GOLDEN BOYS

Basketball
RAPADAS LEADS WILD COUGAR COMEBACK

Baseball
GUAM HOSTS KIWIS IN U15 BASEBALL

Baseball
ROYALS DOWN FRIARS IN STATEMENT GAME

Basketball
SHARKS FEND OFF DOLPHINS IN GIRLS HOOPS
COMING SOON …
- IIAAG Girls Basketball Playoffs