American Samoa Baseball Association president, Victor Langkilde is the new head of the territory’s National Olympic Committee (ASNOC), replacing Ken Tupua, who was unsuccessful in his re-election bid.

All sporting organizations under the ASNOC umbrella were represented at last Friday’s meeting where Langkilde, who is also principal of Marist Fa’asao High School, got the majority vote to win the election held at the ASNOC office in Tafuna.

In accordance with ASNOC by-laws, only presidents of the various sporting groups are eligible to run for office and therefore Ed Imo, the outgoing general secretary didn’t seek re-election as he is no longer the American Samoa Basketball Association president, following the Jan. 31 election where Milton Taufa’asau was elected the new leader of the Basketball Association.

The new ASNOC secretary general is Erika Radewagen of the Swimming Association and new ASNOC treasurer is Michelle Vargas of the Judo Association.  Langkilde congratulated Radewagen and Vargas as the two new officials of ASNOC.

“It is with a humble heart that I sincerely extend to all the sporting associations a big thank you for the election results,” he said in a statement and thanked Tupua, former secretary general Ed Imo and former treasurer Salaia Gabbard for all their work over the years with ASNOC,” said Langkilde over the weekend.

“It is my sincerest hope that we all as the sporting associations that make up ASNOC, can come together collectively to continue to make ASNOC a very strong organization,” he added.

Langkilde commented on long standing complaints from the community as well as some in the private sector over the handling and spending of ASNOC finances by previous leaders.

More in tomorrow's edition of Samoa News.