Central Maui Little League All-Stars pose at Kahului Airport after big win at States
The Central Maui Little League All-Stars (ages 11-12) returned home on Wednesday with the State Majors Division Title taking a 2-0 victory against Waipio at Kilauea Distract Park on Oahu.
Original story posted 05-08-2013 on MauiNow By Rodney S. Yap
Illhia Kewaekane prepares to launch a shot at goal during a Pono Soccer Club practice at Kahului Community Center last week. Photo by Rodney S. Yap
She is Maui’s first female soccer player to be invited to train with the U14 United States Women’s National Soccer Team.
Ilihia Keawekane, a 13-year-old midfielder with Pono Soccer Club, was selected to the U14 Youth National Team after impressing coaches at the Hawaii Olympic Development Program Sub-Regional Event on Oahu, March 27-31.
“It’s an honor to have this opportunity,” said Ilihia, daughter of Amos and Mitzie Keawekane. “I’m very proud of myself. It took a lot of hard work and I thank my coaches, my family, and my teammates, for supporting me and helping me.”
Kewaekane’s one-week journey begins on Mother’s Day, May 12. The Kamehameha 7th-grader will join 47 of the nation’s best female soccer players in her age group at the University of Portland in Oregon. By the time the camp ends on May 19, Keawekane must prove to head coach April Kater that she is worthy of one of 36 roster spots on the U14 US Women’s Youth National Soccer Team.
Ilihia Keawekane and ’00 Pono soccer coach BJ Medeiros. Photo by Rodney S. Yap
“One of my goals was to get to the highest level. I didn’t know there was such a thing as a national team, so my goal was to make the regional team, but now that I am here, my goal is to make the national team and stay there.”
If Keawekane is chosen, she will attend two additional training camps, from Sept. 14-21 and Dec. 8-15, with a squad that will represent the US on the international stage. All travel expenses and accommodations are being paid for by US Soccer.
“Ilihia has the raw talent. She’s strong, she’s fast, she has a solid kick, she’s tenacious,” said ’00 Pono SC’s BJ Medeiros, who has coached Keawekane the last five years. “With that and the teammates she is constantly around who are just as competitive and always pushing each other, she’s ready.
Pono soccer player Ilihia Keawekane puts her foot to the ball. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.
“This is the result of the progress these girls are making together. They can look back and see we have a teammate who has made it to a national camp and their hopes and dreams are the same. She is the first one and I’m sure she won’t be the last from our club and maybe more Hawaii kids will follow.”
Keawekane credits her teammates and coaches for their help and support.
“Leialoha (Medeiros) inspires me because she’s one of the best soccer players in Hawaii. She pushes me to get better and that makes me stronger, faster and more skillful.”
In preparation for the camp, Keawekane continues to train with Coach Medeiros and ’00 Pono twice a week. She gets additional training 2-3 times a week with Valley Isle Soccer Academy coaches Aleks Filipović and Rebecca Filipović for individual training and tactical film sessions.
Keawekane said she has been working with “Coach Aleks and Coach Rebecca for the last three years.”
She also attends speed and agility training with David Kamalani from GetFast. “I want to play Division I soccer, that’s my goal.”
Ilihia Keawekane (middle) is the center of attention on the ’00 Pono SC after becoming Maui’s first female soccer player to be invited to train with the U14 United States Women’s National Soccer Team. Front Row (left to right), Breanne Mukai, Tehani Moikeha, Darian Fernandez, Shayna Yoshida, Kaeana Anguay. Second row (left to right), Tihanee Freitas, Mikayla Barut, Makamae Aquino, Chai Cortez, Ilihia Keawekane, Kamalei Roback, Kainoa Dafun, Leialoha Medeiros and Kylee Yamashita (back). Photo by Rodney S. Yap.
Both Filipovićs are state coaches for the Olympic Development Program and worked with the regional staff in March to identify and recommend players, including Ilihia, for selection to the next level.
“Coaches may offer knowledge, but at the end of the day, it is what a player chooses to do with that information that determines his or her success,” said Aleksandar Filipović, Director of Coaching at VIS Academy. “For Ilihia, all credit most importantly goes to her and her family. Credit must also go to Coach BJ for his unrelenting commitment to the ’00 Pono Team, and for always welcoming other opportunities for his players’ development.”
“She’s definitely one of the leaders and captains of our team,” Medeiros said. “She’s also one of the original girls who started with us about seven years ago. . . . But in the past two years a lot of our girls, who are now 13-years old, have made big strides. And the main reason for that is because they have stayed together as a core group.
“They are very competitive and constantly challenging each other. We travel twice a year to the mainland and we go to Oahu three to four times a year. We play in all the Maui tournaments. But in order to get the competitive edge that we are talking about you have to go to Oahu and to the mainland.
“Club soccer is the way to go now and boys and girls growing up are enjoying the rewards of playing soccer at an early age. I think players like Nicole Garbin (formerly of Baldwin High and University of Oregon) have definitely paved the way for these younger players. I think we will see a lot more Division I college players coming out of Hawaii — both boys and girls.”
Original story posted 03-03-2013 on MauiNow
Posted By Rodney Yap MauiNow.com
Lahainaluna High School’s Carly Jaramillo, shown here in a meet last month, won the girls state title at 135 pounds. File photo by Glen Pascual.
Lahainaluna High School’s Bubba and Carly Jaramillo became the first brother and sister from the Maui Interscholastic League to win state wrestling titles Saturday at the Neal Blaisdell Arena on Oahu.
The duo and freshman Lalelei Mataafa gave the Lunas three state titles — the school’s 21st, 22nd and 23rd — in the sport of wrestling since it was introduced in 1966.
Bubba Jaramillo manhandled Moanalua’s Nakoa Chun 11-2 in the boys 140-pound final and younger sister Carly, or Kapu to her teammates and friends, pinned defending champion Shannon Paaaina of Mid-Pacific in the 135-pound final with four seconds remaining in the match.
Mataafa, the younger sister of two-time silver medalist Hercules Mataafa at 215, won the girls 220 championship by pinning Kaydie Lynn Tehotu of McKinley in 1 minute, 33 seconds.
Collectively, the Jaramillios and Mataafa went 75-0 in 2013. Bubba finished with an impressive 38-0 mark, Kapu was 23-0 and Mataafa 14-0.
Lahainaluna High School’s Bubba Jaramillo, shown here in a meet last month, won the boys state title at 140 pounds. File photo by Glen Pascual.
Lahainaluna placed third in both the boys and girls team standings.
Pearl City nudged Kamehameha Kapalama for the girls championship, 158 to 151.5. The Lunas was next at 141, followed by Molokai with 91 and Baldwin with 53.
Bubba Jaramillo rolled over Chun, building a 6-2 advantage going into the third round.
Kapu Jaramillo trailed early in the second round 1-0 and went ahead 2-1 on a takedown with 37 seconds left in the second round. She added a two-point reversal before pinning Paaaina.
The third Jaramillo, Precious, finished third at 121 for the second straight year.
Lalelei Mataafa is no stranger to the big stage, having competed on the national level in the NFL’s Punt, Pass, Kick competition four times, including a national title in 2008.
Keeping it all in the family, Hercules Mataafa lost 8-2 in the boys 215 final to Kamehameha Kapalama’s Dane Pestano, who beat him 5-3 in 2012.
[3]Five boys and four girls from the MIL won semifinal bouts Saturday morning.
Molokai’s Kailaoe Cabating was pinned by Pearl City’s Breanne Takaesu in 3:42 in the girls 105 final. Cabating pinned Punahou’s Miranda Oda in the final second of a semifinal match.
Teshiya Alo of Kamehameha Kapalama pinned Lahainaluna’s Breanna Dudoit-Vasquez in 35 seconds to win the girls 130 title.
Kamehameha Kapalama’s Jonathan Kamaka defeated Lahainaluna’s Wyatt Chism 8-3 in the boys 135 final. Chism pinned Kailua’s Canaan Kawaihae in 3:26 in the semifinals.
Campbell’s Brandon Perez beat Lahainaluna’s Christian Balagso 8-6 in the boys 108 final and Pearl City’s Blake Cooper won his second state title by defeating Kamehameha Maui’s Andrew Kahalewai 11-2 in the boys 152 final.
Lahainaluna Girls State Champions
2013 — Carly Jaramillo, 135; Lalelei Mataafa, 220
1998 — Lia Berger, 140
Lahainaluna Boys State Champions
2013 — Bubba Jaramillo, 140
2011 — Chanse Uyeda, 147
2010 — Holden Mowat, 152
2008 — Lake Casco, 160; Travis Okano, 130
2007 — Lake Casco, 152; Travis Okano, 125
2006 — Bailey Ball, 140; Travis Okano, 119
2004 — Naihe Akoi, 145
2002 — Kainoa Casco, 160; Jeffrey Larita, 152
2001 — Kainoa Casco, 152
2000 — Kawika Casco, 171
1999 — Kawika Casco, 152
1997 — Clinton Babayan, 130
1996 — Chris Nguyen, 130
1994 — Stephen Lucas, 171
1983 — Lance Stevens, 167
1976 — Mike Miyamoto, 112
1975 — Matthew Ha, 98
1974 — Robert Motooka, 119
1973 — Robert Motooka, 112
1969 — Kurtis Saiki, 154
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Congratulations to the Maui United Soccer Club 2002 boys team!! Read all about it in the article below.
Valley Isle Sports / In Brief
July 17, 2013
The Maui News
Maui United romps to tournament title
The Maui United Soccer Club 2002 boys team won the Hawaii International Cup last weekend on Oahu, outscoring its four opponents 23-0.
Maui United defeated Surf Hawaii 5-0, won 2-0 over the Honolulu Soccer Club ’02 Bulls, beat Ekahi Hui 11-0 and recorded a 5-0 victory over the Honolulu Soccer Club Ka’ula ’03 Bulls.
Article Photos
Kobi-Ryne Kuge of Maui United Soccer Club 2002 attempts to advance the ball during a Hawaii International Cup match.
MAUI UNITED photo
“The HSC Bulls beat us in overtime 4-3 back in February at the President’s Day Cup, so it was a huge accomplishment to come back and beat them at their own tournament,” said Maui United coaching director Brent Nunes.
“It just goes to show that our program is working and all their hard work has really paid off. I’m so proud of these boys and see great things in their future.”
The Maui United roster comprised Gabriel Andrion, Aikala Chappell, Eric Doolin, Henry Johnston, Luke Kawabe, Kanoa Kelii, Kobi-Ryne Kuge, Raul Lopez, Tomas Martinez, Cade Mattos, Samuel Ostermiller, Isaiah Souza and Elliot Tom. The coaches were Chuck and Blake Nunes.
Maui Mini-Volleyball is designed to teach your son or daughter, ages 4-11 fundamental sports training and the introduction to the sport of volleyball. Through FUN, challenging, educational games and activities, your future athlete will develop loco motor movement, body control, and basic skills and concepts in volleyball. We will help to develop the athlete in your child, not just by teaching them the game of volleyball, but by nurturing the athletic skills that will allow them to play any sport.
Designed for keiki with little or no athletic experience. Diggers develop basic athletic movements and learn fundamental skills through fun games and exercises.
Designed for keiki with some athletic experience. Setters practice fundamental volleyball skills through a variety of drills.
Designed for keiki with some athletic experience. Spikers continue to refine their skills, learn game basics, and participate in coach-assisted scrimmages.
Clinics begin Sunday July 14th at Seabury Hall from 3:30-5pm. A small fee of $3.00 will be collected at the door, every Sunday, from each participant.
** H.S. Volunteer Coaches Needed **
Open for High School Students in need of service hours or interested in helping our Maui County Youth…
contact Coach Bala at 256-5746
For More Information Visit www.mauivolleyballclub.org
June 15, 2013
Thirty high schools and 21 student athletes receive honors for the 2013 HMSA Kaimana Awards & Scholarship Program
Robyn Kuraoka
(808) 948-6826
Robyn_Kuraoka@hmsa.com
School principals, athletic directors, students, and family members came from across the state to the Hawaii Convention Center today to honor Hawaii’s top high schools and the finest scholar athletes at the 2013 HMSA Kaimana Awards & Scholarship Program luncheon.
“Being a teenager and getting through that tremendously challenging period of your life is an accomplishment on its own,” said Elisa Yadao, HMSA’s senior vice president of consumer experience. “These students excelled, earning outstanding grades, practicing exceptional sportsmanship, and giving countless hours of their time to help others. We’re so committed to the Kaimana Program because it highlights the aloha these students share with their classmates, their teammates, and their communities.”
The program, which started in August 2005, recognizes all-around accomplishments by high schools, rewards individual student athletes with scholarships, and supports coaches education. It’s sponsored by HMSA and administered by the Hawaii High School Athletic Association.
At today’s awards ceremony, 21 students received scholarships worth $3,000. Five of those students were named distinguished scholars and received an additional $2,000 each. This year, HMSA unveiled a new scholarship in honor of former HMSA president and chief executive officer Robert P. Hiam. Lucas Gushikuma, a Kauai High School graduate, was awarded an additional $7,500 to use toward his tuition next year at the University of Portland where he plans to study to become a nurse and eventually a doctor.
Thirty high schools were recognized for achieving the highest program scores in their league and division in athletics, academics, sportsmanship, and community service. The 10 highest-scoring schools received a check for $1,500.
The keynote address was presented by Olympic medalist Clarissa Chun, the only woman wrestler from Hawaii to win a medal at the Olympics and the first women’s freestyle wrestler to be nominated to her second Olympic Team. KGMB Sunrise News Anchor Steve Uyehara emceed the awards luncheon. Guest presenters included KITV Sports Anchor and UH Rainbow Warrior Football play-by-play Announcer Robert Kekaula; Josh Pacheco of ESPN Radio; Dave Reardon of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser; Dana Takahara-Dias, Department of Education Title IX in Athletics Specialist; and Dave Vinton, director of Sports Programming for OC-16.
About HMSA
Caring for the people of Hawaii is our promise and our privilege. Working together with employers, partners, and physicians and other health care providers, we promote wellness; develop reliable, affordable health plans; and support members with clear, thoughtful guidance.
HMSA is the most experienced health plan in the state, covering more than half of Hawaii’s population. As a recognized leader, we embrace our responsibility to strengthen the health and well-being of our community.
Headquartered on Oahu with centers statewide to serve our members, HMSA is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
Nice improvement from last week’s volleyball matches at Seabury Hall. The kids are beginning to get the fundamentals down. Sorry for the poor quality pictures. It’s the best I could do with my Droid.
KAHULUI – The race for second place is on in Maui Interscholastic League Division I girls volleyball.
King Kekaulike High School needed five sets, but outlasted Maui High in a battle between two of the three teams sharing the No. 2 spot in the standings entering Tuesday night, riding the performance of senior outside hitter Taylor Fernandez to a 25-22, 18-25, 18-25, 25-23, 15-12 win at the Sabers’ gym.
Fernandez had 22 kills – six in the final set – seven digs and two aces, helping Na Alii (3-3) remain in a tie for second place with Baldwin. Maui High (2-4) fell to fourth. Kamehameha Maui, undefeated in seven matches, is the eight-time defending MIL champion.
“Very close, it’s everybody’s game,” King Kekaulike coach Kapeka Vares said. “We’re always glad to just take one team at a time. We just don’t want to put so much expectations on us.”
Second place in the 12-match MIL regular season guarantees at least a playoff for a state berth. Fourth place means an extra night in the league tournament and possible date with the regular-season champion in the semifinal round.
“It’s a real battle right now, but it’s real important to grab at least second place for the tournament seeding,” Vares said after her team’s third five-set match of the season. “We’re just in the second round and it really is anybody’s game right now. We are lucky to have Baldwin, Maui High and Lahainaluna to bring the best out of us, that is just how it is.”
The Sabers took a 16-14 lead in the fourth set, but back-to-back kills by Fernandez tied the set for the ninth and final time, part of a 7-2 run culminated by Hiilei Mahuka-Kihewa’s kill. A kill by Fernandez ended the set.
In the fifth, Mahuka-Kihewa smacked a resounding kill for a 10-9 lead, and after the Sabers tied it, four Fernandez kills in a span of six points gave Na Alii a 14-12 advantage. A Maui High error ended the nearly two-hour match.
Kayla Uyesugi had six kills, three aces and three digs for King Kekaulike. Pua Borden had six kills, Mahuka-Kihewa had five kills and two digs and Sylvania Amor had five digs.
MIL Standings
Division I
| W | L | Pct | GB | |
| Kamehameha Maui | 7 | 0 | 1.000 | — |
| Baldwin | 3 | 3 | .500 | 3 1/2 |
| King Kekaulike | 3 | 3 | .500 | 3 1/2 |
| Maui High | 2 | 4 | .333 | 4 1/2 |
| Lahainaluna | 0 | 5 | .000 | 6 |
| Division II | ||||
| W | L | Pct | GB | |
| Molokai | 4 | 0 | 1.000 | — |
| Hana | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | 1/2 |
| Seabury Hall | 2 | 1 | .667 | 1 1/2 |
| St. Anthony | 3 | 2 | .600 | 1 1/2 |
| Lanai | 0 | 4 | .000 | 4 |
| Maui Prep | 0 | 5 | .000 | 4 1/2 |
Tuesday’s Results
Baldwin def. Lahainaluna 25-11, 25-23, 25-23
King Kekaulike def. Maui High 25-22, 18-25, 18-25, 25-23, 15-12
Today’s Match
x-St. Anthony at King Kekaulike, 6 p.m.
Thursday’s Match
Maui High at Lahainaluna, 6 p.m.
Friday’s Matches
Hana vs. St. Anthony at War Memorial Gym, 6 p.m.
Lanai vs. Maui Prep at Lahaina Civic Center, 6 p.m.
x-nonleague
Maui High’s Suli Hifo had 16 kills and six digs, Mele Enomoto had 15 assists, three kills, two aces and six digs, Kuulei Wasserman had 14 kills, two blocks and six digs, Toa Tongi had seven kills, Tina Lotulelei had six kills and Seini Vaha had five kills and three aces.
The Sabers, who have not been to the state tournament since 2006, were missing veteran Michelle Weckwerth, who was visiting her newborn niece in Washington state.
“This is a new team for me and all 18 have to play and just grow,” said first-year Maui High coach Lena Quilantang. “We don’t have any stars on the floor. We have a lot of returners, but no one like Taylor Fernandez – you can tell she is an experienced player.”
Olivia Wallace had eight kills and Pele Buika added seven as the Baldwin High School girls volleyball team earned its first victory of the Maui Interscholastic League season Thursday night, sweeping Lahainaluna at the Bears’ gym in Wailuku.
Wallace also had three aces and Buika had two blocks in the 25-11, 25-20, 25-14 win.
Gabby Cordoba had five kills, Kisaea Tasini had four kills and three aces, Taylor Badois had four kills, Tulu Tulenkun had 16 assists and Daisy Rano had eight assists for Baldwin (1-2).
Taylor Badois of Baldwin High School sets the ball as teammates Gabby Cordoba (right) and Oli-via Wallace look on Thursday night at the Bears’ gym.
The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
The match was the first of the season for the Lunas.
*****
KAMEHAMEHA MAUI 3, KING KEKAULIKE 0: At Pukalani, Bobbi-lin Kalama had 20 assists, five kills and four aces for Kamehameha Maui in a 25-10, 25-14, 25-20 sweep.
Sienna Davis led the Warriors (4-0) with eight kills and also had four aces and four digs. Leimana Kane had seven kills and three blocks, Raven Poepoe and Anuhea Kaiaokamalie each added five kills and Emma Yen had three kills and five digs. Kaiaokamalie also had four digs.
King Kekaulike fell to 1-3.