Hawaii’s Billy Kemper and Paige Alms wrapped up the World Surf League Big Wave Tour championships Wednesday with titles.
The 2017-18 men’s title was based on three events — the Puerto Escondido Challenge in Mexico, the Peahi Challenge on Maui, and the Nazare Challenge in Portugal. Peahi had 55-foot wave faces and the other two had 35-footers.
Kemper won his world title by making the final in all three events, including runner-up finishes at Peahi and Nazare.
“I am overwhelmed and excited to be the men’s Big Wave Tour champion,” Kemper said. “It has been nothing but a blessing to be on this path, and I am so thankful for my family and everyone who has supported me to get here. I lost my older brother when I was eight years old and we thought he was going to be a world champion. I wanted to live out my brother’s dream and accomplish this for my family.”
Hawaii’s Kai Lenny won the event in Mexico and Hawaii’s Ian Walsh was the victor at Peahi. Brazil’s Lucas Chianca captured the event in Portugal.
For Alms, this is a back-to-back world title, which was based on just the Peahi Challenge. Another event at Mavericks in Northern California did not have the right conditions to run before Wednesday’s final day of the holding period.
“Winning a world title, let alone two, has been a childhood dream since I can remember,” she said. “I am so honored to be able to win twice and bring the trophy back home to Maui, where it all started for me.”
Three Wahine invited to National tryouts
Three Rainbow Wahine volleyball players are scheduled to leave today for the U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryouts at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Invited from Hawaii are incoming senior hitter McKenna Granato, incoming junior setter Norene Iosia and libero/defensive specialist Reyn “Tita” Akiu, who transferred to UH after three seasons at Texas Tech. It is the second time at the tryouts for all three players.
The three are among 229 athletes who will be evaluated at sessions Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Last year, Granato was selected to the U.S. Collegiate National Team-Minneapolis; and Iosia was on the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team and played at the FIVB U20 World Championships.
Akiu, a Kamehameha Schools graduate, finished her career with the Red Raiders with 1,086 digs. She also was on the U.S. Collegiate National Team-Minneapolis last summer.
HPU’s Takatsuka named coach of the year
Hawaii Pacific women’s basketball coach Reid Takatsuka was named the PacWest coach of the year on Wednesday.
This marks the third time in four years that Takatsuka has earned the honor. He led the Sharks to a 24-3 record, and an 18-2 mark in conference play as HPU finished the regular season ranked 22nd in the country and PacWest co-champion.
HPU forward Jessi Reeves was named to the All-PacWest first team, while guards Janessa Manzano, Samantha Lambrigtsen and forward Alysha Marcucci were named to the All-PacWest third team. Chaminade guard Destiny Castro received second-team honors and Allie Navarette of Hawaii Hilo was honorable mention.
Federico, Pope earn first-team honors
Hawaii Pacific’s Niksha Federico and Chaminade’s Austin Pope earned PacWest men’s basketball first-team honors when awards were announced on Wednesday.
Federico also was named the PacWest newcomer of the year. Federico, a transfer from San Diego State, led the PacWest in scoring and rebounding with averages of 21.7 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. Pope averaged 15.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists for the Silverswords.
Hawaii Pacific’s Jonathan Janssen was named to the PacWest third team, while Grant Dressler and Erik Scheive of Chaminade received honorable mention.
