From expansion to contraction, parents feuding with coaches and, as always, the emergence of dynastic programs, we take a look at the top 10 stories in prep sports for 2017.
OIA football realignment
There’s some talk that the Oahu Interscholastic Association may return to a three-tiered format in football soon. The concept of a three-level format today has plenty of support from coaches and fans.
The Hawaii High School Athletic Association took initiative in the fall of 2016 by starting an “Open” division along with its Division I and II brackets. Three tiers in the OIA would probably help with turnout. Kaiser, which forfeited several games, was forced to stay in D-I despite low numbers and not much physical size compared to the top programs. Several parents noted that more players would have tried out if a mammoth team like Kahuku was not on the schedule.
Kahuku coaching carousel
When current Kahuku football coach Makoa Freitas hesitated about re-applying for the position, there was consternation from the community. The Red Raiders had just won the OIA championship and reached the state final.
“It’s a big-time commitment, so I just wanted to make sure,” he said on Monday.
The process involves the usual paperwork and procedure. He doesn’t view it as a guarantee, even after an 11-2 season and the development of Kahuku’s offense.
“They just wanted résumés sent in. Hopefully, I will get an interview,” Freitas said.
Saint Louis dynasty reborn
A decade ago, Saint Louis football was a dynasty no more. The Lee brothers, Cal and Ron, had departed for UH. They returned in 2014. By ’16, Year 3 of the rebuild, the Crusaders were back at the pinnacle. They made it back-to-back crowns in November. After 14 Prep Bowl titles from ’83 to ’98, a state title in ’99, and titles in ’02 (Delbert Tengan) and ’10 (Darnell Arceneaux), the dynasty is back.
The ’16 title, with Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback, was highly anticipated. The title run in ’17, though, with a first-year starter at QB, was a work of art. Chevan Cordeiro’s mastery and leadership were off the charts, something that hadn’t been seen in a first-time starter since ’10, when Marcus Mariota was a senior. The defensive unit was sprinkled with eventual All-State selections, hard-nosed in the Crusaders tradition that started with Cal Lee.
Konawaena girls basketball
In the past 14 seasons, coach Bobbie Awa has guided the Wildcats to eight state championships. Last year’s team, with Celena Jane Molina and Cherilyn Molina following in the footsteps of oldest sister Chanelle (Washington State), got plenty of help. Mikayla Tablit carried much of the load while her backcourt partner, Cherilyn Molina, healed from an ankle injury. In the state final against ILH powerhouse Maryknoll, Konawaena got a big boost from young players like freshman Caiyle Kaupu (11 points, nine rebounds) and two clutch 3-pointers from reserve guard Tanniya Uchida. The Wildcats’ 53-48 win made it a three-peat.
MIL basketball teams quitting/forfeiting
The Lahainaluna Lunas are as dominant as dynasties go, now in the midst of a 141-game win streak in league play. Maui opted to attend winter ball rather than face Lahainaluna. Nobody told the Lunas about a forfeiture until the day before their scheduled game.
A week later, Baldwin cited injuries before forfeiting. They had just hosted a mid-week tournament and were down to five or six players.
“I don’t want to say anything negative, but if the schedule is made, they should stick with it,” Lunas coach Todd Rickard said. “I feel bad for our seniors. I can find something else to do on a Saturday, but there’s only so many games left for them. Those girls work their tails off and deserve the right to at least play.”
Rise of BIIF football
Hilo’s first state title came on the shoulders of a superb, highly mobile offensive line and the fleet feet of running back Kahale Huddleston. The senior raced for 1,463 yards and 27 TDs on the ground, adding seven TDs by receptions and kick returns. He accounted for 145 yards and two TDs from scrimmage in the Vikings’ 35-19 win over Damien at the D-I state title game.
Konawaena came extremely close to capturing its first football title, losing in the D-II final to Lahainaluna 75-69 in seven overtimes. With senior Austin Ewing at QB, the Wildcats toppled OIA champion Waipahu in the semifinal round, 53-50. Konawaena racked up 480 total yards, including 370 by air and 35 by ground from Ewing.
Konawaena then piled up 524 total yards (and 36 first downs) against Lahainaluna. Ewing amassed 334 total yards and five TDs.
Tectonic shift for softball
Campbell, guided by coach Michael Hermosura, captured its third D-I state title in a row last May, and before this run, Mililani took the trophy home in ’14. In D-II softball, Nanakuli won three state titles in a row (’13-’15) before Pac-Five won the ’16 crown. Then Aiea won the championship in May.
Coaching gets more complicated
There were notable, longtime football coaches who were released from their duties in 2017. Amosa Amosa was let go by Campbell, quickly scooped up as an assistant coach by Kapolei. Nelson Maeda, who spent more than two decades at the helm at Castle, is now an assistant at Aiea.
And at Kaiser, in the midst of low numbers and injuries, a parent reportedly took a swing at football coach Arnold Martinez. He later stepped down.
Conflicts endured by girls basketball coaches at Roosevelt and Mid-Pacific during the current season indicate that might be a sign of the times. Roosevelt coach Chad Kaihe was injured by a parent in the parking lot after a tournament game at Sacred Hearts, according to an official. He was taken to a hospital and within days resigned from his position.
At Mid-Pacific, Sherice Ajifu resigned after what she felt was a change of heart by school administrators when they did not support her disciplinary action of a player. In a matter of a few days, the defending D-II state champions were without their coaches.
Tagovailoas take over ’Bama
Taulia Tagovailoa had two prolific seasons at Kapolei, where he passed for 6,703 yards and 64 touchdowns. His family then moved to Alabama, where they could watch his older brother, Tua, play for the Crimson Tide.
Taulia made a few splashes, as well, passing for 3,820 yards and 36 TDs with just eight interceptions as a junior at Thompson, which plays at the 7A level. He was 287-for-435 (66 percent) with a passer rating of 163.4. Last week, the Montgomery Advertiser named Tagovailoa to the Class 7A all-state first team, selected by the Alabama Sports Writers Association.
Kahuku wins boys hoops state title
Led by All-State Fab 15 selections Jessiya Villa (player of the year), Samuta Avea and Daniel Fotu, the Red Raiders made their first impact at the 2016 ‘Iolani Classic, upsetting Mount Vernon (N.Y.) en route to a third-place finish — the highest ever for a Hawaii team.
Villa scored 23 points and Avea, hampered by an offseason ankle injury early in the season, finished strong with 20 points and 11 boards as the Red Raiders defeated Punahou 70-55 in the state final.
Villa, who grew up on Oahu, was a transfer from Virginia. Avea, born and raised on the North Shore, had returned from a one-year stint in Utah. Fotu, younger brother of former UH player Isaac Fotu, returned to New Zealand following basketball season. That drew criticism from other teams and fans.
