Seventy-two signees, 72 stories.
None has a story quite like Mika Makekau, or like Sunshine Fontes. When the 72 seniors signed their National Letters of Intent during the Education 1st signing ceremony at the Waikiki Elks Lodge early Wednesday morning, a new chapter opened for 72 families.
Makekau, the ‘Iolani senior, signed to play football for the University of La Verne (Calif., NCAA Division III), just months since setting a new record for longest field goal by a female kicker in Hawaii high school history. Her 44-yard boot was one of three in ‘Iolani’s win over Damien at Aloha Stadium. At the time, her range topped out at 47 yards, she said. Now, she’s splitting the uprights from 50 yards out — without a tee.
“I’ve been working out, doing weights and conditioning,” she said.
And, now, Makekau becomes the first female place-kicker in La Verne history. She’s been waiting some time for this day.
“They learned I’m a girl and they were still interested. I’m super thankful for how I got here. It’s crazy how this journey has been. It’s been long and hard, but I got here,” she said.
La Verne feels like a fit, Makekau added.
“The school is super nice, kind of like ‘Iolani. That’s one of the things I like about it. It’s not too big, not too small,” she said. “The coach said I would be doing field goals and kickoffs. There’s one kicker that’s there now. He’s a junior, I believe.”
Makekau plans to major in kinesiology.
Fontes, meanwhile, is set to leave the islands to attend UCLA in June. The soccer program there has freshmen enter an early session to get their feet wet. The Moanalua senior will acclimate and continue to rehab her knee after suffering an ACL injury last season.
“I’m 11 weeks out of surgery and hopefully, I don’t have to redshirt, but I might have to,” she said. “I’m just keeping a positive mind-set no matter what because I’ll be back on the field in a couple of months, hopefully. It was devastating. It pretty much turned my life upside-down, but I think just keeping a positive mind-set helps me get through.”
Fontes is well aware of the importance of being patient, returning at full strength.
“It’s going to suck, but I don’t want to come back too early and risk re-tearing it. I miss soccer probably more than life,” she said. “It’s just all part of the game. Injuries happen. Setbacks happen. It just depends on how you respond.”
Campbell senior Alesia Ranches is a pioneer of sorts, becoming the first island athlete to play softball at Iowa State.
Cyclones coaches saw Ranches play in a California tournament with her Running Rebels Gold club team during the offseason. Though Iowa State’s head coach later moved on to Minnesota, the staff never lost touch with Ranches, a Star-Advertiser All-State second-team outfielder last year.
As a shortstop this season, Ranches is batting .341 with an on-base percentage of .408, along with three home runs, 11 RBIs, 16 runs scored and 10 stolen bases. Minnesota was still on her list of choices, but Iowa State measured up better on the ledger.
“Minnesota is much more competitive, so their offer to me was less than Iowa State,” said Ranches, who will get a full scholarship as a freshman. “The Iowa State campus is beautiful. I loved it. It’s so green. Everyone there is so nice. It’s family oriented.”
The plan, or hope, is to play in summer tournaments on the mainland.
“The competition is better and I’ll be facing more of the kind of pitchers I’ll be facing (in college). Pitchers throwing 66, 67 (mph) with movement,” Ranches said.
She had a full ride available from Cal State Bakersfield.
“They offered me a full four years, but the only reason I didn’t take that is they didn’t have my major, biomedical engineering,” Ranches said. “I want to develop it, do research and invent something new.”
Wednesday’s recruits on letter-of-intent signing day included eight from Hana Hou Volleyball Club, coached by Lynden Keala and staff. In all, 23 women’s volleyball recruits signed at the ceremony.
Five of Hana Hou VC’s players were at the signing ceremony: Vanessa Colling of Roosevelt (Odessa); Bailey Darnell of Radford (UC Davis); Makenzie Fa‘amausili-Cacoulidis of Sacred Hearts (Missouri Southern State); Halie Hetzler of Le Jardin (Pacific Lutheran); Megan Suka of Kaiser (Whitman). Other signees include Anuhea Kaohi of Kamehameha (Western Nebraska), Kaehukai Keala of Mid-Pacific (Eastern Washington) and Jordyn Nichols of Kamehameha (Arizona).
Another, Kama Kekoolani, has been nominated by the Hawaii Congressional team to attend Navy or Air Force.
Keala’s experience as a club and high school coach, and guiding his own children through the process, have made him savvy about the details. Keala’s club navigates players through the networking aspect, with each player writing letters to as many as 20 college coaches before the team plays in mainland tournaments.
That’s where coaches get a chance to do live scouting. He also has the process of steering players through the NCAA Clearinghouse, and even if players opt for NAIA or junior college, there’s a fit for just about everyone.
“There’s something for everyone, from Division I to JCs. JCs have the most assistance, and no NCAA rules. They can give you money not just based on need,” Keala said. “I’m sitting and talking with college coaches every day. The networking is tremendous. Kids are finding success in the East, and now in the Midwest. Now, they’re breaking into the Big Ten.”
