PORTSMOUTH, R.I. -- John Myrdal of Kailua has been named the U.S. Olympic Sailing Team's Male Athlete of the Year. Myrdal U.S. Sailing’s
Male Athlete of YearThe award is based on outstanding performance in competition.
Myrdal, a member of the U.S. Sailing Team since 1995, earned recognition when he finished 15th out of 130 boats at the '98 International Sailing Federation (ISAF) World Championship in Dubai, qualifying the U.S. in the Laser class for the 2000 Olympic Regatta.
Myrdal also won the '98 Miami Olympic Classes Regatta in a 34-boat Laser fleet, and finished fourth out of 118 boats at the Laser U.S. Championships held early this summer on Cape Cod.
Myrdal finished fifth at the SOCOG's Sydney Harbour Regatta, which he considered his best effort of the year.
"The talent field in the Laser class wasn't restricted to just one sailor from each country," said Myrdal, who feels the 42-boat Laser regatta was a benchmark for his Olympic campaign.
Myrdal placed behind current World Champion and '96 Olympic Gold Medalist Robert Scheidt of Brazil, who won the event, and '96 Olympic Silver Medalist Ben Ainslie of the England, who took the silver.
Myrdal also is one of four members of the 1998 US Sailing Team to be named Athletes of the Year in the team category.
Other winners in the team category were 49er skipper Morgan Larson and Kevin Hall of California, and Meg Gaillard of New York.
CABEBEAWARDEDSCHOLARSHIP:Candice Cabebe, a two-time OIAAll-Star and 1997-98 OIAMost Outstanding Female Swimmer who walked on to the Hawaii Wahine team this year, has been awarded a scholarship.
"Candice improved weekly to the point where the coaches felt she deserved a scholarship," said Hawaii head coach Sam Freas.
WAHINE BANQUET: The annual banquet for the University of Hawaii Wahine volleyball team is scheduled for Nov. 15 at the Hale Koa Hotel's Waikiki Ballroom.
The cost is $33. No-host cocktails begin at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 6 p.m. The reservation deadline is Monday, Nov. 2.
Call Richard Hong at 536-1025 or Joyce Morita at 456-2087.
PUNAHOU, MARYKNOLL ADVANCE: Although Maryknoll defeated Punahou, 2-1, at Fort Shafter Lanes yesterday, the Buffanblu emerged as ILH girls' varsity champions. Both teams will represent the ILH in the State Championships on Nov. 12-13.