Hawaii Beat

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Friday, December 3, 1999

Seariders’
Taaca resigns

Leo Taaca has resigned as Waianae High School's varsity football coach and will become the Seariders' interim athletic director on Dec. 30 when AD Harry Mitsui retires, the school announced yesterday.

Succeeding Taaca as head football coach will be Danny Matsumoto, who was the team's defensive coordinator.

Athletic directors are prohibited from coaching by the Department of Education.

Taaca had a 47-15-1 record in five seasons at the Waianae helm, guiding the Seariders to Oahu Interscholastic Association championships in 1996 and 1997. Waianae finished at 9-4 this season.

Crusaders' Chang is Hawaii's Gatorade Player of the Year

St. Louis quarterback Timmy Chang has been selected the Gatorade Hawaii High School Player of the Year, joining winners from the other 49 states and the District of Columbia in the running for national Player of the Year honors, to be announced later this month.

Chang, who has passed for more than 3,000 yards and 44 touchdowns this season, will lead the Crusaders against Kahuku in tomorrow's first HHSAA state championship game. He also is St. Louis' student body president.

Veriato eight shots off pace

Steve Veriato shot a 72 yesterday for a 214 total and remained in the running to get a Senior PGA Tour card for next year at the qualifying school at the Tucson National Golf Club.

The former Big Island native was tied for eighth place, eight strokes back of leader Mark Hayes going into today's final round.

The top eight players are fully exempt, while the next eight will receive partial exemptions.

Boxing titles on line Dec. 9-11

The 1999 Hawaii State Amateur Boxing Championships are scheduled for Dec. 9-11 at Kalakaua Gym.

The action starts at 7 p.m. each day. Admission is free on Dec. 9, $10 on Dec.10 and 11.

The event is a qualifier for the National Championships Jan. 9-16, 2000 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., which in turn will qualify winners for the Olympic Trials.

Defending champions in the state meet are Tony Rodriguez and Kili Madrid of the Wailuku Boxing Club, Lyndon Patricio, Tommy Pestana and Sifou Sua of the Waianae B.C., Clay Lewis of the Kakaako B.C.) and Jesus Libero of the Molokai B.C.

Waianae's Samson Guillermo, an undefeated, two-time world junior champ, will step up to the amateur class, competing at 112 pounds.

Waipahu's Brian Viloria already has qualified for the 2000 Olympic Trials.