Rainbows’ English named
WAC Player of the Week

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Hawaii guard Carl English was named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week today.

English, a junior from Patrick's Cove, Newfoundland, averaged 22 points and 9.5 rebounds (both WAC highs for the week) as Hawaii extended its home winning streak to 21 games with victories over SMU and Louisiana Tech. He scored a team-high 19 points against SMU and added 25 points and 12 rebounds against Louisiana Tech. He scored 21 points against the Bulldogs in the second half and was 10-of-13 from the free-throw line in that game.

It was English's second ever WAC player of the week award and first for a Hawaii player this season.

Other nominations included senior forward Antonio Meeking, Louisiana Tech; junior guard Garry Hill-Thomas, Nevada; senior guard Omar-Seli Mance, Rice; senior guard/forward Quinton Ross, SMU, and senior forward Marqus Ledoux, Tulsa.

Islanders to hold open tryout next month

The Hawaiian Islanders are planning a Feb. 9 open tryout at Saint Louis School, according to general manager Chris Dey.

"You never know, maybe we can find somebody that can make us better and more competitive," coach Cal Lee said.

"It's not necessarily just going to be last year's guys. We want everybody to know it's a business and everybody has to work hard. We're looking for people who are willing to work hard and willing to have a dream of having a professional football career. We'll give everyone a chance."

For more information on the tryout, call the Islanders office at 532-7362.

The Islanders went 5-11 last year in their inaugural arenafootball2 season. The league downsized to 27 teams from 34 for the 2003 season, which starts the first weekend of April.

Under a new alignment, the Wichita Stealth replace the defunct Fresno Frenzy to fight against the Islanders, Bakersfield Blitz and San Diego Riptide in the National Conference West Division.

In other af2 news, Nian Taylor, who starred for the Islanders as a receiver/defensive back as a midseason acquisition, signed with the New York Dragons of the parent Arena Football League, while Brian Ah Yat, an Iolani School alumnus who starred at Montana and played for Winnipeg of the Canadian Football League, signed with AFL's Chicago Rush.

Wie, Kelly together in Sony Pro-Junior event

Michelle Wie will team up with Jerry Kelly in the Sony Open's Pro-Junior golf challenge at Waialae Golf Course tomorrow, taking on five other teams over six holes.

The other teams of professionals and local juniors will be Paul Azinger and Stephanie Kono, Rich Beem and Chris Souza, Tom Lehman and Travis Toyama, Vijay Singh and Lehua Wise and Ty Tryon paired up with Kurt Nino. Earl Medeiros of Waianae and Brad Faxon won the event last year.

The winning professional will receive $5,000 with each of the other pros earning $1,600. The Hawaii State Junior Golf Association will receive a donation of $12,000 on behalf of the local players.

Wie, 13, was the only female in a field of 94 at the Pearl Country Club this morning who tried to qualify for four spots in this week's Sony Open. Other notables in the field were Keoke Cotner, Gregory Meyer, Craig Kanada, Dave Eichelberger, Philip Chun, Kevin Hayashi and Regan Lee, to name a few.