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High School Beat
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Punahou loses track and field coach Louis Johnson
Pardon Punahou for feeling a bit blue today.
Punahou boys track and field coach Louis Johnson has resigned after five years at the helm. Under his leadership, the Buffanblu won the Interscholastic League of Honolulu and state championships in 2001 and '02.
A recent change in jobs left the coach without the same flexibility needed to direct the program, Punahou athletic director Tom Holden said.
"Louis coaches with great passion and dedication. He'll be sorely missed by the Punahou athletic community," Holden said.
Interested applicants for the vacant position should send a résumé to Holden by November 15. For more information, call 944-5744.
Bulldogs to honor team: Once upon a time, Waialua football dominated the Rural Oahu Interscholastic Association. In fact, the Bulldogs were four-time champions from 1952 to '55.
On Saturday, the Waialua community will honor those teams and coach Toshi Nakasone with a luau at the Waialua High School cafeteria as part of homecoming festivities. The Bulldogs host Kaiser in the evening.
For more information, call student activities coordinator Gwen Lavarias at 372-5218.
Quenching a 35-year thirst: The long drought between titles left Kapaa girls volleyball fans thirsty, indeed.
Chances are pretty good that it won't be another 35 years before the Warriors win another Kauai Interscholastic Federation crown. At least, that's what Kapaa coach Kaipo Kealalio III believes.
With a maturing group of talent, the Warriors are unbeaten in seven league matches this season.
Last weekend's sweep of Waimea -- formerly the dominant program of the league -- clinched a KIF crown for Kapaa.
The emergence of players who have started since their first year as Warriors is a key factor in Kapaa's success. Poerava Gantt, Brittney Carvalho and Joliann Arzadon started as freshmen, and are now juniors.
"We lost a lot of seniors just before these girls became freshmen," said Kealalio, whose reign as head coach began with the group of juniors.
He started Hokuao Volleyball Club, helping youngsters on the north side of the island a chance to play offseason ball. "When we first started, the only time we could get the gym was 7 o'clock in the morning," Kealalio said of the club's origin of name.
Any extra benefit for the north-side kids couldn't hurt. "Kapaa always has a good mix of athletes, but there's so much more going on our side of the island, and it's spread out more. It's a matter of changing the kids' attitude from close enough is good enough, to actually shooting for something," Kealalio said.
"They really work hard, lift weights. We'll watch video a lot," he added.
Kealalio and his father, who passed away last year, aren't the only coaches in the family. Younger brother James is an associate coach at Humboldt State, working on his master's degree.
Strange stats: Things may seem topsy-turvy for football fans and teams on Oahu, but the Maui Interscholastic League has its share of odd notables, too.
Over the weekend, Baldwin found yet another way to pull out a win despite an erratic performance. The Bears improved to 7-0 in league play (8-0 overall) with a 21-12 win at King Kekaulike.
The run-and-shoot Bears were outpassed by run-oriented Na Alii. In all, King Kekaulike amassed 447 total yards and limited Baldwin to 287. Na Alii snapped the ball for 67 plays; Baldwin had only 27.
The difference? King Kekaulike had six drives end inside the Baldwin 10-yard line without scoring a point. An injury to King K's placekicker early in the game extinguished any field-goal opportunities, swinging the game in Baldwin's favor.
The Adams Family: It is Kody Adams who has boomed 50-yard field goals in warmups at Iolani games.
Adams hasn't had quite as many opportunities to put his kicking prowess on display during games. That's because Iolani's high-octane offense often reaches the end zone. Still, Adams' leg power draws oohs and aahs on a regular basis when Iolani plays.
Still, it was the wrong last name that showed up in a recent prep football advance story.
So, for the record, it is Kody Adams, along with Radford's Jamie Whitworth and Kamehameha-Hawaii's Leon Peralto, who are among the state's most powerful placekickers.
Who knows, maybe a kicking contest during the state championship tournament can show fans exactly who has the best range. That would be especially interesting at a time when college place-kickers near and far are struggling to kick with the same power and life that Adams, Whitworth and Peralto have shown.
Whitworth has 55-yard range, while Peralto kicks as far as 60 yards away.
Both shun the use of kicking tees on field goals.
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Athletes of the week
BOYS
Lofa Liilii, Aiea football: Caught four passes for 125 yards and ran for 78 yards on 10 attempts, including a touchdown, as Na Alii upset Mililani.
GIRLS
Jennifer Boissele, Leilehua bowling: Rolled a 268 high game and 643 high series against Radford.
Honor roll
AIR RIFLERY
Kristina Acosta, Kaimuki: Tallied a 250 against McKinley.
Michael Donahue, Castle: Fired a 252 against Roosevelt.
Tricia Warashina, Kapolei: Amassed a 261 against Waipahu.
BOWLING
Kyle Abasial, Castle: Posted a 236 high game against Kaimuki.
Brittany Awana, Castle: Tallied a 237 high game and 671 high series against Farrington.
Shaun Hamamura, Mililani: Amassed a high series of 630 against Aiea.
Randy McKee, Farrington: Rolled a 235 high game and 628 high series against Castle.
Ryan Sugimura, Maryknoll: Finished with a high game of 236 against Assets.
CROSS COUNTRY
Kia Atkins, Radford: Won the Mililani Invitational girls race with a time of 20 minutes, 18.6 seconds.
John Otaguro, Roosevelt: Won the Mililani Invitational boys race with a time of 16:59.3.
FOOTBALL
Cameron Bayne, Saint Louis: Caught five passes for 99 yards, including a 55-yard touchdown, against Punahou.
Lihikai Domingo, Castle: Caught seven passes for 154 yards against McKinley. The senior also ran for a touchdown and returned a punt 55 yards for another score. He also played the entire game at defensive back.
Jacob Gibson, Kailua: Rushed for 97 yards on 12 carries, including a 4-yard touchdown.
Micah Gibson, Kailua: Hauled in four passes for 117 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown, against Roosevelt.
Keawe Kalama, Castle: Rushed for 135 yards on 13 carries, including an 80-yard touchdown, against McKinley.
Bryce Kalauokaaea, Castle: Passed for 255 yards and two touchdowns against McKinley.
Kali Kuia, Aiea: Passed for 280 yards on 13-of-22 accuracy against Mililani.
Cory Paredes, Castle: Nine tackles, including six solo, against McKinley. The junior linebacker also intercepted a pass, recovered a fumble and kicked two PATs.
John Ufuti, Castle: The senior accumulated seven tackles and provided pass protection on offense as a running back against McKinley.
KAYAKING
Eric Abbott, Punahou: Won the Interscholastic League of Honolulu boys 2,000-meter race, the first of the season, with a time of 9 minutes, 8.59 seconds.
Kilty Inafuku, Kamehameha: Won the ILH girls 2,000-meter race with a time of 11:03.25.
VOLLEYBALL
Camilla Ah-Hoy, Kahuku: Eight kills and one ace in the Lady Raiders' win over Roosevelt.
Scott Fujimoto, Hawaii Baptist: 30 assists, six digs and three aces in an upset win over Kamehameha.
Kylie Harrington, St. Francis: 11 kills against Punahou.
Spencer McLachlin, Punahou: Pounded nine kills against Hawaii Baptist.
Larissa Nordyke, Punahou: Seven kills and two aces against St. Francis.
Kaina Palama, Roosevelt: Eight kills in an upset of Kahuku.
To nominate ...
To nominate an athlete of the week, contact the Star-Bulletin Sports Department by 11 p.m. Sunday:
Phone: 529-4782
Fax: 529-4787
E-mail: sports@starbulletin.com
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