Hawaii Grown: College Athletics
Star-Bulletin Staff
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COURTESY OF RICHARD TURBIN
Occidental College's Derek Turbin, left, of Punahou, and Ric Fukushima, of Moanalua, were all smiles after a game this season.
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Occidental graduate Turbin to play pro football in Finland
Derek Turbin (Punahou '02) thought he was headed for pro football in Germany this summer. As it turns out, the recent Occidental graduate will be playing in Finland.
"When (Germany) fell through, I was kind of bummed, I thought I'd lost all my options," Turbin said. "But my name was out there after the Hula Bowl."
Turbin signed with the Rauma Sea City Storm, one of the seven teams in the league that Turbin said is less than 10 years old.
"They told me I'll play safety, and some receiver on offense, fade routes at the goal line, stuff like that," the 6-foot-4, 215-pound Turbin said.
Turbin leaves Hawaii for Finland on Sunday. The season starts June 3.
Two North American players are allowed on each team, Turbin said. The pay is just $1,000 per month, but all expenses -- including an apartment and car -- are taken care of, he said.
Turbin lost his opportunity to play in Germany because the team wanted him to report before he'd finished at Occidental.
He finished his football and track and field career at the college by winning the Roy Denney Award, given annually to Occidental's top senior student-athlete.
Turbin's teammates included receiver and team captain Ric Fukushima (Moanalua '02).
Both were named to the SCIAC All-Academic team.
Chun climbs at NCAAs: Stanford freshman Mari Chun (Kamehameha, '05) shot a 1-under-par 71 yesterday to jump into a tie for 24th place at the NCAA Division I Women's Golf Championship at Ohio State's Scarlet Course.
Chun got off to a rocky start on Tuesday, carding an 80 in the opening round. She settled down to shoot 73 on Wednesday and improve to 62nd place, and moved up the standings again with yesterday's round. She enters today's final round at 8 over for the tournament.
Arizona freshman Amanda Wilson (Waiakea, '05) is also competing in the tournament. She shot a 3-over 75 yesterday and is 21 over for the tournament.
The men's championship begins Wednesday in Sunriver, Ore. Nevada senior Casey Watabu (Kauai, '01) tied for first at the West Regional last week.
Horiuchi, Lady Vols advance: The freshman season of Liane Horiuchi (Kamehameha '05) continues this weekend as Tennessee hosts Michigan in an NCAA Super Regional starting tomorrow in Knoxville. The series will be televised on ESPN.
Horiuchi, the Lady Vols' second baseman, has started 63 games this season and is hitting .297 with three home runs.
Spence, Cal Baptist get NAIA title: Sophomore libero Corey Spence (Seabury Hall '04) had seven digs to help top-ranked Cal Baptist to its third consecutive NAIA men's volleyball championship last month.
The host Lancers defeated Lindenwood (Mo.) 30-28, 30-26, 33-31 at Van Dyne Gym in Riverside, Calif.
In the pool B final, Spence had five digs for Cal Baptist in the sweep of Missouri Valley. Sophomore hitter Adam Tuifagu (Kamehameha '04) led the Vikings with 10 kills, hitting .529 with one error on 17 swings.
In the five-set semifinal loss to Lindenwood, Tuifagu had 13 kills and 11 digs.
Senior hitter David Hoke (Kamehameha '02) finished his career with Missouri Valley with four kills against Cal Baptist and six against Lindenwood.
Both Tuifagu and Graceland sophomore hitter Alison Dupont (Pearl City '02) were named second-team all-conference.