Hawaii Beat
Star-Bulletin staff
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Viloria gives underdog a shot
Brian Viloria's second defense of his World Boxing Council light flyweight title will come against Omar Nino Romero, 30, in Las Vegas on Aug. 10.
Romero (23-2-1, 10 KOs), ranked No. 13 by the WBC, will be getting his first world title shot after a 12-year career that has never taken him out of his native Mexico. He has won his last four fights, all by decision.
Viloria (19-0, 12 KOs) earned his title in September.
UH picked to win WAC volleyball again
Hawaii has won 11 consecutive Western Athletic Conference women's volleyball championships, and the league's coaches say the Rainbow Wahine will make it 12.
UH received eight of nine first-place votes in the annual preseason coaches poll, released yesterday by the WAC.
New Mexico State received the remaining first-place vote, and was picked to finish second. Nevada, Idaho, San Jose State, Fresno State, Boise State, Utah State and Louisiana Tech round out the rankings, in order.
UH, Nevada and Utah State made the NCAA tournament last season. All-American setter Kanoe Kamana'o leads five returning starters for UH.
Track coaches pick UH as All-Academic Team
The United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association named Hawaii as one of 75 women's All-Academic Teams for the 2005-06 indoor-outdoor seasons.
UH's team had a cumulative grade point average of better than 3.0 and had three student-athletes -- Patricia Gauthier, Annett Wichmann and Emily Sheppard -- earn USTFCCCA individual All-Academic honors. All three had GPAs of better than 3.25 while recording NCAA regional qualifying marks.
Stanford and South Carolina were the indoor and outdoor national All-Academic Teams of the Year.
UH, stadium offer football family fun
UH, Aloha Stadium and concessionaire Centerplate will offer a "Family Fun Zone" at the stadium for Hawaii's eight home football games this upcoming season.
The stadium's north (Gate 7) concourse will feature rides, contests and inflatables, and keikis will receive UH posters and schedule cards. There will also be chances to win UH sports tickets, and UH coaches and student-athletes may make appearances. The Family Fun Zone will be in operation from when the stadium gates open until kickoff.
"We're really excited about creating a Family Fun Zone at the stadium for our keiki and their families," UH athletic director Herman Frazier said in a statement. "We appreciate the cooperation and assistance of Aloha Stadium and Centerplate in helping make this a reality."
Sections V and VV will continue to serve as a no-alcohol "Family Zone."
Nishikida leads 7 local signees to Arizona Western
Star-Bulletin 2006 All-State Pitcher of the Year is one of seven Hawaii signees who recently committed to Arizona Western College, Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance announced yesterday.
Nishikida, who went 11-1 and won four games in the state tournament for champion Pearl City, will play softball for the Yuma, Ariz., junior college. As a full academic qualifier, she could move on to a four-year institution after one year, provided she passes 24 credits.
Tanner Fetui, Jeremiah Tuua and Kenneth Faumui of Farrington, Michael Andrews of Kalaheo, Bryce Kalauokaaea of Castle and Kamalu Umu of Saint Louis also signed letters of intent with AWC, PIAA director Doris Sullivan said.
Penovaroff to square off as pro
Former Kona youth boxer Van Oscar Penovaroff will face Beboy Cudeldiego on Saturday n his professional boxing debut.
The bout, which will be held in Manila, could lead to more action quickly. If Penovaroff wins his fight, he will meet Manila's Fernando Otic (1-1) on July 22.
Penovaroff amassed an amateur record of 89-31 and was a resident athlete at the U.S. Olympic Education Center in Michigan for the past three years. He returned to Hawaii recently and trains under Bruce Kawano.
Pacific Cup celebrates one million miles
California Girl earned a special trophy commemorating the one millionth mile of the West Marine Pacific Cup yesterday.
The millionth mile was reached by California Girl with 668 miles left on its journey from San Francisco to Kaneohe. Lightning currently leads the fleet with Recidivist ten miles behind.
Women's Pipeline Pro to return
The Women's Pipeline Pro will return to Banzai Pipeline in March of 2007, host Banzai Productions announced.
The third annual event will be upgraded with an $11,000 purse for bodyboarding, shortboarding and longboarding divisions.