High School Beat
Star-Bulletin staff
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Injured Kuehu joins twin sister on the Punahou sideline
When Shaena-Lyn Kuehu suffered a torn ACL late in the volleyball season, Punahou lost one of its top players at the net.
The Buffanblu basketball team also lost its best defensive stopper, an All-State selection who helped the Buffanblu to the last two state championships.
When her twin sister, Shawna-Lei Kuehu, suffered the same injury recently, the heartbreak on campus and around the state doubled. Shawna-Lei, the Star-Bulletin's two-time player of the year, suffered the injury during a club game at Palolo Gym. News about her injury -- both sisters injured their left knees -- spread quickly.
The MRI results came back last Thursday, and Shawna-Lei is now looking ahead to rehab work with her sister.
She's also looking forward to resuming her dream of playing at an elite Division I university. Over the summer, long before the injury, the 5-foot-10 center showcased her guard and small-forward skills at tournaments across the country. Her performances were spectacular, and an online basketball site elevated her into the Top 15 nationwide in her class.
"What's really difficult for me is you take away a year of high school sports from two kids," Punahou coach Mike Taylor said. "Regardless of the impact on our program, the impact on girls basketball here, you're not just talking about two players, but two of the top five in the state.
"And Shawna's being recruited by some of the top colleges. To me, as a fan, if I take myself out of it as a coach, that's the sick part of it."
The same club that developed the Kuehu sisters has sprung many talented players to the college ranks. Among them are Rachel Kane and Tatri Lorenzo (Gonzaga), Elyse Umeda (Princeton) and Shanna-Lei Dacanay (Washington University of St. Louis). Like the Kuehus, these four have suffered the same injury recently.
No family affair:
Unlike other schools on the Big Island, which rely on family ties within coaching ranks almost by necessity, Kealakehe has drawn the line this year.
Principal Wilfred Murakami is enforcing a rule regarding nepotism. The rule began in 1997, when Murakami became principal at the new school, but was not enforced until recent years.
That has led to the resignation of first-year head football coach Cliff Walters, who counted on his son, Trent Williams, and son-in-law, Sherman Williams. Trent coached running backs and Sherman coached linebackers and was also the junior varsity defensive coordinator.
The Waveriders went 12-1, including a 10-0 championship run in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation.
"I respect Wil. He feels this is important," Walters said. "To me, this nepotism thing is fluff. It's a lovely thing to have coaches who are fathers and sons, cousins."
Rather than continue coaching without his son and son-in-law, Walters stepped down after talking with Murakami on Friday.
"Coaching is fun and I wish we could keep doing it," said Walters, who had actively pushed for more off-island competition, a strength coach for all sports, and an equipment manager who can tend to the helmets and pads of the 115 players on Kealakehe's varsity and JV teams.
"I'm gonna miss working with the kids. Of all the kids I ever coached, the local kids are unbelievable. If I were a university coach, I'd be here all the time recruiting. These are tough kids here and they're fun to coach," he said. "The winning and losing is the easy part. It's the politics that I don't enjoy," he said.
A veteran of three decades in high school coaching on the mainland, Walters was an assistant to Sam Papalii before taking the helm this year.
Murakami explained his reasoning: "Whatever your organization is, you want a good balance of people working for you. If there are relatives coaching on the same squad, it can be distracting to the team."
Walters was made aware of the rule early in the season. The limitations on his family were clear.
"They can coach during the week (at practice), but when it comes to the game, I cannot have them on the sideline. They have to be in the booth. (Murakami) said, 'I don't want them on the sideline.' So I said, 'OK' and we got headsets and we put them in the booth," he recalled.
"Then the rule got more stringent. They can't be on the field in pregame, can't be in the locker room in pregame or after the game. I don't even know what that's all about."
Athletes of the Week
BOYS
Hogan Rosehill, Kamehameha-Hawaii basketball: had 16 points and nine rebounds against Kaimuki. Earned the Kaleohano Hustle award at the Big Island Candies/Hilo High School Prep Holiday Classic.
GIRLS
Brittni Salanoa, Radford softball: went 3-for-3 with a double and was the winning pitcher against Kahuku.
Honor roll
BASKETBALL
Beau Albrechtson, Kaimuki: poured in 30 points against Hilltop (Calif.). Was selected to the all-tournament team at the Big Island Candies/Hilo High School Prep Holiday Classic.
Joseph Atimua, Campbell: scored 20 points against Kauai.
Reiny Carvalho, Waiakea: scored 22 points against Kauai.
Josiah Horner, Kamehameha II: scored 23 points against Damien.
Kealoha Kramer, Kamehameha-Hawaii: named to the all-tourney team at the Big Island Candies/Hilo High School Prep Holiday Classic.
Mike Makinano, Campbell: scored 19 points against Kamehameha-Hawaii and 17 against Kauai.
Keone Reyes, Kaimuki: scored 17 points against Kamehameha-Hawaii and 21 against Hilo. Was selected to the all-tournament team at the Big Island Candies/Hilo High School Prep Holiday Classic.
Aaron Tipoti, Word of Life: scored 19 points and added eight rebounds against Damien.
Andrew Wingert, Kaiser: scored 16 points against Damien and 22 points with nine rebounds against Kamehameha II.
Mea Wong, Kamehameha-Hawaii: named to the all-tourney team at the Big Island Candies/Hilo High School Prep Holiday Classic.
SOCCER
Tani Costa, Kalani: scored three goals against Kahuku.
Meghan Fuller, Pearl City: scored four goals against Radford.
Isaac Grotenhuis, Christian Liberty: knocked in three goals against Kohala.
Curtis Kiyabu, Kapolei: scored three goals against Waianae.
Colin Lund, Mililani: scored three goals against Radford.
Stephanie Yoro, Mililani: scored three goals against Waianae.
SOFTBALL
Makani Duhaylonsod, Mililani: fired a five-inning, two-hit shutout against Pearl City.
Krista Dumandan, Kailua: went 3-for-4 against Kalaheo.
Ambree Hauhio, Nanakuli: went 3-for-4 with a home run and double against Anuenue.
Kai Masutani, Iolani: The senior catcher went 3-for-3 against St. Francis.
Lindsey Matsunaga, Kaimuki: went 3-for-5 with two RBIs against Kalani.
Keisha Moeai, Kahuku: went 3-for-5 with a triple against McKinley.
Shauna-Le Naki, Castle: went 3-for-4 against Kailua.
Glenelle Nitta, Mililani: went 3-for-3 with a homer and three RBIs against Pearl City.
Hoku Nohara, Kamehameha: belted a home run and a double and drove in three runs against Iolani.
Kari Odo, Kalani: went 3-for-5 against Kaimuki.
Shari Shobu, Mid-Pacific: fired a shutout against Pac-Five.
Heather Uekawa, Maryknoll: hit a home run and scored three runs against Sacred Hearts.
Hillary Uekawa, Maryknoll: went 3-for-4 with a double against Sacred Hearts.
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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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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