High School Beat
Star-Bulletin staff
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Third-generation Seariders football player going places
The new chapters in the life of David Paaluhi III will take him to faraway places in 2007.
In fact, he's already done a first. The Waianae defensive end returned recently from American Samoa, where a contingent of Hawaii talent won the annual Samoa Bowl 28-6.
"It was hot. It was real hot," the 6-foot, 215-pound senior said. "It was humid, hard to breathe. You sweat all day."
Paaluhi, who has scholarship offers from Hawaii, Oregon State and Washington, is learning a lot outside of the classroom. The trip to Samoa was an educational experience for him. He and his dad, David Jr., made a special drive to Fagaalu village.
"It's nice over there, but it's not like the regular USA. Houses are kind of old. There's no stop lights," he said. "My favorite thing was going back to where my family came from. My grandma told me where she used to go when she was living there, and I got to see all that, so that was pretty cool."
Paaluhi can't imagine growing up in that environment.
"There's nothing to do there," he said.
David Paaluhi Jr. believes his son is the first third-generation Searider football player. David Paaluhi Sr. graduated in 1962, and David Jr. graduated in '87.
The third David Paaluhi wasn't bad, either. Coaches and media voted Paaluhi, who did not play varsity football until his senior year, to the Star-Bulletin All-State third team.
Whatever university he chooses, Paaluhi has seen a lot of changes in the span of six months. He was at Kamehameha for his first three years of high school and didn't try out for varsity football.
It was only when his father encouraged him to continue the family tradition did he transfer to Waianae.
"I'm pretty glad. I wasn't going to (play), but my dad wanted me to go try it out, and I liked it."
'Dogs draw interest:
Waialua Bulldogs quarterback
Caleb Fore and wide receiver
Adam Foster are looking forward to the next level of academics and athletics.
Both are NCAA Division I qualifiers. Fore, an honorable-mention pick for the Star-Bulletin All-State team, has interest from Montana Western and Idaho, a WAC school. Menlo College, a Division III school in football, is interested in Foster.
Back in town:
Keith Amemiya has been back and forth across the pond more than the average Hawaii resident in the past year.
That is only because the job of an executive director for the Hawaii High School Athletic Association requires travel. He returned yesterday from the winter meeting of the National Federation of State High School Associations, where he has been a member of the board of directors for the past four years. He came home from Charleston, S.C., with jet lag, but he was happy.
Though no notable new changes are in place nationally, Amemiya is looking forward to the crunch of Hawaii's winter season. The state championships are just around the corner.
The first Division II boys basketball state tournament will be held this year, and the smaller programs are finding their niche.
"Like any other sport, adding a second division seems to have created more interest and excitement across the state, especially among our smaller schools," he said.
On his way back, Amemiya made a pit stop and got a taste of the big time: the BCS national championship game in Arizona.
"I was rooting for Florida because of the tie with Hiram de Fries (former Punahou athlete and Gators volunteer assistant)," he said of the Gators' resounding win. "It was impressive. Nobody could have predicted this kind of victory for Florida."
Athletes of the Week
BOYS
Brett Gomes, Punahou swimming: won the 50-meter freestyle and helped the Buffanblu win the 200 freestyle relay, 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay at the Kalani Invitational.
GIRLS
Michelle Yoshida, Punahou swimming: captured first place in the 50 freestyle and helped the Buffanblu win the 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay at the Kalani Invitational.
Honor Roll
BASKETBALL
Nicholas Acosta, Hilo: scored 19 points in a win at Pahoa.
Stevie Austin, Moanalua: scored 15 points, including 7-for-8 shooting from the foul line, in an upset of Kalaheo.
Kien Aveiro, Honokaa: scored 21 points in a win over Hawaii Prep.
Chadwick Camara, Maui: scored 20 points in a loss to Baldwin.
Kekoa Carvalho, Konawaena: scored 28 points in a win over Parker.
Josh Chung, Aiea: scored 19 points in an overtime win at Farrington.
Jesse Clark, Word of Life: scored 20 points in a loss to Academy of the Pacific.
Brad Foster, Academy of the Pacific: scored 22 points in a win over Word of Life.
Landon Herder, Hawaii Baptist tallied 21 points in a loss to Punahou II.
Marcus Holyfield, Mid-Pacific: scored 21 points in a win at Damien.
David Howell, Keaau: scored 24 points in a win over Hilo.
Mike Makinano, Campbell: had 35 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals in a win at Kapolei; scored 24 points, including three treys, at Leilehua.
Spencer McLachin, Punahou: had 21 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and four blocks against Saint Louis; tallied 14 points, six boards and four rejections against Kamehameha.
Ryan Naluai, Kailua: tallied 21 points in a loss at Kaimuki.
Chris Newcomb, Waimea: scored 20 in a win at Kauai.
Kalua Noa, Kaiser: scored 21 points in a win at Farrington.
Miah Ostrowski, Punahou: scored 17 points in a win over Saint Louis, and 17 more in a victory at Kamehameha.
Keone Reyes, Kaimuki: scored 24 points in a win over Roosevelt.
Edwin Rubio, Waialua: scored 20 points in a win over Thompson.
Tristan Sealy, Thompson: scored 34 points in a win at McKinley, 36 in a win at Nanakuli and 26 in a loss at Waialua.
Kameron Steinhoff, Punahou: had 11 points and 11 rebounds against Saint Louis; scored 11 points with six boards and four blocked shots against Kamehameha.
Andrew Wingert, Kaiser: scored 19 in a win at Aiea.
SOCCER
Javier Alvarado, Kaimuki: scored all three of his team's goals in a win over McKinley.
Bethany Gallarde, Pearl City: scored three goals in a win over Radford.
Tami Hashimoto, Pearl City: scored three goals in a win over Radford.
Blayne Muraoka, Castle: scored three goals against Farrington.
Ryan Pena, Roosevelt: scored three goals against Kailua.
Brittney Sanford, Punahou: scored three goals in the Buffanblu's win over St. Francis.
SOFTBALL
Tatiana Vaimoui, Kahuku: went 2-for-4 with a home run and a double against Farrington.
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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