Wednesday, January 12, 2000
Iolani’s Kakesako
has his hands full
The multi-talented senior,
By Cindy Luis
scholar and scout sets his
sights on an unbeaten
season in wrestling
Star-BulletinIf juggling were considered a varsity sport, Ken Kakesako likely would earn Player of the Year honors. The Iolani School senior is:
Ask him how he manages to pull it all together, and he doesn't produce a PalmPilot or some fancy organizer. Rather, Kakesako digs into the backpack he calls common sense and pulls out one basic necessity.A state wrestling champion;
"It's all about priorities,'' he said. "Family comes first, then grades. After that, everything else falls into place.
"Sure, it gets hectic sometimes but my parents (Gregg and Leatrice) are always there supporting me. I have to say it's been a good senior year so far.''
It's hard to imagine it being any better. Last November, Kakesako was a key factor as the Raiders went 7-2 and defeated archrival Punahou for the ILH water polo crown for the first time in six years.
His senior season also started off well in wrestling, as he went undefeated in 10 preseason matches. Up a weight class to 125, Kakesako opened ILH competition last week with two victories, including a pin in his match against Punahou.
"My goal is go undefeated this year,'' said Kakesako, the state champion at 119 last year. "It's a tough weight class with some tough competitors. I think my toughest competition will be by Cory Nakasone of Pac-5, who has moved up from 119, too. We've had some tough matches over the years.''
Kakesako began wrestling at Iolani in seventh grade.
He is the third in a line of brothers who have excelled in the sport.
Half-brother Guy Matsunaga was an outstanding wrestler at Moanalua and Garrett Matsunaga was part of Iolani's powerhouse state championship team of 1991.
Young brother Brent is a freshman on the Iolani varsity, wrestling at 103.
"Ken is just a special kid, just outstanding in so many areas,'' said longtime Iolani wrestling coach and athletic director Carl Schroers. "He comes from quite a wrestling family.
"Ken is so down to earth. We have a hard-working team and Ken is one of our hardest workers. He's intelligent, quick and athletic. He started in seventh grade with me and you knew he was something special even back then.''
Kakesako started out swimming, in part because he had asthma. He moved on to water polo but wrestling is a passion.
So is surfing. Kakesako expects to give up both next year when he starts college, probably at an Ivy League school.
"I don't think I'm a college-calibre athlete,'' said the 5-foot-6 Kakesako, who is leaning toward Brown University. "I'm not sure what I want to study, maybe molecular biology.
"Right now, I just want to finish off the year strong. Hopefully, our team will win the state title and in spring I'll have time to catch up on my surfing.''
That is, unless Iolani finds a sensei and decides to field a judo team.
If that happens, Kakesako, a brown belt in judo, will look at winning a title in a third sport and juggling another sport with success.
