Wednesday, April 25, 2001
[ TEACHER STRIKE ]
Student-athletes High school athletes hoping to end their prep careers on the state's biggest stage expressed sadness at yesterday's announcement that the spring state tournaments may be canceled.
mourn possible loss
of tourneys
Hope remains to save the states,
with last-ditch efforts from
around the communityBy Jason Kaneshiro
Star-BulletinSuperintendent of Education Paul LeMahieu may reconsider his mandate to eliminate activities that would result in students missing classes in the aftermath of the Hawaii State Teachers' Association strike. But the status of tournaments remain in critical condition.
And if the tournaments are canceled, the effect would be felt not only by public school student-athletes, but also those at private schools who were looking forward to competing in the six Hawaii High School Athletic Association tournaments scheduled for May.
"It's a real disappointment for my team and the rest of the ILH, because the goal is to make the state tournament," said Isaac Omura, second baseman for the Mid-Pacific baseball team. "It's disappointing for the (Oahu Interscholastic Association) and the rest of the leagues, especially for all the seniors not to get a chance at winning a state tournament."
Mid-Pacific clinched a berth in the baseball tournament last week by winning the Interscholastic League of Honolulu regular season title.
But hope remains, as a movement to save the tournaments started last night. Board of Education member Winston Sakurai said Keith Amemiya, the executive director of the HHSAA, and LeMahieu will discuss the possibilities of salvaging the tournaments today. Also, Sen. Bob Hogue (R-Kaneohe-Maunawili-Enchanted Lake) said he will introduce legislation to try to save the tournaments.
"I have already proposed one alternative to a couple of athletic groups," said Hogue, whose daughter, Becky, is the star center of the Punahou girls' basketball team. "The point is to come up with something that will work. The students have already been victims once, they shouldn't be victimized again. We can come up with a solution that works for all sides that allows the kids to be in class and allows them to realize a dream that many have worked on for their entire life.
"I'm making a statement on the floor of the senate (today) to see what can be done. We're doing what's right for the kids."
While the window may be open just a crack, the very real possibility of the prep sports season closing without state tournaments is weighing on the minds of coaches and athletes around the state.
"I think (LeMahieu) does not know the impact of what he's doing," said Kalaheo girls' basketball coach Chico Furtado.
The cancellation of the tournaments would also deprive the Molokai baseball and Kamehameha girls' basketball teams of a shot at winning three consecutive state championships.
"I'm kind of sad, especially since it's my senior year," said Kamehameha forward Tai Soo. "I think we have a good team, we don't need to defend anything, and whatever comes our way we want to do the best we can. But still I'm sad that we don't get a chance to play in the Stan Sheriff (Center) and play in the state tournament. ... It's an opportunity that everybody should be able to experience."
News of the possible cancellation drew similar reactions on other campuses.
"I was kind of shocked," said Iolani baseball player Kila Kaaihue. "Our practice just finished and one of our coaches came and said there's no state tournament. Everybody was just speechless, the seniors were kind of mad. Nobody really said anything for about a minute."
Amemiya said the possibility of losing the tournaments is disappointing, but not entirely surprising. When the strike dragged on into its third week, the tournaments were put in jeopardy.
"Once the strike went past two weeks, everybody started getting more concerned about whether we would be able to have the state tournaments as scheduled," Amemiya said.
"Last week's modifications were already based on the assumption that the strike would end over the weekend and that school started on Monday," he added. "Already it's going to start three days later, which at this point is critical."
Now the athletes and coaches can only hope their seasons won't end without the opportunity to face the best in the state.
"If (LeMahieu) doesn't budge and it's canceled, then obviously the strike has taken its victim," Furtado said. "And that's a sad case and I hope 13,000 teachers are happy.
"The bottom line is they lost three weeks already. Why compound it by killing spirit?"
Kalani Simpson contributed to this report.
>> HSTA Web site
>> State Web site
>> Governor's strike Web site
>> DOE Web site
>> UHPA Web site
