Wednesday, November 21, 2001
[ HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS ]
Punahou swimmer Nick Borreca yesterday signed a letter of intent to attend Florida next year. Punahou’s All-American
Borreca headed to FloridaBy Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.comThe senior chose to swim for the Gators after also being recruited by Washington, Ohio State, USC, Tennessee and California.
"They've got a bunch of guys that are really going to be good," Borreca said. "That was the major thing, being part of a really good team."
Borreca set state records as a junior in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle and was a member of record-setting 200- and 400-yard freestyle relay teams at the Local Motion State Swimming and Diving Championships in February.
The five-time high school All-American also won state titles in the 200 and 500 freestyle in his freshman and sophomore seasons with the Buffanblu.
He helped lead the Punahou boys to the state team title last season and was a member of the Buffanblu's Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion water polo team this fall.
Borreca will join a Florida men's swimming program which finished fifth at last season's NCAA Championships and is currently ranked 11th in the nation.
Borreca returned from his recruiting trip to Gainesville yesterday morning. The trip included watching the Florida-Florida State football game at The Swamp last Saturday.
"It was crazy, it's the loudest stadium I've ever been in by far," he said. "I got to go on the field before the game, so that was an amazing feeling."
Holiday tournaments kick off: 'Tis the season for preseason tournaments.
As the end of football season signals the end of fall, softball and soccer teams are gearing up for their winter seasons with preseason action.
The Roosevelt Girls Thanksgiving Soccer Tournament opens today at the Rough Riders' field, while the University High softball team will host its Thanksgiving Classic at Koko Head District Park starting Friday.
The Roosevelt soccer tournament will feature six varsity teams and three junior varsity teams. The varsity field will be split into two pools. Nanakuli and St. Francis will join the host Rough Riders in Pool A. Pac-Five, McKinley and Campbell make up Pool B.
Junior varsity teams participating in the tournament are Roosevelt, Nanakuli and Kalaheo.
Pac-Five will be looking for its second tournament championship in as many weeks after defeating Kapaa 2-1 in the finals of the Castle-Leilehua tournament last Saturday.
Matches start at 4, 5:20, 6:40 and 8 p.m. today and Friday. The teams conclude pool play Saturday morning, with playoff matches scheduled for the afternoon. The championship match is set for 6 p.m.
The 11th annual UHS Thanksgiving Softball Classic will run from Friday to Sunday in Hawaii Kai.
The host Junior 'Bows will be joined by Mid-Pacific and Hawaii Baptist/St. Andrew's of the ILH, Castle, Kalani, Kalaheo, Nanakuli and Campbell of the Oahu Interscholastic Association, Lahainaluna of the Maui Interscholastic League and Keaau, Waiakea and Kealakehe of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation.
University has won seven tournament titles, and lost to Punahou in last year's championship game. Lahainaluna and Waiakea qualified for the state tournament last season.
The soccer and softball regular seasons open in early December.
JV title to Kahuku: As Kahuku prepares for Friday's semifinals of the Chevron State Football Championship, the North Shore already has one football title to celebrate.
The Red Raider junior varsity team won the OIA championship with a 21-6 win over Kapolei last Saturday at Kahuku.
Hawaii School Web Sites