KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM Mililani goalkeeper Thomas Brown made life difficult for opposing offenses, helping the Trojans to a state title. The Star-Bulletin Player of the Year yielded just six goals in 15 games.

Trojans’ title run
began in goal

The senior keeper affected all
aspects of Mililani's game

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By Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.com

As the goalkeeper for the Mililani boys soccer team, Thomas Brown proved he was among the best in the state at protecting the net this season. But the senior's impact extended beyond the goal box, all the way to the other end of the field.

"Tom just brought consistency and confidence to our backfield," Mililani coach Jeff Yamamoto said. "That allowed our backfield players to press forward a little bit more. We were able to play more organized offense because of the confidence he brought to our defensive play.

"He provided a lot of direction on the field and enabled our field defenders to play much better."

Brown's play in goal helped Mililani win its second consecutive state championship and earned him 2002 Star-Bulletin State Player of the Year honors.

Brown solidified his place atop the All-State team with a strong postseason run. He allowed just three goals during the Oahu Interscholastic Association Western Division season and helped the Trojans outscore their opponents 11-3 in the league playoffs.

He capped the season by shutting out Campbell, Hilo and Kamehameha in the state tournament on Maui and was named the tournament's most valuable player.

"He played a really good postseason," Yamamoto said. "He was much improved from the previous year and he just stepped it up after the regular season."

Yamamoto repeats as the state coach of the year after leading Mililani to an undefeated campaign which ended in the school's fifth Oahu Interscholastic Association title and second state championship.

The Trojans finished the season ranked 21st nationally in the Student Sports Fab 50 after going 15-0.

"The first (championship) was pretty special, but the second one was important because it was tough, everyone was after us," Yamamoto said.

Joining Brown on the All-State first team are junior midfielder Chris Castell and senior defender Vance Harris. Both players were also instrumental in Mililani's defensive prowess. Yamamoto said Castell was the player he relied on to disrupt opposing attacks, while Harris kept the team united in its title quest.

"Vance was our leader," Yamamoto said. "He just brought leadership qualities into the game. When he played well, we played well."

But the spirit of the team might have been embodied in sophomore midfielder Brent Murakami, who was diagnosed with compartment syndrome, which doesn't allow the muscles to expand during exercise, in both his legs prior to the season.

He was supposed to have surgery before the season, but postponed the procedure until after the state tournament and played with pain the entire season.

"He had to watch himself and it was very painful for him to play," Yamamoto said.

Making up the All-State forward line are Kaiser's Landon Beers, Campbell's Michael Ryman, Punahou's Satoshi Mitsuda and Iolani's Duke Hashimoto.

Hashimoto was the Interscholastic League of Honolulu's player of the year and led the league with 13 goals. Mitsuda was second with 11.

Beers, who led Kaiser to second place in the OIA and a fifth-place finish in the state, was the OIA scoring champion with 16 goals in the regular season and he added five more goals in the state tournament. Ryman had 15 goals to lead the OIA West and had three more on Maui.

Kamehameha sophomore David Gualdarama leads the list of midfielders after helping the Warriors win the ILH championship. Kamehameha fell one goal short of the state title, falling to Mililani in the final.

"To beat Kamehameha you have to stop David Gualdarama," Yamamoto said. "He's a top-notch player. That's a level we want all of our players to be at."

Joining Gualdarama are Baldwin's Keola Nobriga, St. Joseph's Gui Freitas and Castell.

The OIA West is well represented on the defense as Campbell's Shauncey Saito and Pearl City's Richard Shinn join Harris. Kamehameha's Gabe Chan rounds out the first team for leading the Warriors' defense in their ILH title run.

Hashimoto and Saito are the only repeat members of the All-State first team. Ryman and Nobriga were second-team picks last year.

The selections were based on consultation with a panel of coaches and officials around the state as well as Star-Bulletin staff. Brown edged Hashimoto and Gualdarama for player of the year honors. Yamamoto was a narrow choice over Kamehameha's Andrew Ah New for coach of the year. Kaiser's Herb Schreiner, Campbell's Frank Marotti and Hilo's Don Memmer also received consideration.

Player of the Year

Thomas Brown, senior, Mililani

Coach of the Year

Jeff Yamamoto, Mililani

First Team

Forward: Landon Beers, senior, Kaiser
Forward: Michael Ryman, senior, Campbell
Forward: Satoshi Mitsuda, senior, Punahou
Forward: Duke Hashimoto, senior, Iolani
Midfielder: David Gualdarama, sophomore, Kamehameha
Midfielder: Keola Nobriga, junior, Baldwin
Midfielder: Gui Freitas, senior, St. Joseph
Midfielder: Chris Castell, junior, Mililani
Defender: Shauncey Saito, junior, Campbell
Defender: Vance Harris, senior, Mililani
Defender: Gabe Chan, senior, Kamehameha
Defender: Richard Shinn, junior, Pearl City
Goalkeeper: Thomas Brown, senior, Mililani

Second Team

Forward: Nolan Miranda, senior, Castle
Forward: Kekoa Smith, junior, Kamehameha
Forward: Moi Kanealii, junior, Hilo
Forward: Nathan Amous, junior, Mililani
Midfielder: Daniel Park, senior, Pearl City
Midfielder: Justin Kim, sophomore, Mililani
Midfielder: Liam Gray, senior, Punahou
Midfielder: Ryan Kau, senior, Mililani
Defender: Jake Silva, sophomore, Hilo
Defender: Bryan Lenharr, senior, Kamehameha
Defender: Ian Ichimura, junior, Baldwin
Defender: Matt Culver, junior, Punahou
Goalkeeper: Zachary McAngus, senior, Kamehameha

Honorable mention -- Forwards: Geoffrey Say, Moanalua; Donovan Gaboya, Campbell; Artie Ferreira, Baldwin, Ikaika Neizman, Lahainaluna; Mason Chan, Kauai; Keoni Nakano, Kapaa. Midfielders: Kai Nakazawa, Kapaa; Abner Nakihei, Lahainalua; Keith DeVey, St. Anthony; Kauila Rivera, Seabury Hall; Brent Murakami, Mililani. Defenders: Kahai Macdonald, Kamehameha; Breland Pedro, Moanalua; Bronson Yee, Mililani; Kauila Rivera, Seabury Hall; John Girabaldi, Punahou. Goalkeepers: Graham Kovaric, Kapaa; James Strombach, Moanalua; Chris Davis, Seabury Hall; Joshua Curtis, Kaiser; Shen DeShayne, Baldwin.

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LEAGUE ALL-STARS

BIIF

Player of the Year -- Gui Freitas, St. Joseph
Coach of the Year -- David Urakami, Waiakea
First team -- Goalkeeper: Brandon Morita, Hilo. Forwards: Dustin Broad, Hilo; Rafael Jube, St. Joseph; Mark Kurashige, Kealakehe. Midfielders: Colin Aiford, Kealakehe; Wildes Brawner, Hawaii Prep; Gui Freitas, St. Joseph; Moi Kanealii, Hilo. Defenders: Elia Clarke, St. Joseph; Keoki Downes, Kealakehe; Joe Wilson, Hawaii Prep; Adam Woolverton, St. Joseph.

Second team -- Goalkeeper: Ryan Salmon, Hawaii Prep. Forwards: Max Bowman, Honokaa; Brandon Javellana, Waiakea; Trel Mangarin, Parker. Midfielders: Dustin Cariaga, Honokaa; Jared Chapman, Hawaii Prep; Kyle Hirata, Hilo; Brendan Moore, Hilo; Masao Yoshimura, Hawaii Prep. Defenders: Aaron Brown, Waiakea; Haland Kalahiki, Honokaa; Kevin Kuga, Hilo; Brad Pereira, Christian Liberty; Cody Ventura, Hilo.

ILH

Boys
Player of the Year -- Duke Hashimoto, Iolani
Coach of the Year -- Andrew Ah New, Kamehameha
First team -- Goalkeeper: Zachary McAngus, Kamehameha. Forwards: Kekoa Smith, Kamehameha; Duke Hashimoto, Iolani; Darin Fajota, Pac-Five; Satoshi Mitsuda, Punahou. Midfielders: David Gualdarama, Kamehameha; Richard Higa, Mid-Pacific. Fullbacks: Christopher Macdonald, Kamehameha; Matthew Culver, Punahou; Bryan Lenharr, Kamehameha; Gabriel Chan, Kamehameha.

Second team -- Goalkeeper: Hunter Gradie, Mid-Pacific. Forwards: Kaui Wong, Kamehameha; Eaton O'Neill, Iolani. Midfielders: Daniel Burris, St. Louis; Liam Gray, Punahou; Brandon Tario, Kamehameha; Jonathan Lee, Iolani. Fullbacks: Lokahi Bounds, Damien; John Garibaldi, Punahou; Pase Fiaseu, St. Louis; Scott Shiraishi, Iolani.

Honorable mention -- Alika Ah New, Kamehameha; Michael Wideman, Pac-Five; Kody Seminara, Pac-Five; Dom Jovanni Cueva, St. Louis; Tamatoa Hackney, Punahou; Brandon Taoka, Mid-Pacific.

KIF

Player of the Year --Danny Rittmeister, Kapaa
Coach of the Year -- Eric Huttger, Kapaa
First team -- Goalkeeper: Curtis Kimura, Waimea. Forwards: Danny Rittmeister, Kapaa; Mason Chan, Kauai; Brad Wakuta, Kapaa. Midfielders: Tyler Wakuta, Kapaa; Jacob Minei, Kapaa; Keoni Nakano, Kapaa. Defenders: Kelsey Morikawa, Waimea; Jud McRoberts, Kapaa; Waika Oliver, Kapaa; Levi McFarland, Kapaa. Utility: Kainoa Nakazawa, Kapaa.

OIA East

Boys
Player of the Year -- Landon Beers, Kaiser
Coach of the Year -- Herb Schreiner, Kaiser
First team -- Goalkeeper: Joshua Curtis, Jr., Kaiser. Defenders: Chris Kojima, Sr., Kalaheo; Breland Pedro, Sr., Moanalua; Matthew Stucke, Sr., Kaiser; Roland Takeshita, Sr., Kailua. Midfielders: Keoni Spencer-Crites, Jr., Kailua; Thiago De Oliveira, Sr., Kahuku; Gavin Fujitani, Sr., Kalani; Evan Masunaga, Sr., Kaiser. Forwards: Landon Beers, Sr., Kaiser; Nolan Miranda, Sr., Castle.

Second team -- Goalkeeper: Richard Dabbs, Sr., Kalani. Defenders: Nathaniel Corpuz, Sr., Farrington; Blaine Fujimoto, Sr., Castle; Lucas Hom, Sr., Kaiser; Jeremy Patton, So., Kaiser. Midfielders: Grant Arakaki, Sr., Kalani; Erik Le, Jr., Roosevelt; Aaron Miura, Jr., Moanalua; Brandon Self, Jr., Kaiser. Forwards: Chad Jamieson, Sr., Kaiser; Cheyne Nakata, Sr., Kailua.

Honorable mention -- Castle: Brennan Alexander, Mike Mayeda, Darryl Tangonan. Farrington: Jerome Balbin, Gilbert Sa. Kahuku: Solomon Lee, Makua Rothman. Kailua: Jeff Aquino, Jon Heu, Taani Wolfgramm. Kaimuki: Corey Asato, Curte Oda, Shaun Kitamura, Sean Nomura, Matthew Jenkins. Kaiser: Michael German, Michael Rivas-Micoud, Mark Takahashi. Kalaheo: Ryan Des Jarlais, Christopher Pascua, Joe Schaffer. Kalani: Alex Fraher, Scott Harada, Joshua Smith. McKinley: Ryland Watanabe, Jon Lam, Kai Lopez, Michael Bieber, Tanner Meyer, John Mai. Moanalua: Nick Lovan, Colin Morikawa, Jimmy Strombach. Roosevelt: Kevin Goto, Evan Patek, Gavin Wong.

OIA West

Players of the Year -- Michael Ryman, Campbell; Daniel Park, Pearl City; Thomas Brown, Mililani
Coach of the Year -- Jeff Yamamoto, Mililani
First team -- Goalkeeper: Thomas Brown, Sr., Mililani. Forwards: Nathan Amous, Jr., Mililani; Michael Ryman, Sr., Campbell. Halfbacks: Daniel Park, Sr., Pearl City; Christopher Castell, Jr., Mililani; Matt Itagaki, Sr., Aiea; Donavan Goboya, Sr., Campbell. Fullbacks: Shaunsey Saito, Jr., Campbell; Vance Harris, Sr., Mililani; Richard Shinn, Jr., Pearl City; Derek Atta, Sr., Aiea.

Second team -- Goalkeeper: Brandon Flores, So., Kapolei. Forwards: Colin Yuh, Sr., Pearl City; Shane McConnell, Sr., Radford. Halfback: Ryan Gibo, Sr., Radford; Justin Kim, So., Mililani; Christopher Kita, Sr., Campbell; Dana Bjorn, Fr., Waialua. Fullbacks: Jeffery Conway, Sr., Radford; Kenneth Buffa, Jr., Leilehua; Rio Laigo, Sr., Waialua; Alan Domingo, Sr., Pearl City. Utility: James Woodard, Sr., Waianae.

Honorable mention -- Aiea: Melvin Jungblut, Brandon Puckett, Daniel Kawamura. Campbell: Kenji Lee, Alii Basham, Kawika Ishikawa, Rocky Otsuka, Satia Ioane, Jonathan Leighton. Leilehua: Ray Mark Pugay, Joshua Catekista, Ryan Bibilone, Gustavo Caruso, Ivan Yagi, Jeremy Jackson. Mililani: Bronson Yee, Whitney Shimatsu, Todd Suenaga, Gainor Nitta, Ryan Kau, Brent Murakami. Pearl City: Daniel Sanchez, Jayson Nakakura, Kenshiro Uki, Brandon Ebesugawa, Christopher Kaaukuu. Radford: Emanuel Farias, Stephen Lancaster, Tracy Burton, Eric Venglar, Michael Tupas, Kenny Serna. Kapolei: Rhys Kita, Bronson Pieper, Keanui Carmack. Waianae: Chad Damas, Joshua Woodard. Waialua: Keone Peiler, Lee Matsuura, Charlie Tantog, Devin Iwamoto, Bryant Lani, Kellen Balidoy.

Note: The Maui Interscholastic League has not selected its all-stars yet.

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