Jonathan Kauka saw Anipati Mailo a split second too late. Mailo a big hit
Division II notebook
in return to teamBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comThe result was the biggest hit in two weeks of Hawaii spring football practice.
"He was coming from the side and I was running straight up and I tried to put my hip into him. But when you drop one shoulder, that's not enough when you've got a 240-pound man coming at you," said Kauka, a running back who had turned the corner after catching a short pass. "Things like that happen. You get up, shake it off, and go again."
The collision drew lots of positive reaction from the defense, especially since Warriors coach June Jones usually limits contact in practice. Jones tried to downplay it, but for at least a few minutes the tempo was definitely higher than usual.
"It's just a normal practice. I didn't notice anything different," Jones said. "Guys are having fun, and that's part of it."
Fun especially for Mailo, a sophomore trying to move up the depth chart at linebacker.
"I come out there just trying to put out my 100 percent. I'm not trying to hurt anyone. I just want to play hard and show the coaches I came to play," Mailo said. "There's a lot of good players out there and everyone's trying to get a spot. Sometimes emotions get a little crazy and you do things you wouldn't normally do. But we're all friends out here and we're not trying to hurt each other. We're here to play football."
Mailo's aggressive play belies a calm, mature personality shaped partly by his two-year religious mission to Guatemala. The Kahuku High School graduate played on special teams as a freshman in 1999 before the mission. After redshirting last season, he's now a sophomore fighting for playing time while many of his classmates are established senior starters.
"A lot of guys that were freshmen with me are ending their careers now, their final season. I'm just starting again while they're ending," Mailo said. "I'm doing good. But I have a lot more to do."
Chad Kalilimoku is still No. 1 at inside linebacker, but Mailo could push for some playing time -- if not this season, then next.
"He's got a long way to go because he's been out of football for a couple of years," Jones said. "He's a great kid and we're giving him a chance to show us what he can do."
As for Kauka, one of UH's toughest, most experienced players is petitioning the NCAA for another year after a season-ending knee injury two games into last year's schedule.
"(The NCAA committee) meets sometime this week or next week. I've been told it looks very good," he said.
Addressing the troops: Jones agreed to speak to soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks tonight. The unit is deploying to the Philippines soon.
"I was invited to come out and be a part of their deal, and I usually don't say no to the military," Jones said. "I'm very appreciative of what they've done for us and it's our duty to support them however we can."
Keeping options open: The option is a wrinkle Jones throws into his offense once in a while. In the past two years, his quarterbacks for the run-oriented formation have been Justin Colbert and Shawn Withy-Allen.
With those two players completing their eligibility, junior inside receiver Se'e Poumele is the heir apparent to quarterback during the option occasions.
"Coach Jones has a few packages for me at quarterback, but I'm just going with the flow," said Poumele, who played quarterback in high school and in junior college. "I think mainly my chances will be in the slot. But I like playing both of them."
Short yardage: Jones was happy to hear the ConAgra Foods Hawaii Bowl made enough money to increase its payout to the participating conferences, and that UH made a $100,000 profit. "Of course ESPN rolled the dice with us, and you reap the rewards when you take a chance," Jones said. ... Former UH wide receiver Dan Berryman said he won his lawsuit stemming from a traffic accident last year in which he suffered a broken ankle. He has three years of eligibility remaining and has rehabbed the ankle, but does not plan on returning to the team. Berryman said he is moving to Europe and wants to play soccer on a club team.
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In the Pacific West Conference's championship tennis tournament at Billings, Mont., all eyes will be on Brigham Young-Hawaii's women's team. HPU and Hilo
try to keep upBy Jerry Campany
jcampany@starbulletin.comBut those who restrict themselves to seeing the best team in the nation will be missing something much more important.
Hawaii Pacific and Hawaii-Hilo will play today for the right to meet the Seasiders, who have won 58 straight matches and are the defending national champions.
But there is more on the line for both teams than being fodder for the Seasiders.
The Sea Warriors are ranked No. 14 in the nation and will need to advance to the finals to have any hope of rising in the regional rankings. They are currently No. 3.
If HPU can stay in the second or third spot, it would be placed in a different regional than the Seasiders, giving it the opportunity to reach the national tournament without having to go through Laie.
The situation for the Vulcans is a lot more desperate, as they probably would need to beat the Sea Warriors to gain entrance to the regional tournament.
Hilo is ranked sixth in the region and 22nd in the nation. The top eight teams in each region are selected for the tournament.
The two teams have played three times this year, with all three matches decided by 5-4 scores and the Sea Warriors winning twice.
The Sea Warriors are led by senior Loni Matsunaga of Wahiawa and Dora Holdarova. Hilo is led by Nathalia Jung. No. 2 Michiko Tanaka has been Hilo's best bet against the Sea Warriors, winning all three of her matches against HPU this year.
The men's championship expects to be hotly contested between BYUH and HPU.
The No. 2 Seasiders have swept the No. 6 Sea Warriors in two matches this year and have already clinched a spot in the regional. But whenever the Sea Warriors and the Seasiders hook up, every match matters.
"We are anticipating a Saturday match with them," BYUHcoach Dave Porter said. "Every time we play them it is an exciting match."
The Sea Warriors beat the Seasiders in the tournament last year, but lost to them in the regional. That doesn't mean the significance of a conference title is lost on either team, though.
"Before you can be the best in a large arena you have to be the best in a smaller one," Porter said. "No matter what conference or league you play in it is very important."
Another national title: The Hawaii Pacific cheerleading team won its first national title, beating 13 other teams at the National Cheerleaders Association Chick-fil-A Collegiate Championships at Daytona Beach, Fla., last week.
The Sea Warriors, who go 24 strong, also finished fifth in the grand champion category.
The Collegiate Cheer and Dance competition will be televised on Fox Sports Net on April 30 and May 14.
Hilo moving forward: The UH-Hilo athletic department is expected to announce its five finalists for the vacant volleyball coaching position today.
One name that is not expected to be on the list is Kawaileleohiilawe, who is the interim head coach and has been handling recruiting since Sharon Peterson stepped down after last season.
Kawaileleohiilawe received a letter from the department telling him that he did not make the cut of nine semifinalists. It received more than 70 applicants.
Kawaileleohiilawe was Peterson's assistant for seven years and says he would continue in that capacity if the new coach would have him or if he doesn't find a coaching job elsewhere.