Tengan’s departure
leaves unanswered questions
By Nick Abramo What's next for the Saint Louis football program, now that its head coach won't be returning?
nabramo@starbulletin.comThe same question was raised last year when Cal Lee stepped down and Delbert Tengan took over.
But Tengan, 42, answered doubters by leading the Crusaders to a state championship.
A coaching change might not be so easy to adapt to this time. Tengan stepped down yesterday, so Lee -- as the school's athletic director -- will be starting the replacement process.
The new coach may turn out to be one of Tengan's assistants.
"I'm not sure what they'll do," Tengan said about the assistants. "They all have a lot of coaching left in them. It's a tremendous staff, and I'm sure any school that wants to improve their program will try to snatch one of them.
"Some have been offered jobs at other schools, but what they do will probably all depend on who is the next Saint Louis football coach."
There's been speculation for several years that Lee, who is also the Hawaiian Islanders arenafootball2 team coach, will eventually become an assistant under June Jones at the University of Hawaii. This fall might be his chance, since Jones has a position to fill, but Lee declined comment yesterday.
New wrestling coach: Kendrick Kakazu replaces Todd Los Banos as the Saint Louis wrestling coach, Lee said.
Los Banos stepped down after leading Saint Louis to a second-place finish at the state tournament in March.
Kakazu is a teacher at the school and was an assistant last year.
"The wrestlers just love him," Lee said. "He's got some great chemistry going there, and I really like the way he works with the kids."
He'll have help from Los Banos.
"Todd isn't just taking off (from the program)," Lee said. "He'll still be involved, just not as head coach."
Ben Wilmore, the 130-pound state champion who returns to the Crusaders as a senior next winter, said the outgoing and new head coaches have similar coaching styles.
"He's (Kakazu) a good coach and we all like him," Wilmore said. "He relates well and we feel that he can lead us to a state (team) championship. He can talk to the kids and can yell at the kids without making them feel bad. He knows when to joke and when to be serious and makes people feel comfortable when they wrestle."
Sam talks about the new man: Star-Bulletin all-state first-team basketball selection Sam Wilhoite wasn't surprised that Chico Furtado was picked as the new Kalaheo coach last week.
"Coach Smith is as good as it gets, but Coach Furtado is as good as we can get as a replacement," said Wilhoite, a 6-foot-7 post. "We were figuring he would be the new coach.
"Chico has been coaching with Coach Smith for so long -- they're always talking together -- so there shouldn't be a problem in the coming years. I figure he'll tweak it a little, maybe a more fast-paced game, but I don't see much change in Kalaheo basketball."
Football combine coming: The Hawaii Sports Network Athletic Prep Academy is running a football combine at the Saint Louis School field on May 17 at 8:30 a.m.
The combine is for athletes who will be entering their freshman through senior years in the fall. Registration is free, but same-day signups are $25.
Staff members include former collegiate players such as current Hawaiian Islanders players Darnell Arceneaux, Nian Taylor and Josh White, among many others.
Representatives of some Division I programs, including Hawaii, Oregon State, Utah and Washington State, will be there.
Friday rematch: The state's biggest girls basketball game this week, by far, is the Punahou (13-0) vs. Kamehameha (12-1) rematch. The game is scheduled for Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Punahou's Hemmeter Fieldhouse.
The Buffanblu beat the defending state champion Warriors 45-37 on April 4.
The two teams met in the state final a year ago and are the favorites to return to the title game.
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Athletes of the Week
BOYS
>> Jeff Syrop, Castle baseball: Pitched a complete-game upset of Roosevelt and went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs.
GIRLS
>> Chaunte Jackson, Campbell basketball: Hit an uncontested layup at the buzzer to give the Sabers a 40-38 victory over Leilehua.
Honor Roll
BASKETBALL
>> Lehua Yap, Nanakuli: Scored 23 in a loss to Mililani.
>> Bre Carson, McKinley: Notched 20 points as the Tigers beat Kalani.
>> Ginger Gravelle, Iolani: Tossed in 19 points in a victory over University High.
>> Christie Ayers, Pearl City: Collected 29 points as the Chargers beat Mililani.
>> Cheryl Lee, Maryknoll: Scored 23 points in a win over University High.
BASEBALL
>> Kaimi Mead, Roosevelt: Struck out 14 Kailua batters in a 4-1 victory over the previously unbeaten Surfriders.
>> Nick Freitas, Kamehameha: Went 3-for-3 with a triple, three RBIs and three runs scored in a victory over Iolani.
>> Nelson Hao, Aiea: Pitched Na Alii past Pearl City in a battle of undefeated teams.
>> Patrick San Nicolas and Spencer Omalza, Leilehua: San Nicolas shut out Nanakuli, while Omalza blanked Radford in two Mules' victories.
>> Jarryd Maeda, Kaiser: Went 3-for-4 with two triples in a 5-4 win over McKinley.
>> Randy Kitagawa, Kalani: Beat Kaiser with a three-hitter.
>> Landon Nakata, Punahou: Singled home the winning run in the last inning against Iolani.
>> Jonathan Hee, Mid-Pacific: Went 4-for-4 with five RBIs as the Owls routed Maryknoll.
>> Tyler Fujiwara and Blaine Bernades, Lahainalua: Fujiwara went 5-for-6 with four stolen bases and five RBIs in two wins over Seabury Hall. Bernades struck out 15 and shut out the Spartans in one of the wins.
TENNIS
>> Sarah Galon, Leilehua: Won the OIA West girls singles title.
>> Scott Nakamura, Aiea: Captured the OIA West boys singles championship.
>> Jamie Migia, Moanalua: Earned the OIA East boys singles title.
>> Julienne Yamamoto, Moanalua: Won the OIA East girls singles championship.
Hawaii School Web Sites