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Just For Kicks Al Chase |
Ariola makes the most
of his opportunityKEONI Ariola, who said he was not that well known as a soccer player at Campbell High School, took matters into his own hands, made his own highlight video and sent it to a number of mainland colleges.
There were several responses, but the one that determined where he would spend the next four years, the best offer, came from Chris Luther, the men's soccer coach at York College in Nebraska.
"I needed a scholarship and it was late August. I was worried. When Coach Luther sent me the scholarship, I signed and everything worked out well," said Ariola, who survived snow and sub-zero temperatures knowing that Hawaii was home.
Fortunately for the secondary education major, York offers the option of doing student teaching in a student's home state. Ariola is doing his here and will graduate in May.
"Keoni was a fabulous player for us, had great ball skills," Luther said. "The biggest thing about Keoni was his work ethic.
"He demonstrated great leadership through example. Keoni wasn't a cheerleader, but he worked hard to protect his teammates from his defensive midfielder position."
Ariola started 64 of 71 matches for the Panthers during his four-year career. He scored 11 goals on 65 shots and had eight assists.
"The door opened for me and I want Hawaii players to realize there is a college out there for them. I think that's why I'm teaching. I think all Hawaii kids need is a chance because they can play," said Ariola, who will be a volunteer football coach at Kapolei next season.
"I would love to coach soccer too, but I will wait to see what happens."
Amber Waddle, who alternated between midfield and striker, played in 59 matches during her four-year career for the Vanguard U. (Costa Mesa, Calif.) Lions. The Makua Lani Christian graduate finished with nine goals and six assists for 24 points. A psychology major, Waddle maintains a 3.52 grade point average.
"Amber worked herself up from almost no time to one of our most dominant players in the middle, starting and playing every game her senior year," Vanguard coach Kerry McGrath-Crooks said.
"She also was voted team captain by her teammates and is highly respected for her work ethic, her humor and easy disposition."
Leisha Makinano, a senior defender for Nevada from Iolani, started all but two of the 71 matches she played for the Wolf Pack. She tops the career list for matches played and is the all-time assist leader with seven. The computer information science major finished her four-year career with five goals.
Kaula Rowe played in 68 matches, second best all time, for Nevada. The striker from Kamehameha is the all-time Wolf Pack leader in goals scored (18) and points (39). She is a political science major.
Adam Sthay, a senior goalkeeper for NCAA Division I Loyola Marymount and Punahou graduate, started four of five matches for the 12-6-1 Lions and posted a 2.03 goals against average.
In his junior year Sthay set a Lions single-season shutout record and led the Lions to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
This past fall he was named a captain and split time with the Shaun Kalnasy before Kalnasy earned the starting nod. Sthay is majoring in psychology.
See the Columnists section for some past articles. Just for Kicks runs every other Sunday in the Star-Bulletin.
Al Chase can be reached at achase@starbulletin.com