Wong retires as
Warriors coachAthletes of the Week
Kamehameha cheerleading coach Dolly Wong is going out a winner.
Wong is stepping down after wrapping up a third straight state championship last Saturday.
She has been a cheerleading coach since 1988 and the Warriors' head coach since 1991. She also coached two years at the University of Hawaii.
"This (the retirement) has been coming for a while," Wong said. "I wanted to go out on my own terms. I set a goal a few years ago of winning a national championship, so I think I can leave feeling satisfied."
The Warriors are two-time national champions.
Assistant Melissa Beimes takes over as the interim coach, according to Wong.
The Kamehameha athletic department will hire a new coach in the near future.
"I hope they consider hiring one of my assistants," Wong said. "I think either Melissa or Shannon Cosma are qualified to do the job and would do a good job, but it's not my decision."
Forty students participate in the Kamehameha cheerleading program, which includes junior varsity, Division II and intermediate levels. The cheerleaders show their support for the school's other athletic teams throughout the school year and are kept extra busy during the competitive winter cheerleading season.
"I hope people are beginning to realize that Hawaii cheerleading is coming on really strong nationally," said Wong, who wants to continue helping out the sport in a different capacity.
"I don't think I'll be completely away from it," she said.
Low an All-American: Saint Louis two-time state champion wrestler Brandon Low became a high school All-American after a second-place finish in the Brute/Adidas Junior Nationals at the University of Nebraska last weekend.
He won his first three matches in the 119-pound class at the tournament, then lost in the final to Nebraska's Matt Vacanti.
Low is ranked 17th in the nation by Intermat.com and 30th by Wrestling USA magazine. He was also named as one of the best underclassmen of the year in the magazine.
A year ago, Low also won the state judo championship in the 114-pound class, but he doesn't know if he'll compete in that sport this year.
Low carries a 4.29 grade-point average.
More state tourneys coming: Winter sports have concluded, spring sports are heating up and more state tournaments will be here before you know it:
>> David S. Ishii Foundation Girls Golf Championship, May 12-13, Wailua Golf Course, Kauai.
>> Carlsmith Ball Tennis Championship, May 13-15, Mauna Lani Racquet Club and Tennis Garden, Big Island.
>> Island Movers Track and Field Championship, May 13-15, War Memorial Stadium, Maui.
>> Local Motion Girls Water Polo Championship, May 13-15, Duke Kahanamoku Aquatics Complex, Oahu.
>> Wally Yonamine Foundation Baseball Championship, May 18-21, Les Murakami Stadium, Oahu.
>> David S. Ishii Foundation Boys Golf Championship, May 19-20, Wailua Golf Course, Kauai.
>> Hawaiian Airlines Girls Basketball Division I Championship, May 19-22, Stan Sheriff Center, Oahu.
>> Hawaiian Airlines Girls Basketball Division II Championship, May 21-22, Stan Sheriff Center, Oahu.
>> Black Belt Association Judo Championship, May 22, Oahu site to be determined.
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Athletes of the Week
>> Tyler Fujiwara, Lahainaluna baseball: Pitched a two-hit shutout in an 11-0 win over Seabury Hall in the MILopener.
>> Sophie Merrifield, Punahou basketball: Scored 22 points on 11-for-17 shooting from the field in a Moanalua preseason tournament title game win over Mid-Pacific. She also had 10 rebounds and seven steals.
Honor Roll
Cheerleading
>> Kamehameha: Won the large-squad division at the state championship meet. Team members are Jessie Riane Ahuna, Mia Archuleta, Tiare Camarillo, Corinne Chun, Jessica Kaanoi, Alyssa Kong, Shawna Lee, Emi Manuia, Summer Maunakea, Jasmine Merseberg, Tamara Patton, Chanel Silva, Kawena Vierra and Lehua Watanabe.>> Moanalua: Won the small-squad division at the state championship meet. Team members are Megan Batara, Candace Cabanilla, Chelsea Castilliano, Patricia Fernandez, Jennifer Maki, Jenna Neeley, Lindsey Okumoto, Jennifer Oyape, Lindsay Tangonan, Katlin Taosaka and Angelica Wright.
>> Brittiany Broadwater, Radford: Was named the most valuable cheerleader on the 18-member all-state team.
To nominate ...
To nominate an athlete of the week, contact the Star-Bulletin Sports Department by 11 p.m. Sunday:Phone: 529-4782
Fax: 529-4787
E-mail: sports@starbulletin.com
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