Moanalua’s Cheng,
Faildo stepping down
Two Moanalua mentors are resigning from their posts -- boys basketball coach Byron Cheng and cheerleading coach Sherrie Faildo.
"I left teaching in April 2003 to pursue another job and the new demands are great," Cheng said. "My expectations for the team are high, and if I couldn't fulfill those expectations myself, it isn't fair to expect it from the boys."
Cheng taught at Sacred Hearts before becoming an educator at Moanalua for a year. He is a former head coach of the Sacred Hearts and Punahou girls teams and the Punahou junior varsity boys team.
He is employed as a human resources manager at an assisted-living home.
"I'm really going to miss coaching and I already miss teaching," he said. "Moanalua has a top-notch athletic program and the leadership is excellent. But this job is a great opportunity for me. "
Cheng led the Menehunes to an 8-3 record in the 2004 regular season and a 1-1 mark in the OIA playoffs.
Faildo coached Moa-nalua to two small-squad state championships in her two-and-a-half years on the job.
"I want to go back to school," she said. "I will miss coaching tremendously, but the time commitment wouldn't let me pursue other things. It's a year-round commitment; you start with tryouts in May and you have a summer camp and then you go right into cheering for football in the fall, followed by basketball in the winter, which overlaps our competitive season. And then you have girls basketball, which runs right into tryouts in May for the next school year."
Moanalua athletic director Dana Dias is seeking replacements for Cheng and Faildo. Resumes can be sent to Dias at Moanalua High School, 2825 Ala Ilima Street, Honolulu, HI, 96818.
OIA right in there: It's been a good sports year for the Oahu Interscholastic Association.
The OIA has won nine of the 24 state championships thus far, including two in the highest profile sport -- football.
Kahuku (Division I football and boys wrestling), Kapolei (Division I softball and girls bowling), Aiea (Division II football), Moanalua (boys bowling and small-squad cheerleading), Mililani (boys soccer) and Farrington (girls wrestling) are carrying the OIA banners.
Only one Neighbor Island team has won a state title so far in 2003-04 -- King Kekaulike of Maui in mixed canoe paddling.
The Interscholastic League of Honolulu has captured the other 14 crowns, including seven by Iolani (boys volleyball, boys cross country, girls cross country, boys basketball, boys canoe paddling, boys swimming, girls swimming).
Masaniai, Freitas rethink future: Two Hawaii high school football offensive linemen were affected when St. Mary's (Calif.) dropped its Division I-AA football program March 3.
Waipahu's Curtis Masaniai and Kamehameha's Elwen Freitas signed to play for the Gaels, but are now free to go elsewhere.
Masaniai has a visit scheduled to the University of San Diego this weekend and he's also heard from other schools, including Alcorn State and Tennessee-Martin, according to Marauders coach Sean Saturnio.
Freitas is drawing interest from Western Washington, Alcorn State and St. Francis (Pa.).
Damien offensive lineman Keoni Steinhoff has been asked to walk on to the University of Hawaii, Utah and Oregon.
Four Hawaii players have been offered scholarships by St. Francis. Three of them are cousins -- Tevita Will-iams, defensive lineman Soane Sevelo and free safety Fehi Sevelo. The other is Kapolei offensive lineman Daniel Oti-neru.
If he signs, Williams, the Monarchs' starting quarterback last fall, will play another position at St. Francis.
OIA hoops team out: Anuenue is one of the teams listed on the Oahu Interscholastic Association girls basketball schedule, but the school is not fielding a team, according to Clinton Schultz.
Schultz is the coach of the Hawaiian immersion school's volleyball team that took part in its first OIA season last fall. He said Anuenue didn't have enough girls trying out for basketball to form a team.
The school's girls paddling team placed third at the state tournament Feb. 28.
San Nicolas going to JC: Leilehua softball pitcher Alexis San Nicolas is headed to Otero Junior College in Colorado.
San Nicolas was one of the most consistently strong players in the Oahu Interscholastic Association during her career. She was named to the Star-Bulletin's All-State second team this past season.
"I'm hoping to play third as well as pitch," San Nicolas said. "A lot of coaches told me how it's not bad to start off at a junior college. It's a great way for four-year schools to get a look at players. I want to keep playing and maybe someday I can play Division I."
Sullivan starts company: Hawaii recruiting coordinator Doris Sullivan has started a new company called Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance.
The main thrust of the company is to foster communication between high school athletes from Hawaii and American Samoa and potential college sports teams and to provide guidance through the recruiting process.
Formerly employed by Hawaii Sports Network, Sullivan will continue to do contracting through HSN.
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Athletes of the Week
>> Robert Cuizon, Damien baseball: The freshman pitched a complete game in his first start -- a 5-3 victory over Iolani.
>> Shanna Dacanay, Punahou basketball: Scored 23 points on 11-for-19 shooting and had five rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocks in a win over Sacred Hearts.
Honor Roll
BASKETBALL
>> Lacy Christensen, King Kekaulike: Scored 16 points in a victory over Hana.
>> Monika Vehikite, Lahainaluna: Scored 18 points in a win over Kamehameha-Maui.
>> Nicole Lehner, Sacred Hearts: Scored 16 points in a loss to Maryknoll and 14 in a loss to Punahou.
>> Bre Carson, McKinley: Scored 21 points in a victory over Waianae.
>> Jodie Kamemoto, Hawaii Baptist: Scored 17 points in an ILH Division II win over St. Andrew's.
>> Shannon Spencer, Kamehameha: Scored 15 points in an ILH Division II win over Hanalani.
>> Monica Chock, St. Francis: Scored 15 in a loss to Maryknoll.
>> Nancy Hoist, Konawaena: Scored 17 in a title-game victory over Kahuku in the St. Joseph preseason tournament.
>> Latoya Wily, Kahuku: Scored 19 in the loss to Konawaena.
>> Jaime Mattos, Kamehameha-Big Island: Scored 27 in a loss to Kalaheo.
>> Keisha Kanekoa, Honokaa: Scored 23 in a win over Hilo.
>> Larissa Lerma, Hilo: Scored 16 in a loss to Honokaa.
>> Kami Kapaku, Baldwin: Scored 25 in a win over Molokai.
>> Holly Iloreta and Ulu Kelekoma, Kauai: Scored 16 apiece in a loss to Kapolei.
BASEBALL
>> Edwin Apostol, Saint Louis: Pitched the Crusaders past Punahou 5-3.
>> Harrison Kuroda, Mid-Pacific: Went the distance in a 6-0 victory over Pac-Five.
GOLF
>> Andrew Llarenas, Iolani: Shot a 68 to lead the Raiders to a win over Saint Louis.
>> Mari Chun, Kamehameha: Shot a 70 to tie for low-medal honors in an ILH match.
>> Erin Matsuoka, Punahou: Shot a 70 to tie Kamehameha's Mari Chun for medal honors.
SWIMMING
>> Meredith Egloria and Ed Afualo, Kapolei: Egloria was named the OIA girls most valuable player, while Afualo was named the OIA boys co-MVP.
>> Evan Duffin-Barnes, Kaiser: Was named OIA boys co-MVP.
WRESTLING
>> Brandon Low, Saint Louis: Was named ILH boys co-wrestler of the year.
>> Kyle Muraoka, Iolani: Was named ILH boys co-wrestler of the year.
>> Joleen Oshiro, Iolani: Was named ILH girls co-wrestler of the year.
>> Chaneal Meletia, Pac-Five: Was named ILH girls co-wrestler of the year.
WATER POLO
>> Valerie Kaahanui, Kapolei: Led the Hurricanes to wins over Moanalua and Kaimuki by scoring a combined 11 goals.
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