Kelly Chan, a Konawaena High School alumna, has a 3.91 grade-point average at Long Beach State and was named to the Big West Conference All-Academic team as well as the Verizon All-District Academic team.
Awards aplenty
for isle athletesFrom baseball to water polo, the
recognition on the field and in the
classroom keeps adding up for
some of Hawaii's best
It is the time of year when recognition of Hawaii's athletes at Mainland colleges overflows Hawaii Grown's in-basket.
Here is a sampling of the rankings, all-star selections and other honors earned by our student-athletes. More will be reported as time, space and information is available.
TENNIS
Four tennis players from Hawaii earned places in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's final rankings for 2004:Division I
» Erin Hoe, Washington senior (Mililani '00): No. 58 in national women's singles; No. 13 in Northwest Region women's singles; No. 10 in Northwest Region women's doubles.
» Chris Lam, UCLA junior (home-schooled): No. 63 in national men's singles.» Kelly Chan, Long Beach State senior (Konawaena '00): No. 28 in West Region women's singles.
Division II
» Jan Ikeda, Northern Colorado senior (Baldwin '00): No. 23 in national women's singles; No. 1 in North Central Region women's singles; No. 3 in North Central Region women's doubles.
Hoe, Lam and Ikeda have been profiled in previous Hawaii Grown reports this year.Long Beach State coach Jennie Hilt-Costello said of Chan:
"Kelly has really learned how to use all of her shots, open up the court and play into her own strengths. She has also worked on her mental game. It was a weakness when she was a freshman, but now it is one of her strongest attributes.
"Kelly also emerged as a very strong team leader this year. She had goals for herself and for the team and she was not going to finish her collegiate career without achieving each one. I am so proud of her as a player and a person.
"To see a player make so much progress in four years is a thrill for a coach."
In addition to her player ranking, Chan was named to the Verizon All-District Academic team chosen by college sports information directors and the Big West Conference All-Academic team. She had a 3.91 grade-point average in marketing.
BASEBALL
All-American catcher Kurt Suzuki (Baldwin '01) is the last collegiate athlete from Hawaii still competing this season.Cal State-Fullerton started a best-of-three Super Regional series against Tulane yesterday in Fullerton. The winner advances to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., June 18-28.
When his college season is completed, Suzuki will begin negotiations with the Oakland A's, who drafted him in the second round (No. 67) on Monday. Suzuki has said he will sign and will not return to Fullerton for his senior year.
At least six players from Hawaii earned all-conference recognition this spring at California community (two-year) colleges. They are:
» Diablo Valley (Pleasant Hill) sophomore Kamaile Santos (Kailua '02): first team Bay Valley West utility player for coach Carl Fraticelli (Kalaheo '84).
Santos pitched until he hurt his shoulder and then played third base. His pitching record was 4-2 with a 4.44 earned-run average in 52 2/3 innings.
Santos was drafted in the 42nd round (pick No. 1,266) by the Florida Marlins. He said he would work out with a Marlins scout this summer. If they do not offer him a contract he likes, he said he would finish his AA degree at Diablo Valley in the fall and accept a "pretty much full" baseball scholarship offer from Oklahoma State.
"I would have to weigh the contract against the value of the scholarship," said Santos, who won academic honors at Kailua.
» Sierra (Rocklin) sophomore Tyler McCready (Iolani '02 of Aiea): second team Bay Valley East pitcher.
McCready, better known as a starter on Iolani's state championship basketball team in 2002, had a 4.05 ERA in 46 2/3 innings and a 3-2 record.
» Saddleback (Mission Viejo) sophomore Keahi Kapana: second-team All-Orange Empire first baseman.
Led the state champions in batting (.400), home runs (11) and RBIs (49) in 40 games. His RBI total ranked in the top 10 statewide.
» Hartnell (Salinas) freshman Chris Balatico (Mililani '03): first-team Coast Conference South outfielder.
Balatico led the state in triples with 10 and batted .400 over 33 games. His slugging average was .607.
» Hartnell freshman Dana Yamashita (Hilo '03): second-team Coast Conference South catcher.
Yamashita batted .350.
SOFTBALL
» Missouri Valley sophomore catcher Cassie Chun-Ming (Kaiser '02): first-team Heart of America Conference.Chun-Ming was second in the conference in batting at .388.
» Missouri Valley senior second baseman Sheri Yoshino (McKinley '00 of Kaneohe): second-team Heart of America Conference and named to the Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete team.
ACADEMICS
Lots of athletes from Hawaii proved that athletics and academics do mix. Here are a few who were recognized this spring:» Oregon senior runner Eri Macdonald (Punahou '98 of Lanikai): Verizon West Region second team chosen by college sports information directors for her 3.72 GPA as a journalism major.
Macdonald wrapped up her athletic career in the indoor season, during which she made her NCAA debut in the 800 (14th, 2:09.14). In the fall of 2003, she finished in the top two for the Ducks in all six of her cross country races, including 16th in the Pac-10 Championships and 27th in the NCAA West Regional.
» UC-Santa Barbara sophomore water polo driver Paul Helfer (Iolani '01 of Waialae): American Water Polo Coaches Association All-Academic team. 3.66 GPA.
» Pepperdine junior volleyball opposite/libero James Ka (Kamehameha '00 of Hilo): Mountain Pacific Sports Federation All-Academic team (3.11 GPA).
Ka ranked 11th in final NCAA Division I and II digs with an average 2.34 in 100 games.
» Nebraska junior golfer Merynn Ito (Aiea '01): Big 12 All-Academic first-team for second time. Had 3.6 GPA as a news-editorial major.
» Maryland junior gymnast Mandy Pascual (Punahou '01 of Aiea): first-team Verizon All-District team chosen by college sports information directors.
She has a 3.94 GPA with a double major of chemical engineering and biochemistry (she got on B-plus in a summer seminar).
Pascual, who has overcome painful ankle and foot injuries to compete, was an All-East Atlantic Gymnastics League first-team selection on uneven bars and received the University of Maryland Academic Achievement Awards for gymnastics and other academic honors.
She also was given the Iron Terp team award for "dedication in the weight room."
» Notre Dame de Namur (California) junior softball second baseman Erika Miyahira (Punahou '01 of Nuuanu): Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete team. She is a biology major.
» Azusa Pacific (Calif.) sophomore softball utility player Rachel Yoshizu (Hawaii Baptist '02 of Kaneohe): Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete team. Yoshizu is an applied health major.
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