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A LOOK BACK
Clay, Chang grab
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"I'm not going to say we're going to lose, but it's certainly a possibility,." Shoji said to reporter Grace Wen. She noted in that quote that there was a touch of agitation in his voice.
Perhaps it was a possibility for a league breakthrough, but not a very good one. The Rainbow Wahine not only beat every opponent in the WAC, but nearly everyone they faced. It took a long and tiring trip to Green Bay, Wis., for the volleyball team to finally be vanquished in the round of 16 at the NCAA tournament.
While Hawaii was traveling back and forth to the mainland as if it were a short trip to the 7-11, Wisconsin needed only a bus ride to Green Bay to face Hawaii in the third round. Five games later, the Badgers hung onto a victory to drop Hawaii to 30-1 for the season.
Not bad for a coach who lost two bona fide All-Americans in Kim Willoughby and Lily Kahumoku. He had so many young players around him last summer in practice, he needed a program when calling out their names. That won't be a problem in the coming campaigns.
4. Kamehameha Schools wins state football title: It's hard to say what was more shocking -- Kamehameha winning the state title or Kahuku losing to Leilehua along the way. Both made for big headlines in the local prep community.
Certainly, the Warriors made the most of the Red Raiders' elimination as they held off the Mules to win their first state title in 30 years. Head coach Kanani Souza doesn't have to worry about Cal Lee taking his job should Lee ever decide to return to the prep ranks. The state championship is equal to tenure.
For Kahuku, losing to the Mules was a stunner for the defending state champions. Most folks figured Kamehameha would meet Kahuku in the title game, but some feisty Mules got a kick out of getting in the way of that expected matchup.
In two weeks, she returns to Waialae Country Club, a sponsor's exemption in hand, trying once more to prove she can swing with the big boys. Some may wonder why she didn't have to qualify this time around to earn a coveted spot in the first full-field event of the PGA Tour campaign. But they are a small minority.
Wie went on from the Sony Open to have another stellar season that included making the cut in all six LPGA Tour events she entered and managing co-medalist amateur honors at the U.S. Open. Any other year and Wie might rule supreme once more, but she had good competition this time around.
6. UH basketball team shines: No matter what the circumstances, UH head coach Riley Wallace figures out a way to win. Over the last four years, no team in the WAC has managed a better record than the Rainbow Warriors. They came within a game of making it to the final four of the postseason NIT.
After losing four starters from that good group, many figured the Rainbows would be in a similar rebuilding mode to that of Shoji and his Rainbow Wahine. So much for cyphering. With a new-look group of primarily junior college recruits, all the team did was go out and win its first eight games.
True, a one-point loss to Fresno State in Wednesday's conference opener is disheartening, but count this team in as a possibility for postseason play in 2005. The NCAA Tournament may be a long shot in March. Then again, long shots are what Wallace is all about.
The Kamehameha and Gonzaga graduate was voted the Earthquakes' MVP. Ching made four appearances with the United States Men's National Team, scoring twice during World Cup qualifying matches, including a goal in the 89th minute at Jamaica that pulled the U.S. into a 1-1 tie.
He also signed a four-year contact with yearly increases and bonus clauses.
8. Konawaena girls win state hoops title: It's hard to measure what winning the state title in girls basketball last May meant for this Big Island community. Holding off the kahuku Red Raiders, after building a 20-point lead at the half, led to the first state girls hoops championship on the Big Island since Waiakea did it in 1986. In the end, Nancy Hoist's six late free throws made the difference.
Hoist was named the top player by the Star-Bulletin for 2003-04, prompting Wildcats head coach Bobbie Awa to say, "I was very fortunate to coach her for four years. She really learned how to handle her emotions through the years."
Count Awa as a main reason for the Wildcats' improbable run that left them unbeaten by season's end. On Oahu, state championships are a regular occurrence. On the neighbor islands, they are cherished commodities.
Low left the islands this summer to join the Washington State Cougars of the Pac-10. He suffered a setback in the preseason with a fractured foot, but has since come back to earn plenty of minutes for the Pac-10 program. The true freshman is averaging 4.8 points in four games. He has started three games at the point.
10. Pro Bowl stays in Hawaii: Some may think the Pro Bowl staying in Hawaii was a foregone conclusion, but that was not necessarily the case. The state of Hawaii was tired of paying the high fees to keep the NFL All-Star game here and the NFL wanted a new carpet at Aloha Stadium as part of a package deal.
It took more than a year before the two sides came together to sign a five-year contract, but it got done. Last February's 55-52 game was one of the more exciting matchups in recent memory. Local fans seem to have a love affair with the NFL that won't end. Five years from now, we'll see how things shake out.