StarBulletin.com

Hawaii leaves mark worldwide


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POSTED: Wednesday, December 31, 2008

From Beijing to Williamsport, Pa., to New Orleans, Hawaii more than left its mark on the sports world in 2008. Golfer Michelle Wie, Olympic volleyball gold medalist Clay Stanley, the Rainbow Wahine volleyball team's success and Hula Bowl's future are among those that didn't make the cut in a very competitive field:

1. Hawaii earns BCS berth. The 12-0 Warriors ride the arm of Heisman finalist Colt Brennan into the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1. Hawaii was just the third non-BCS team to advance to a BCS bowl game, eventually losing to Georgia 41-10.

2. June Jones leaves: The winningest coach in Hawaii football history leaves for SMU several days after the Warriors' loss to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, saying that his departure was the only way to fix the athletic program in particular and the campus in general.

3. Pro Bowl says aloha for now: After 30 years at Aloha Stadium the NFL announces that its all-star game is leaving for at least one year. Future contests will be rotated between Honolulu and the mainland.

4. Decathlete Bryan Clay wins Olympic gold: The Castle High product improves on his silver-medal showing in 2004 with the gold in Beijing, earning the accolade of “;world's greatest athlete.”;

5. Herman Frazier fired: The failure to re-sign Jones is among the reasons the University of Hawaii let go of the former Olympic track gold medalist. Former Sheraton Bowl executive director and UH football player Jim Donovan is hired as his replacement.

6. Waipio wins Little League World Series: Tanner Tokunaga homers twice to lead Hawaii to a 12-3 win over Mexico, giving the U.S. its fourth straight LLWS. The streak was started by Ewa Beach's win in 2005.

7. Shane Victorino, World Series champ: The Golden Glove center fielder and St. Anthony graduate plays a key role in helping the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Tampa Bay Rays in five games for the championship.

8. Buffanblu No. 1: Sports Illustrated taps Punahou School as the nation's top high school athletic program, citing a long history that includes Olympic swimming champion Buster Crabbe, football greats Charlie Wedemeyer and Mosi Tatupu, and water polo Olympians Chris Duplanty and Brandon Brooks.

9. McLachlin earns PGA win: Punahou and UCLA alum Parker McLachlin breaks through on the PGA Tour, winning the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open by seven strokes for his first victory in 58 events.

10. Te'o shines: Punahou senior Manti Te'o becomes one of the most sought-after football players from Hawaii, winning the inaugural prep Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker and named the top prep athlete in the country by The Sporting News.

Cindy Luis, Star-Bulletin