Andy Irons won't surf on world tour

Kauai's Andy Irons will not surf on the 2009 Association of Surfing Professionals world tour, the ASP announced.

Irons, 30, cited personal reasons for sitting out the year. The ASP said Irons might surf in some events as a wild-card, as will his brother Bruce, who announced his retirement last fall.

Andy Irons was granted the ASP Wildcard for the 2010 World Championship Tour.

“;Andy will be sorely missed in 2009 and we look forward to him contending again from 2010,”; ASP president Wayne “;Rabbit”; Bartholomew said on the ASP Web site.

Hawaii surfers on the championship tour will be Roy Powers, Dustin Barca, Kekoa Bacalso and Fred Pattachia. The holding period for the first event, the Quicksilver Pro Gold Coast, begins Feb. 28.

Wahine's Ilic out for the year

Sarah Ilic, a junior center on the Hawaii women's basketball team, will miss the rest of the season with an injured foot.

The 6-foot-2 junior-college transfer played in nine games, averaging 8.8 points and 3.7 rebounds.

The Rainbow Wahine (3-14, 0-4 Western Athletic Conference) are on a six-game losing streak and host Fresno State tonight at 7 at the Stan Sheriff Center. They complete their three-game homestand against Utah State on Sunday at 5 p.m.

Berg is USAV indoor player of year

Punahou graduate Lindsey Berg was named the USA Volleyball Women's Indoor Player of the Year for 2008.

Berg helped the U.S. to a silver medal at the Beijing Olympics. The two-time Olympian played a key role as one of two setters and was the co-captain, along with former Hawaii All-America setter Robyn Ah Mow-Santos.

“;Obviously, I am thrilled and thankful to have received such a huge, individual honor as selected by our coaching staff,”; Berg (Punahou '99) said in a press release. “;Throughout the year, I simply concentrated on working hard to make our team better as a unit, whether on the court or off.”;

Berg, competing on a sore left knee that required surgery last September, played in 25 of the 33 sets during the Olympic Games.

HAWAII BEAT

Former McKinley standout dies

Stan “;King”; Solomon, a standout athlete at McKinley High School who went on to football and track stardom at Willamette University, died last Friday of cancer in Coos Bay, Ore., where he lived. He was 69.

After college he was a successful high school track and field coach in Oregon, and earlier this month was honored as National High School Pole Vault Coach of the Year.

“;Off the field he was so personable and kind,”; said Hawaii defensive coordinator Cal Lee, a friend of Solomon's. “;On the field his record spoke for itself.”;

Solomon was a first-team All-NAIA running back at Willamette. He was inducted into the Willamette Athletics Hall of Fame in 1992.

Jenkins top cross-country runner

Leilehua senior Bryce Jenkins was named the 2008-09 Gatorade Hawaii boys cross-country runner of the year yesterday.

Jenkins won his third consecutive individual state championship last fall, finishing in 17 minutes and 13 seconds, 21 seconds ahead of the field. The Oahu Interscholastic Association champion also was the fastest Hawaii runner at the Foot Locker West Regional, finishing in 34th place.

Fuamatu-Ma'afala headlines clinics

Former NFL and Saint Louis School running back Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala is the featured clinician at the Extreme Fitness Club's football fundamentals clinic beginning next month at Kapiolani Park.

Fuamatu-Ma'afala and former University of Hawaii standouts Timmy Chang, Mel Purcell, Maa Tanuvasa, Vince Manuwai and Leonard Peters are scheduled to participate in the clinics, which run Sundays from Feb. 15 through March 22. The clinics are from 8 to 9:30 a.m. for ages 8 to 12, and from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. for ages 13 to 16.

The cost is $150. For information, call Randy Morris at 389-7633 or e-mail him at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

The Web site is www.efchawaii.com. The deadline is Feb. 10.

Stand-up paddling clinic offered

A free clinic for those interested in stand-up paddling is scheduled for Jan. 31 at the Hawaii Kai boat ramp.

Instructors include expert watermen Brian Keaulana, Todd Bradley and Dave Parmenter. The clinic is from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Paddles and surfboards are supplied. For information, call Liam Wilmott at 230-7712.