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Hawaii Beat / PacWest Place


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POSTED: Friday, February 26, 2010

Ho crowned rookie of the year

Hawaii surfer Coco Ho received two awards at the Association of Surfing Professionals' World Champions Crowning Banquet yesterday in Queensland, Australia. Ho picked up the rookie of the year award and the women's World Qualifying Series crown.

The 18-year-old was rated third in 2009 on the ASP World Tour and picked up a victory in Portugal at the Rip Curl Pro Search.

Rainbow Wahine track in second

The University of Hawaii's women's track and field team has a shot at the Western Athletic Conference Indoor Championship.

The Rainbow Wahine are in second place after the first day of competition yesterday at Nampa, Idaho.

The Rainbow Wahine scored seven points in the pentathlon, with two athletes placing in the top eight. Samantha Balentine finished in fourth, followed by Natalija Waldhuber in seventh.

Balentine won the pentathlon's high jump event and placed second in the 800-meter race.

Idaho leads the field with 22 points, followed by Hawaii with seven.

PTR honors Ron Romano

The Professional Tennis Registry honored Ron Romano last week as the PTR Hawaii Member of the Year for his contributions to the community through tennis.

Romano, of Honolulu, was presented with the award at the PTR International Tennis Symposium in South Carolina.

As the executive director of USTA Hawaii Pacific, Romano finds the time to volunteer and teach with the Wheelchair Tennis Program and the Play to Learn Tennis Program, which offers affordable tennis lessons at 25 public park sites.

He has also raised almost $400,000 for after-school tennis programs.

Veikune will appear at clinic

David Veikune, a Cleveland Browns linebacker and former Hawaii defensive end, will be a guest instructor at Sunday's Hawaii Speed and Quickness clinic at Klum Gym.

Veikune was an All-Western Athletic Conference selection with the Warriors and completed his rookie season with the Browns.

Sessions are scheduled to run from 8:30 to 10 a.m., tomorrow and Sunday. Registration starts at 8. The fee is $10.

More information is available at hawaiispeedandquickness.com or by calling 228-7447.

Oklahoma State blanks Hawaii

Oklahoma State defeated Hawaii 4-0 in the Cathedral City Classic yesterday in California.

OSU pitcher Anna Whiddon overwhelmed UH batters, firing a one-hit shutout with three walks, while Hawaii pitcher Kaia Parnaby picked up her first loss of the season.

Mariah Gearhart hit a two-run double in the top of the fifth for Oklahoma State.

Kelly Majam had the lone hit for the Rainbow Wahine, who face UC Davis and Oregon today.

PACWEST PLACE

Seasiders top Vulcans in hoops

Brigham Young-Hawaii defeated Hawaii-Hilo in women's basketball 71-70 yesterday in Laie.

The Vulcans led the Seasiders in nearly every category, including rebounds, blocks and shooting percentages from the floor, at the line and from beyond the arc.

Hawaii-Hilo's downfall was 21 turnovers, compared to Brigham Young-Hawaii's 14.

Richelle Fenenbock led the Seasiders with 20 points, followed by Zori Drew with 15. UHH's Hotia Vaaimamao scored a team-high 18 points, and Hina Kimitete, Kirsti Imai and Amanda Muller also scored in double figures.