Sports

Softball Sweeps First Homestand 

Wednesday, April 29th, 2015

The Molokai girls’ softball field may be brand new, but the path to home plate is already well worn by the cleats of the high-scoring Farmers.

Last weekend in Ho`olehua, the Lady Farmers (7-1) swept the St. Anthony Trojans (1-7) in a pair of three-inning wins, 16-1 on Friday and 23-1 on Saturday.

It was the Farmers’ first and final series on their new home field, which was officially blessed on March 20.

“I’ve practiced here before, but this year, having a game and having everyone from the community and our parents coming to watch us, it just felt really exciting, and I felt really honored,” said senior Kelsie Espiritu-Tanabe.…

Tennis Teams Stay Hopeful

Wednesday, April 29th, 2015

Molokai’s tennis teams exited early in last week’s Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) championships, but not before giving opposing schools a glimpse of what’s to come from this young, growing program.

“Our team is mostly comprised of sophomores and first year players,” said Luke Kikukawa, the team’s only senior. “… We really were starting to become a much bigger figure in MILs. Coaches are becoming more aware of us.”

Multiple underclassmen contributed to the Farmers’ five first-round victories, while sophomores Kaiea Dowling and Preston Pascua-Kaho`okano were named the sixth seed in the boys’ doubles competition and received a first-round bye.

Freshmen doubles teams Cassandra Ragonton and Romelyn Ragonton, and Michelle McGuire and Althea Cariaga got past the first round, as did junior duo Kea`a Davis and Oceana Madani.…

David Rapanot on the Road to His Dreams

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2015

Molokai High School 2014 graduate David Rapanot is in his first year of college at Feather River College in California. As a freshman, he is the starting shortstop for the Golden Eagles and is having a fantastic season while doing a great job stepping up to the next level.  Born and raised on Molokai by parents Scott and Kim Rapanot, he has played baseball since he could walk with the guidance of his father as his coach. He is now making his family and all of Molokai proud.

Feather River College is located in Quincy, Calif., a little town north of Sacramento across the border from Reno, Nev.…

Volleyball Celebrates Lone Senior

Wednesday, April 15th, 2015

The Molokai boys’ volleyball team hosted Seabury Hall this past weekend, and after a 3-1 loss on Friday night (25-13, 19-25, 25-21 and 25-22) the Farmers played a thrilling five-set match Saturday, but again lost to Seabury 3-2 (23-25, 21-25, 25-17, 25-15 and 15-11). Molokai is now 3-6 on the season. Seabury is 4-4.

On Saturday the Farmers took the first two games, but Seabury fought back and took the next three sets in a row to win the match.

Friday night was also Senior Night for Tanielu Falealii, the team’s only senior.

Coach Hale Domingo praised Falealii for his spirit and hard work.…

Molokai at NSSA Championships

Friday, April 10th, 2015

Community Contributed

By Clare Seeger Mawae

Alex Mawae recently competed at the regional event of the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) surfing competition in the Stand Up Paddle (SUP) Division at Kewalo’s, Oahu on March 16 and placed third in his division. This was an awesome experience for young Alex as he got a chance to see the incredible talent of the future Hawaii surfing generation. SUP has recently been added into the NSSA and slowly growing with the young competitors.

Twelve-year-old Alex’s strengths lie in long distance paddling when he first came on the Stand Up Paddling scene at 9 years competing in the Molokai Holokai and then onto the famous Maliko run on Maui’s north shore.…

Track Team Off to a Running Start

Wednesday, April 1st, 2015

Molokai’s track and field season debut featured a win and several top 10 finishes, results that pleasantly surprised Head Coach Jessie Ford.

Alex Simon earned first place the 300 meter hurdles. With Simon recently coming off her wrestling season, Ford said she told Simon, “No pressure.”

“And then she did that!” said Ford of her results. “She won by a hundredth of a second – it was a super close finish, very exciting.”

Lehiwa Pedro placed third in discus, another unexpected result for Ford.

“Lehiwa surprised everybody in her debut throwing discus – it her first time competing [in the event],” said Ford.…

Tennis Teams Hitting their Strides

Wednesday, April 1st, 2015

After suffering early season losses, both the boys’ and girls’ tennis teams are starting to bring in victories. Last weekend at home against the St. Anthony Trojans, the girls got their first win of the season, while the boys won twice against the Trojans.

“We always get better as the season goes on,” said Head Coach Dean Chow. “… At the end of the season we like to challenge the first place teams because we think we’ll be right there with them, and that’s why we prepare the best tennis court flooring for the training as well.

On both Friday and Saturday, Molokai’s boys beat St.…

Volleyball Wins the One That Counts

Wednesday, April 1st, 2015

The Molokai Farmers boys’ volleyball team split last weekend with games against Kamehameha Maui at The Barn.  On Friday night, after dropping the first set, the Farmers took the next three to win the match.

“We started out slow and lost the first set but I told them in the huddle that it’s time to step up and it’s ours for the taking and they came out and played better and we got the win in four sets,” said Head Coach Hale Domingo.

Saturday’s game was a non-league match and the farmers lost in five sets.

“When we play the Division I schools, only the Friday night game counts in the standings,” explained Domingo of Molokai’s Division II team.…