Sports

Molokai Basketball All-Stars

Thursday, April 3rd, 2014

Seven Molokai basketball players were named by The Maui News as some of the top players in the Maui Interscholastic League Division II. The honorary list is compiled by the newspaper every year, after selections are made by MIL coaches. This year, Molokai High sophomore guard Hepuakea Falealii was picked as The Maui News MIL Player of the Year for her division.

Among the four others joining her on the girls all-star first team is Molokai senior forward Ilana Meyer.

On the all-star second team is senior Tiara English and junior Lehiwa Pedro, and their Molokai teammate Taylor Keliihoomalu was given honorable mention.…

Swinging into Spring Athletics

Wednesday, March 12th, 2014

As the dust settles and winter sports begin to cool down, Molokai High School (MHS) spring athletics are just warming up, lacing up their spikes and practicing their swing for their pitches and putts.

Softball
The Lady Farmers are entering the spring season with hopes to not only match last year’s title as Division II Maui Interscholastic League Champions, but to also beat it by winning some games at the Hawaii High School Athletic Association (HHSAA) state tournament this year, said Coach Coco Augustiro, in her 10th year with the program.

The team began conditioning and prepping for the season in January, while starting organized practice in February.…

Making History on the Mat

Sunday, March 2nd, 2014

Molokai High senior Rizpah Torres-Umi is the first MHS wrestler to ever be named a four-time Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) champion. And she’s now ranked the number two 125-pound wrestler in the state this year.

“When I want something, I’ll go for it and I’ll get it,” she said, before competing in the state event on Friday and Saturday.

Molokai Lady Farmers had a strong team showing at states. Rizpah was accompanied to the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Wrestling Championships by seven teammates – Karley Kaulili, Desiree Corpuz, Esther Torres-Umi, Alexandria Simon,
Saydee Makaiwi, Cendall Manley and Jasmyn Davis.

On the boys’ side, Iokepa Albino and Kuikamoku Han represented Molokai.…

Winning Values from the Wrestling Mat

Thursday, February 27th, 2014

Though the Molokai Middle School wrestling program has only competed for two years, young athletes walked away with some big titles by the end of this season’s program. Rather than skill, Coach Benny Venenciano attributes their two, first-place tournament wins to passion and soul.

“When you have the will, the beauty of this sport is the balance of taking care of yourself physically and mentally, and doing your schoolwork,” said Venenciano. “At this developmental age, I wanted wrestling to be that sport for them.”

During the winter season, 19 athletes wrestled after school and about half had no prior wrestling experience, according to Venenciano.…

Boys Basketball Ends Season in Fourth

Thursday, February 27th, 2014

Entering the boys basketball season, coach Carl Adolpho Jr. called the year a building period. Two weeks ago, the boys ended their season earning fourth place at Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) Championships.

“We thought we could do better, but it was a good experience for me as a first-year coach and for the team,” said Adolpho.

After coming close to beating Seabury in the regular season—sometimes, just a few points away from victory — Adolpho said the team was excited to get a chance to play them again in their first match-up of the MIL championship.

However, tournament ended for the Farmers in a 35-58 upset that Thursday.…

Farmers Baseball Takes Tournament

Wednesday, February 26th, 2014

Molokai Baseball swept their first pre-season tournament at Duke Maliu Regional Park last weekend, taking first place with a 3-0 record. The Farmers beat PAC-5 12-2 in five innings Friday, followed by sweeping Kaimuki 11-0, also in five innings. They finished up the tournament taking Damien 4-1 in the tournament championship on Saturday.  Photo by Rick Schonely…

Girls Basketball Finish 4th in State

Thursday, February 20th, 2014

For girls basketball head coach Lee DeRouin, 14 athletes entered this season with high energy and ambitious goals, determined to represent Molokai at the state level. While they were set back by some injuries along the way, the Lady Farmers left Oahu’s Neal Blaisdell Center two weeks ago considered one of the top teams in Hawaii.

“As a team we were able to make many of our goals this year,” said DeRouin, via email. “Even though we fell short of the state championship, we were able to accomplish a state semi-final game and got to play a consolation game.”

After their 14-1 season record and earning the Maui Interscholastic League Championship (MIL) title, the Farmers traveled to Oahu Wednesday, Feb.…