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Sports

Softball Stays Undefeated

Monday, March 21st, 2011

 

Molokai High School softball hit big over the weekend, protecting their undefeated season by defeating Seabury Hall 19-1 last Friday and 13-7 last Saturday on Maui.

Tootie Rawlins and Amanda Makaiwi rounded the bases, scoring off of two homeruns in the first couple innings and putting the Lady Farmers ahead early.  After five innings of play the mercy-rule went into effect, ending the game.  

“They can really hit the ball which keeps the momentum going; we just need to continue working on communication and calling out our plays,” said head coach Coco Augustiro.

Keeping the Spartans off the bases, pitcher Jasmine Borden gave up a single run, striking out ten batters throughout the game.   

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Kudos for Coaches

Monday, March 21st, 2011

Kudos for Coaches

Coaches from the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) have voted: Molokai’s own Lester Delos Reyes and Doug Furlong were chosen as the 2011 Division II Coach of the Year, for boys’ and girls’ basketball, respectively. The annual award is compiled by the Maui News

 “I was pretty surprised. I’m trying to figure out how I got that,” Delos Reyes joked.

Delos Reyes finished his first season as the boys’ basketball coach this past February, leading the team with a 4-2 record and a second place finish at the MIL D-II tournament.

is working with kids on values, respect, responsibility and attitude.Doug has also done a great job this year."



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All-Stars Among Us

Monday, March 21st, 2011

All-Stars Among Us

The Molokai boys and girls basketball team have both garnered attention throughout the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) conference by claiming the female basketball Player of the Year, as well as four all-star players between both teams for Division II.

The Maui News tallied votes from coaches throughout the conference and gave out the awards last week.

Adolpho Earns Player of the Year

Girls’ basketball player of the year, Kalei Adolpho, led her team to the D-II MIL championships this year, and qualified for the state tournament.  She also received Player of the Year in 2010.


His father, Scottie Rapanot started teaching his sons how to play sports early in life.

“The boys won’t stop (practicing). I told them that’s the only way to get better. And  I won’t stop them as long as they are doing something positive,” Scottie said.

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Kualapu`u Race Fundraiser Success

Wednesday, March 16th, 2011

Kualapu`u Race Fundraiser Success

Community Contributed by Sue Forbes-Kikukawa

Last Saturday, March 5, the first 5K in the “Do 5 for the Kids” race series was held on the Coffees of Hawaii plantation trails.  Course conditions were wet and sticky after two days of heavy rain. However, 44 hardy contestants completed the 3.1-mile course despite the thick red-dirt “tread-sealing” of their cleats.  Some contestants fared better than the others with a variety of strategies employed.  First place girls finisher, Mary Rose Ringor, and second place boys finisher, Noah Donnelly, both shunned footwear in favor of running the distance bare-footed. Others stopped thinking about how heavy their shoes had become and churned out stellar performances despite the challenging course conditions.  Results for the top five in each of the four race categories follow.



Girls Under 18
1.    Mary Rose Ringor – 34:23
2.    Mary Grace Ringor – 34:33
3.    Noelani Helm – 34:55
4.    Jamaica Bumatay – 52:12
5.    Yasemin Soares – 52:16
Boys Under 18
1. Nainoa Kahale – 26:08
2. Noah Donnelly – 26:18
3. Kekama Naeole-Starkey – 27:10
4. Kaua Lalim-Rillon – 28:25
Women 18 and Over
1. Sue Forbes-Kikukawa – 25:07
2. Jessie Ford – 26:56
3. Alestra Menendez – 29:26
4. Erica Stein – 30:09
5. Petey Binder – 31:25
Men 18 and Over
1.    Kevin Montague – 24:48
2.    Chavis Purdy – 28:07
3.    Ryan Link – 29:42
4.    Wade Buscher – 30:30
5.    James Espaniola – 30:59

The next two races in the series are slated for Saturdays March 26 and April 2. These races will be used to select a team of four boys and four girls from Kualapu`u School to travel and compete in the Honolulu 5K for Kids on May 1. Monies to fund this trip come from adult registration donations. Saturday’s race just missed the $300 fundraising goal with $290 collected.  Race organizers are hoping that the next two races each surpass this goal so that additional students can be added to this highly competitive team.  Please come out to support Molokai’s first elementary running team and “Do 5 for the Kids” at one or more of our Saturday events.

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Softball Starts Strong

Monday, March 14th, 2011

Softball Starts Strong

The Lady Farmers softball team went up against the Lanai Pine Lasses this past weekend on home turf, and started the season 2-0. Molokai came out full-force on Friday afternoon at Duke Regional Park – by the third inning, Molokai was on top 11-2 and by the end, the Lady Farmers bested Lanai 17-2.

The mercy-rule came into play after three innings.


Dirt was flying everywhere infield, with multiple stolen bases from Molokai, including one home steal to make it 11-2 in the third inning.

 “Everybody worked really well together. But we will have to work on our communication as a team,” said Tootie Rawlins.

Coach Coco Augustiro said she believes her team is ready for next game against a tough Seabury Hall next weekend on Maui.
“We should work on our batting, but I’m really proud of all of them and how they played,” she said.

Saturday afternoon’s match was played a little “slower,” according to Augustiro.

After six innings of play, the mercy-rule went into effect again with a final score of 23-7. The Pine Lasses went through three different pitchers.

Tyre Garcias Reyes hit a three-run homerun and Rawlins had two-run triple.

The Farmers will head to Maui this weekend to play Seabury Hall.

“I’m looking forward to it. I’m really curious about Seabury, because we haven’t really seen what they have to offer yet,” Augustiro said.

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SUP Not Dampened by Rain

Monday, March 7th, 2011

SUP Not Dampened by Rain

SUPAM News Release

Makani Ikaika O Molokai may not have had the winds blowing in the first race of the season, but the blessings of the gentle rain instead prevailed. The long course from Kamalo was cancelled due to shifting winds, so the competitors headed to Rice Patch for the start of the short course a distance of three miles. With a turtle in the shallows flagging the start line, and the whales breaching in the distance, the competitors took to the water for the first race of the season.
 
The younger competitors chose to start from Ali`i fishpond in the family fun division since the wind was not in their favor for the official short course. As the short course competitors hit the turn to the final stretch to Hotel Molokai, the family fun division commenced.


Keala Freeman was the first to cross the line at Hotel Molokai with a time of 57 minutes, followed by Raleigh Poepoe III with 59 minutes, and Liliana Napolean in third place and first woman with a time of 59.17. Mother and daughter duo, Jesseca Oswald took second place women’s division and 10-year-old Kaydence Oswald took third place women’s and first place youth.
 
The keiki fun division was comprised of two six year olds: Malia Greik-Lani and Kristen Oswald. Malia won the six and under division, paddling on her own from Ali`i Fishpond in a time of 42.36.
 
Slater Oswald, age 8, blasted the kids’ fun division in a time of 18.42, with Kekai Adachi on his heels in 19.14, and Alex Mawae in third at 21.18. 
 
Next race will be Saturday, March 19, check in at noon for all divisions and courses at Kamalo with a 1 p.m. start for the long course.
 
For more information please contact Clare Mawae clare@youthinmotion.org, (808) 336-0946 or visit the Stand Up Paddle Association of Molokai’s website www.supmolokai.org

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Molokai Coach Aces for Hilo Team

Monday, March 7th, 2011

Molokai Coach Aces for Hilo Team

Tino Reyes, a Ho`olehua native, carries on his passion for over 20 years , and is now the head coach of another Division II volleyball team.

After coaching the as interim head coach for one season, Reyes dropped the first part of his title when he was offered the head coaching position for the University of Hawaii-Hilo Vulcans (UH-Hilo) women’s volleyball last month.

“I’m enjoying it. We have a great athletic director and coaching staff,” Reyes said.

Experience has been vital for Reyes.’ He spent 17 seasons as an associate coach with the University of Hawaii at Manoa men’s volleyball team, a D-I school; one season as head coach at Chiminade University, a D-II school; and two seasons head coaching at Oregon State University, a D-II school.



Leading Again
His Molokai roots have taught him that coaching can be hard work. Knowledge, after all, is bred through experience – Reyes played volleyball for Molokai High School. “I was never the best athlete in my family, but I loved playing. So I kept persevering,” he said. Reyes also knew that practicing meant he could get out of farm responsibilities, he joked.

He returns to Molokai occassionally, without having to lend a hand on the farm since his parents moved to Kualapu`u.

“Some guys want to have a reunion in Las Vegas, but I actually like going to Molokai. Part of the charm is that I can see my friends and family at the same time,” Reyes said.

Reyes’ always gravitated toward the gym when he was growing up. There he would hone his basketball and volleyball skills every day after school.

 “Tino is like a little kid. I can just joke around with him all the time,” said one of his players, junior Hillary Hurley. She is also the Pacific West Conference Player of the Year 2010. “But we all have respect for him. We have gained a lot by having him.”

Ahead of the Game
Under Reyes, the team picked up an 18-5 record, along with the Pacific West Conference Crown in 2010. “He has rebuilt our team and brought us together,” said Kelia Parrilla, a defensive specialist on the team. “And we always laugh, no matter what. He always puts humor into practice.”

“You have all these challenges on a small island. You can figure out ways to minimize your weakness and maximize your strengths,” Reyes said. “Those are two things that happen on Molokai and that are what I try to do here at UH-Hilo.”
 
 “One of the greatest coaches ever at UCLA said ’What other profession can you have where you’ll meet the movers and shakers in the world?’ Where else can you meet these people? The kids I coach will be lawyers, doctors, and teachers,” Reyes said.

But before his players move onto the next step in their lives, Reyes’ job is to help them recognize and improve upon their natural talents.

Four of his front-row players will not return next season, so he is in the process of recruiting. Until then, he will be practicing with his team to get ready for the next season.

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Up for Bat

Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011

Molokai Little League News Release

Its baseball registration time! Molokai Little League is looking for athletes for ages 9-10 (born May 2000-April 2002); and ages 11-12 (born May 1998-april 2000).

League officials will be at the Kaunakakai Little League Park on Feb. 24 from 4-5 p.m., Feb. 28-March 3 from 4-5 p.m., and March 5 from 9-11 a.m.

Athletes bring a parent/guardian with a current driver’s license and a copy of the child’s birth certificate. More information, contact TC Horner 646-0358, Kapua Balbas (league secretary), Kelly Kaawa Richardson 567-6940, or Denise Kawano.

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Springing into Play

Monday, February 28th, 2011

Springing into Play

Heading out of winter and into the hot summer months, student athletes at Molokai High School are preparing to end the current school year proudly, representing tennis, track and field, and baseball.

Tennis
With a first year coach and a team mainly comprised of new players, the boys and girls tennis team are ready to break new ground.

“They’re all fresh, [and] that’s the best kind,” said coach Katie Brind. “I can show them the correct form.”

Brind, who has been playing tennis since she was six, joined the team this year after watching her niece play last year.

She is joined by returning volunteer assistant coach, Renee Montizor, who said the team did very well learning the fundamentals over the past few weeks. Montizor said Brind has just finished ranking the players, which matches players based on their skill sets, to determine how they will play in their matches. Also because the team is novice, they will mostly play in double sets.

.”

Kikukawa is joined by eight other athletes, including those training for the ‘field’ part of track and field. Assistant coach Rodney Nelson will be training freshman Rendy Jacobs in the shot-put, and senior Kalei Adolpho will be training again for her state-qualifying high jump. Adolpho, who recently signed an athletic scholarship to play volleyball next year at the University of Hawaii-Manoa, qualified for the state championships in the high jump after just one meet – the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) championships.

The track and field team will head to Maui on March 11 for their first meet at War Memorial stadium.

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Molokai Leader in Hawaii Swimming

Monday, February 28th, 2011

Molokai Leader in Hawaii Swimming

As he lowers the goggles to his eyes, adjusting them one last time, Ilia Reyes has one goal in mind – beat 20 seconds in his 50-yard freestyle.

The officials tell the swimmers to ‘take their mark,’ and all swimmers crouch into start position; a loud buzz announces the start.

With arms like windmills, Molokai-born Reyes edges out seven other top swimmers to take first place, touching out second place by mere milliseconds. His time: 19.78 seconds. The University of Hawaii-Manoa (UH) swimmer was at the Conference-USA Championship at the University of Houston in Texas last week.

“Winning the 50 [freestyle]; bringing home a championship trophy; I’m just excited,” Reyes said in a phone interview last week from Houston. He said this was the first time UH has ever won a conference championship in swimming.

Reyes said it was the “family-oriented” training at UH that got him to this point.


Next up: the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championships starting March 24. Reyes said he won’t know until results for the PAC-10 conference are posted if he qualified, but that he hopes to be swimming in the big meet. After that, Reyes has some Olympic-sized dreams.

“There’s always another step, a best time, but I look at it and I can be better,” Reyes said. “There’s always another level.”

Reyes will finish up his studies next fall, graduating with a bachelor’s in kinesiology and rehabilitation science. In the meantime, he said he will continue to train for national competitions and for the Olympic trials, set for June 2012.

“He’s been doing what it takes,” Flanagan said. “You get what you put into it, and he’s been putting a lot of time and effort…he deserves every bit of what he’s getting.”

His first coach said it’s a great accomplishment for Molokai to competing at a collegiate level in the first place.

“The magnitude of where he is as far as swimming goes on Molokai, I don’t think is paralleled by any other swimmer,” Yomemura added.

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