Spring Sports Preview, Part II

Photo by Ke’van Dudoit.

As seven Molokai High School sports teams gear up for the spring season — some with competition already under their belt — we complete a look at what’s in store for the teams in the months ahead.

Boys Volleyball

The Molokai Boys Volleyball team is experienced this year with 12 returnees and six seniors on the team. Head Coach Hale Domingo said he is excited and has high hopes for this year’s team.

“I have heavy upperclassmen with this team, so I’m very lucky to have such an older team where they can control the practices as we’re trying to get everybody involved,” he said.

Domingo‘s assistant coaches are Landon Ka`upu, Preston Duvauchelle-Calairo and Mililani Rawlins, and team Manager is Tashady Florendo.

The team had a strong season opener last weekend, sweeping Seabury in two games for a 2-0 record.

The Farmers’ games are March 25-26 on Maui for a Division 1 and 2 shootout tournament and their first home game will be on April 1-2 against Lanai followed by a home match versus Hana on April 15-16. The MIL Boys Volleyball Tournament will be at on Molokai at The Barn this year on April 28-30. The state New City Nissan Boys Volleyball Championships MAY 4-6 at Kaimuki and Farrington High Schools and the Blaisdell Arena on Oahu.

Golf

The Molokai High School Golf Team is scheduled to play in the 72 hole individual MIL golf championship to played four straight Saturdays beginning in April. Head coach is Ted Tokuoka.  Returning golf team member is Junior Jershon Kaalekahi who has been working hard and preparing for the tournaments. Athletic Director Lee DeRouin hopes to get a few more players to join Jershon for the April matches. The MIL Individual Golf Championships will be held April 28-30 on Maui and the HHSAA David Ishii Foundation State Tournament is May 2-5 on Oahu.

Judo

Judo is starting its second year at Molokai High School under coaches Eli Lihau Maioho, Kalei Kawaa Roberts, Kilohana Roberts and Matt Tanielu. Last season they did very well, especially for their first year.  The girls team took second overall in the MIL and the boys took third overall, with three MIL champions, three in second place, and a handful placing third and fourth.  Seven Farmers went to states for judo.

This year, there are 25 student athletes on the team and all tournaments will be held on Maui starting with the first event on April 2 at Baldwin High School. The MIL Championships will be held on April 30 at King Kekaulike and the HHSAA State Judo Championships will be on May 7 at the Stan Sheriff Center on Oahu.

Coach Maioho has high expectations for his athletes.

“We expect all students who participate in this sport to show good sportsmanship,” he said.  “This sport is very cultural and demands respect, discipline, self-control and good old fashioned hard work.”

Maioho said the sport can help many athletes. “Judo is a great sport that not only complements wrestling, but all sports that involve precise footwork and hip balance and control.”

Senior Kuikamoku Han and Sophomore Ikua DePonte are returning MIL judo champions and all-stars from last season.

Track and Field

Molokai Track and Field coaches this season are Jess Ford and Micah Buchanan. The team consists mostly of sprinters and discus/shot put student athletes.

Kori-Lee Derouin and Preston Pascua both placed first in the shot put at this past weekend’s third MIL meet of the season on Maui.

The MIL Track Championships will be held at War Memorial Stadium on Maui April 22-23.  The state Track and field championships will be held MAY 6-7 at Kamehameha Kapalama on Oahu.