It may be a first, but certainly, Hawaii Preparatory Academy hopes this is a last.
The school forfeited its final two football games of the season due to team issues, beginning with last weekend’s matchup with Honokaa. A game later this week at Kamehameha-Hawaii has also been called off.
"The school decided to suspend the last two games and move in a positive direction for 2012," said Ka Makani athletic director Stephen Perry, who has been in the position for 22 years. "We’ve never suspended a team for the remainder of the season before."
Perry wouldn’t elaborate on the reason for the team suspension.
HPA will pay a fine for the forfeitures to the league, though Perry wasn’t aware yet of how much the penalty would be. It’s just a page in the league by-laws that has never been turned by the school.
"I appreciate both schools supporting our decision. I apologize to them for having to do this at this same," he said.
HPA was 6-2 in league play (7-3 overall) before the suspension, losing twice to Konawaena.
Saints coach likes D-II for now
St. Francis outside hitter Kalei Mau would like nothing more than to see her team move up from Division II to D-I after winning the D-II state championship over the weekend.
"I think we should (be in Division I). We’re going to come back twice as hard," the 6-foot-1 junior said. "We’re basically trapped in a cage. They need to be let out and let us free."
Saints athletic director Sol Batoon has a more measured approach to classification.
"We have a rule that I implemented that in order to move up, you have to win your division," Batoon said. "You have to compete, not just win one or two games in D-I, but compete for a championship. Until then, you can grow and have a core of athletes who can compete with Punahou, which has a well that is deep."
St. Francis finished third in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu’s D-II before surging in the postseason to the state title.
Construction of St. Francis’ gym will begin on Feb. 1, Batoon said, and will be completed by November 2012.
