Moore is an ESPYS nominee

Hawaii surfer Carissa Moore, the youngest woman to win an ASP world championship, is one of four nominees in the ESPYS “Best Female Action Sports Athlete” category.

The ESPYS are the annual awards by ESPN, with the winners chosen via online voting. Moore’s breakout season in 2011 included her first world title at age 18. During the season, the Punahou School graduate made six finals out of seven world tour events, winning three of them.

The other nominees in her division are all X Games snowboarding gold medalists: Jamie Anderson, Kelly Clark and Kaya Turski.

“It’s an honor for Carissa to be mentioned alongside some of the world’s best athletes,” Moore’s father Chris said.

Online voting started Wednesday and runs through July 9. The 20th ESPYS show is July 11 on ESPN.

Fujikawa tied for 10th in eGolf tourney

Moanalua High alumnus Tadd Fujikawa is tied for 10th after the first round of the Championship at Wintergreen Resort in Wintergreen, Va.

Fujikawa shot a 3-under 69 on Thursday at Wintergreen’s Stoney Creek Golf Club and is five shots behind the leader, Travis Ross of Crookston, Minn.

Helm takes college coaching job

Matt Helm, who guided Molokai to the Division II girls volleyball state title in 2010, stepped down to become the new head coach of women’s volleyball at Division III Whitman College (Calif.).

He began at Molokai, his alma mater, as an assistant boys coach in 2003, then took the reins of the girls program in ’04.

His wife, Erika, is from California.

“The journey from Day 1 ’til now wasn’t about winning a state championship and the accolades. It’s having a positive effect in our student-athletes’ lives, using volleyball as an avenue to go to college,” said Helm, who was also a counselor at Molokai. “Coaching has evolved and that’s kind of exciting.”

With Kalei Adolpho as their anchor, the Farmers ascended to the state crown, the team’s first in girls volleyball. Former players like Adolpho, now at UH, and Kailana Ritte-Camara, have applauded the move.

Adolpho and Helm worked together at last week’s volleyball camp at UH. Ritte-Camara will be on the other side of the net as a player for Linfield, which plays in Whitman’s conference.

“I’ll miss my family and friends. It’s bittersweet for a lot of people, but everybody’s pretty supportive,” Helm said. “To do something you love to do, usually you’ve got to leave (Molokai). As a counselor, I advise students to do what they enjoy as a career. I’m looking forward to building up the program at Whitman.”