NOTES
Venenciano hopes title sets up future success for Warriors
Bill Venenciano had been there before.
The longtime coach had guided the 2005 Kamehameha Warriors to a state championship in boys wrestling. On Saturday, the Warriors captured their first girls state crown, posting a whopping 174 points — the highest ever in HHSAA history.
Five individual champions led the way: Donavyn Futa (113 weight class), Shana Dilliner (117), Harmony Pacheco (121), Teshya Alo (130) and Erin Scheidt (175). For Alo and Lahainaluna’s Lalelei Mataafa, it was a second title in as many years, and both are halfway to becoming four-time state champs.
"Thank you to our coaching staff. It’s an honor that we got this victory," Venenciano said. "Hopefully, it sets up future success. We’ll take it year by year."
Venenciano winced at the word "dynasty," but it’s true that the Warriors have a sturdy foundation to build on.
"The depth is there. The numbers are there. We’ve got to keep our egos in check and hopefully take a humble approach in making sure that we perform well when we need to in these type of moments," he said.
Experience has helped immensely for the staff.
"Being with the boys program, that helps with the girls being eager and hungry to show what they have in terms of their technique and being courageous in competition," Venenciano said. "Silence is a weapon in itself. The suggestion of thought also plays a role. I don’t want to try and overcoach. I want to have situational coaching."
Senior Classic to return
The inaugural Geremy Robinson Basketball Classic put a lot of smiles on a lot of hoopsters on Sunday.
Robinson, the former University of Hawaii guard, plans to make it an annual event. The top seniors in the ILH and OIA played in the boys and girls games. The OIA won the girls game 59-55. The ILH boys prevailed over the OIA 86-77. The venue, Moanalua, was just right for the showcase.
"Hopefully, we’re welcomed back at Moanalua. We would love to have the game there again," Robinson said. "Moanalua is the only (high) school with the shot clocks (built in). Everything went well. Every year, we want to make it better."
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Josh Terao
Mid-Pacific wrestling
The senior defeated Mililani’s Zack Diamond 15-0 in the 132-pound class to wrap up his fourth state title, just the fourth boy to do so. Patrick Higa (1983-86) of ‘Iolani, Jonathan Spiker (2000-03) of Saint Louis, and Brandon Low of Saint Louis (2003-06) are the others.
HONOR ROLL
WRESTLING
» Blake Cooper, Pearl City: Pinned Punahou’s Christian Agmata in the first period to win his third state title, matching his brother Raynold’s trio from 2009 to ’11. Blake Cooper won all three of his titles as the top seed, Raynold Cooper was the second seed in two of his wins.
» Braydon Akeo, Mililani: Beat ‘Iolani’s Brian Pascua 8-3 to win his third straight state title, breaking William Smithe’s team record of two titles in 2005 and ’06.
» Boman Tokioka, Kamehameha: Beat Keaau’s Haaheo Chan for his first state title at 195 pounds and extended the Warriors’ streak of 12 years with at least one male state champion, the longest current streak in the state.
» Lalelei Mataafa, Lahainaluna: The sophomore pinned McKinley’s Kaydie Tahotu in 2 minutes, 21 seconds to wrap up her second state crown at 285 pounds. Mataafa was one of three Lunas to take a state title. Lahainaluna had won only three championships before that, two of them last year. Mataafa was on the mat for a total of only 3 minutes, 15 seconds in her four wins.
» Donavyn Futa, Kamehameha: The freshman pinned Alexis Ford of Pearl City, part of a run of five state individual championships for the Warriors to break their own record of four from the previous year.
» Jocelyn Tabion, Kapolei: Pinned Campbell’s Caragh Morris in 1:50 to win the 155-pound title, joining Kaelynn Canyete (2012 and ’13) as the only other female wrestler in school history to stand on top of the podium.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
» Penina Faumui, Farrington: 14 points 11 rebounds in the OIA’s win over the ILH.
» Sarah Liva, Mililani: 16 points, 17 rebounds for the OIA in a win over the ILH.
» LaChae McColor, Moanalua: 15 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer, in the OIA win over the ILH squad. She earned game MVP honors.
» Alohi Robins-Hardy, Kamehameha: 17 points, six boards against the OIA.
BOYS BASKETBALL
» Joshua Burnett, Maryknoll: 11 points and 12 rebounds against the OIA.
» Jaylen Layco, Damien: Scored 15 points and was named MVP in the ILH’s victory over the OIA.
TOP 10 POLLS
Voted on by coaches and media from around the state. First-place votes in parentheses. Ten points for first-place votes, nine for second, eight for third, etc.
BASEBALL
TEAM |
PTS |
1. Mid-Pacific (4) |
104 |
2. ‘Iolani (4) |
97 |
3. Saint Louis (1) |
87 |
4. Waiakea (1) |
60 |
5. Punahou (1) |
56 |
6. Baldwin |
55 |
7. Campbell |
50 |
8. Mililani |
48 |
9. Kamehameha |
33 |
10. Hilo |
28 |
Also receiving votes: Kaiser 22 (one first-place vote), Pearl City 22, Maui 9, Waipahu 8, Kamehameha-Hawaii 7, Kalani 5, Moanalua 5, Kailua 4, Kauai 3, Lahainaluna 3, Kapaa 3, Maryknoll 2, Roosevelt 2, Waimea 1, Molokai 1.
SOFTBALL
TEAM |
PTS |
1. Kamehameha (6) |
76 |
2. Mililani |
63 |
3. Maryknoll (1) |
59 |
4. Campbell |
50 |
5. Moanalua |
47 |
6. Punahou (1) |
44 |
7. ‘Iolani |
25 |
8. Waianae |
22 |
9. Kapolei |
15 |
10. Nanakuli |
13 |
Also receiving votes: Mid-Pacific 11, Baldwin 8, Leilehua 5, Lahainaluna 1, Waimea 1.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
TEAM |
PTS |
1. Punahou (8) |
88 |
2. KS-Hawaii (1) |
81 |
3. Kamehameha |
67 |
4. Moanalua |
57 |
5. Hawaii Baptist |
47 |
6. Waiakea |
42 |
7. ‘Iolani |
27 |
8. Kalaheo |
24 |
9. Maryknoll |
22 |
10. Seabury Hall |
11 |
Also receiving votes: Hawaii Prep 8, Baldwin 6, Leilehua 6, Kaiser 5, Pahoa 2, Kauai 1, Punahou II 1.