Outstanding student-athletes recognized at Athletics Banquet

announced: KS Maui is 2016-17 HMSA Kaimana award winner

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Photo by Brianne Reformina

Junior Ashley Peralta grabs some dinner served by parent volunteers and staff at the first KS Maui Athletic Banquet at Keʻeaumokupāpaʻiaheahe dining hall May 17.

Varsity student-athletes from Kamehameha Schools Maui were recognized for their outstanding leadership and skills May 17 at the Keʻeaumokupāpaʻiaheahe dining hall. An athlete from each varsity girls and boys team of all sports at Kamehameha Schools Maui were recommended by their coaches for recognition of their impressive skills, leadership, and teamwork.

The banquet was made up of student-athletes and their supportive family members, along with Athletic Director Jon Viela and other athletic faculty.

“Keali’i Pauahi has provided for us…tremendous education for our student-athletes and also has given us a facility that is state of the art,” Coach Viela said.

It is the first year for Kamehameha Schools Maui to hold an athletics banquet for outstanding student-athletes and their coaches.

Kamehameha Schools Maui has 23 sports, with most teams sending participants to the Hawaiʻi High School Athletic Association state tournaments. The number of teams increased because the athletics department also added four other sports this year: surfing, junior varsity girls basketball, junior varsity football, and junior varsity softball.

“Overall, [KSM] had a pretty successful year with three Maui Interscholastic League championship teams and general school awards that we’ve won, too,” Coach Viela said.

To top it all off, Coach Viela announced that Kamehameha Schools Maui has won the 2016-2017 Hawaiʻi Medical Service Association Kaimana Award large school award in the Maui Interscholastic League. The last time KS Maui won was in the 2014-2015 school year.

The HMSA awards schools with athletic programs that demonstrate all-around excellence. There are five categories that determine the qualification for the Kaimana award: athletic achievement, academic performance, community service, healthy activities, and sportsmanship.

There is a maximum of 100 points for each category, and each school in Hawaiʻi’s five interscholastic leagues is graded in each category.

“The Kaimana award is a big deal between the athletic directors because it shows how each school’s athletics are comprised and how the student-athletes strive to be hardworking while balancing schoolwork and practices at the same time,” Coach Viela said.

After announcing the awards for the school, a coach from each sports team awarded their outstanding athletes with a certificate and shared their athletic achievements.

One of the athletes, sophomore Kayleen Lau, was recognized by her tennis coach for an amazing season.

“On the court, [Lau] is very tough, focused, and intense but she loves to socialize and befriend many of her opponents,” head tennis coach Kathy Kanemitsu said.

The night ended with a mahalo from Coach Viela to all the coaches, student-athletes, athletic faculty, and families who support the athletes in their commitment to sports at the school.

The student-athletes who were recognized were:

MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER AWARD
FALL SEASON
SPORT NAME
Air Riflery – Boys Jacob Julian
Air Riflery – Girls Anne Marie Grieg
Bowling – Boys Li Furukawa
Bowling – Girls Anela Brittain
Cheer Kiana Correa
Cross Country – Boys Cy Ornellas
Cross Country – Girls Kahopewai Mateaki
Football – Defense Nathan Facuri
Football – Offense Damon Martin
Volleyball – Girls Kylee Yamashita
WINTER SEASON
Basketball – Boys Austin Peters
Basketball – Girls Ashley Peralta
Paddling – Boys Rafael Adolpho
Paddling – Girls Haley Kalama
Soccer – Boys Daryn Nakagawa
Soccer – Girls Leialoha Medeiros
Swimming – Boys Brendan Otani
Swimming – Girls Quinn Shiraishi
Wrestling – Boys Darius Mynar
Wrestling – Girls Saje Pedroza-Kanemitsu
SPRING SEASON
Baseball Cade Harris
Golf – Boys Dane Abarra
Golf – Girls Sherri Nagamine
Judo – Boys Ezekiel Matutino
Judo – Girls Keahi Johnson
Softball Montana Vaught
Surfing – Boys Moanatea Keliiliki-Johnson
Tennis – Boys Jaden Texeira
Tennis – Girls Kayleen Lau
Track – Boys Field: Quinn Hottendorf       Runner: Daniel Kapua
Track – Girls Field: Keely Logan                  Runner: Analis Nitta
Volleyball – Boys Austin Peters
Water polo Tiyanni Mahi