Damien will play St. Louis
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
Convinced that the physical and emotional well-being of its football players have improved, Damien Memorial High announced yesterday that it will not forfeit its game against St. Louis School, scheduled for Oct. 26.
Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser
School president Gregory O'Donnell said the situation has changed since the June 12 announcement that the Monarchs were going to forfeit two games against the Crusaders. The announcement prompted the Interscholastic League of Honolulu to change its format and revise its schedule to where Damien would play St. Louis only once.
Damien president Gregory O’Donnell announced that the Monarchs will not forfeit their Oct. 26 game against St. Louis.
O'Donnell said last week that coach Chris Bisho told him the players' physical conditioning has improved and that the reduction in number of games (10 to 7) will "not run an unacceptable risk of physical injury."
But O'Donnell added that the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association should address the problem of mismatches, preferably with a classification system.
"I'm happy the ILH made some moves," Bisho said. "There's a lot more to do like Brother O'Donnell said. But we have to do our end at Damien, make sure we're doing everything to make us the strongest football team possible."
O'Donnell said parents still have the option of holding their sons out of the St. Louis game.
"Naturally, I was disappointed to know the administration thought that of us (initially), but it gave us the incentive to work harder," senior offensive lineman Kea Toledo said. "Our hard work paid off and they reversed the decision."
Senior quarterback Destin Alameida said the controversy has brought the players closer and made them prepare harder in the summer.
The Monarchs have 50 players, half of them sophomores. Bisho said he cut about 20 players for "attitude problems" related to not attending offseason weight training.
