Iolani forward Hashimoto is state's best

ALL-STATE BOYS SOCCER
Landon Beers Forward Kaiser		Duke Hashimoto Forward Iolani		Mike Ryman Forward Campbell
Gui Freitas Midfielder St. Joseph		David Gualdarama Midfielder Kamehameha		Keola Nobriga Midfielder Baldwin
Daniel Park Midfielder Pearl City		Gabriel Chan Defender Kamehameha		Vance Harris Defender Mililani
Kahai MacDonald Defender Kamhemeha		Shaunsey Saito Defender Campbell		Ricky Shinn Defender Pearl City
Thomas Brown Goalkeeper Mililani				Zach McAngus Goalkeeper Kamehameha

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Iolani senior forward Duke Hashimoto struck fear in the hearts of defenders with his dribbling skills and scoring potential. He was selected Player of the Year on the Advertiser's All-State team. Advertiser library photo

For O'ahu Interscholastic Association basketball players, the "Uh-oh" moments came during fast breaks when Mililani's Rashaun Broadus came flying down the court on the dribble.

Likewise, in high school boys soccer this year, the blood pressures and pupil sizes of sweepers, goalkeepers, coaches and fans increased every time Iolani senior forward Duke Hashimoto had the ball at his feet in the open field.

In a blur, Hashimoto would use his head-jerking dribbling skills to weave through defenses and zip toward the goal, often finishing with scoring kicks from either foot.

"Everyone else feared him and had to know where he was at all times," Iolani coach Myles Arakawa said. "I don't think there was one game where he wasn't a big factor, one way or another. He has a lot of technical skill, and he could turn a game around if he wanted to. He brought excitement."

Hashimoto's season, which included 13 goals, also brought him Advertiser State Player of the Year honors after a vote of 11 coaches, officials and members of the media throughout the state.

Hashimoto, who made last year's Advertiser All-State first team, was the only repeat selection and the only Iolani player to be chosen for this year's first team.

Kamehameha, which lost the state championship game to Mililani, led the way with four first-team representatives: sophomore midfielder David Gualdarama, senior defenders Gabriel Chan and Kahai Macdonald, and senior goalkeeper Zach McAngus.

State champion Mililani placed two players on the first team, senior defender Vance Harris and senior goalkeeper Thomas Brown.

Campbell, which took sixth in the state, also had two players on the first team — senior forward Mike Ryman and junior defender Shaunsey Saito.

The other school with two players on the first team is Pearl City, which was represented by senior midfielder Daniel Park and junior defender Ricky Shinn.

Others making the first team are Kaiser forward Landon Beers, St. Joseph midfielder Gui Freitas and Baldwin midfielder Keola Nobriga.

Like Hashimoto, Gualdarama was recognized for his considerable skills and field presence. Defenders Chan and Macdonald and goalkeeper McAngus led a Kamehameha defense that faced many challenges throughout the Interscholastic League of Honolulu season.

To win the ILH championship, the Warriors had to tie Iolani and defeat Punahou in the season's final three days, then had to beat Iolani in a special playoff less than a week later.

McAngus finished tied in the goalkeeper voting with Brown, who was one of three players to share OIA Western Division Player of the Year honors.

Harris was a big factor in a Mililani defense that posted three shutouts in the state tournament. But he also contributed on offense, taking most of the team's free kicks. Harris actually scored on a 45-yard free kick against Pearl City, a line drive that Mililani coach Jeff Yamamoto said was something he "had never seen before, at least not in high school."

Ryman, who led all O'ahu players in the regular season with 22 goals, shared OIA West Player of the Year honors with Brown and Park.

Saito, also a standout in football and baseball, was a second-team selection last year.

Shinn is following in the footsteps of brothers Robby and Randy, both of whom made the All-State first team last year.

Beers, a senior who played seven positions during the football season, scored 26 goals in regular and postseason play. He was named OIA East Player of the Year.

Freitas, a senior exchange student from Brazil, scored 11 goals and was named Player of the Year in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation. In fact, some Big Island observers say Freitas was the best player the BIIF had seen in at least a decade.

Nobriga, a junior, shared Maui Interscholastic League Player of the Year honors with St. Anthony defender Keith Devay.

Nobriga scored eight goals and had 12 assists this season.

"He wasn't our leading scorer, but he scored all the big goals in all the big games," Baldwin coach Fred Guzman said. "He's the type of kid who responds to challenges."

Yamamoto, who guided the Trojans to their second straight state title, was named Coach of the Year. Mililani went 15-0 despite losing three first-team All-State players from last season.

Campbell's Frank Marotti also received strong consideration for Coach of the Year honors. The Sabers had five defenders brought over from the football team who were first-time soccer players.