Hawai'i athletes at Dana College
Advertiser Staff
FOOTBALL
Zach Elderts, a 1999 Waiakea High graduate from Mountain View, will start for the fourth year next fall at Dana, at his fourth position on the offensive line.
Elderts a first-team All-Great Plains Athletic Conference selection last season, is moving from left tackle to center. The 6-foot, 250-pounder played left guard as a sophomore and right guard as a freshman.
Also projected to start on the offensive line are guard Tyrel Lolo (Kalaheo '99), a 5-11, 275-pound senior from Waimanalo; tackle Sione Maka (Damien '99), a 6-2, 280-pound junior from Waipahu; and guard Koli Tonga (Wai'anae), a 6-5, 295-pound junior.
Arona Malu (Wai'anae '99), a 6-3, 260-pound junior, returns to the starting defensive line. He was sixth on the team in tackles last year.
He may be joined by seniors Luke Kahawai (Kalaheo '99) from Waimanalo and George Willing (Campbell '99), who both rotated with starters last year.
Kahawai made the highlight tape at Dana last season when he separated Midland Lutheran's quarterback from the ball, picked it up and ran 63 yards for a touchdown with 17 seconds left in the first half. Dana trailed 10-0 before the play, but charged back in the second half to win 40-16.
Also returning is senior wide receiver David Abbott (Kalaheo '98), who was Dana's third-leading receiver last year with 22 catches for 306 yards.
The only Hawai'i player graduating is starting free safety Shawn Galbreath (Kalaheo).
Others who return are senior defensive back Jarom Alip (Honoka'a), junior defensive back Andrew Iva (Kaimuki '00), junior fullback/special teams player Tulai Opetaia (Wai'anae) and sophomore offensive lineman Eric Meurer (Leilehua '01).
Coach Krueger expects junior tailback Chevas Lamoya (Waiakea '99) of Volcano to rejoin the team. Lamoya gained 800 yards in 1999 and 860 in 2000, then stayed home last fall and married Kori Montez (Nanakuli '99), a former Dana basketball player.
"These kids are all on track to graduate," Krueger said. "Dana has given them a chance to get a college education through football."
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Twins Mililani and Momilani Monis (Pearl City '00) were Dana's primary passers last season, averaging between 3 and 4 digs per game. "Both girls are extremely competitive players who bring aggressiveness to our defense," coach Laurel Derry said.
"Although she is only 5-7, Momi does a great job blocking as a middle hitter. She has great timing and touches a lot of balls," Derry said.
Mili started on the right side and was secondary setter. Despite a "significant" ankle injury, Derry said, she ranked seventh in the Great Plains Conference with 61 service aces (.51 per game).
WRESTLING
Brian Tsutsumi Jr. (Castle '01) placed fourth at 125 pounds to help Dana win the NAIA Central Region championship. He beat the eventual national champion in a dual match and finished 23-23.
"Like most true freshmen, he was a little inconsistent at times, but he has oodles of talent," coach Steve Costanzo said. "He'll be a real contender for a national title before he's finished."
Freshman heavyweight Eric Meurer (Leilehua '01), who also played football, red-shirted but practiced with a returning All-American.
"He came a long way; he was a different person at end of the season," Costanzo said.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Freshman power forward Samanta Alapa (Sacred Hearts '01) led Dana in shooting percentage (.452), averaging 16.3 minutes and 5.7 points per game.
Sophomore Momi Monis was the most accurate free-throw shooter (73.7 percent), and tied for the team lead in rebounding (4.3) and was second in steals with 32. She averaged 20 minutes and 4.8 points per game. Mili Monis broke her thumb and averaged 9.6 minutes in 14 games.
Even at small schools, winning matters. The head women's basketball coach and assistant resigned shortly after the end of a 2-22 season.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Tahia Kimitete (Konawaena '99) and freshman Kicho Onaga (Konawaena '01), were on the women's soccer team. Kimitete "was our bruiser," athletic director Mark Clements said.
