'Aiea's Villaflor to play soccer at San Francisco
By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer
All-state soccer player Benjamin Villaflor of 'Aiea High turned down a half-dozen partial scholarship offers last spring and summer because he thought he could do better.
Instead, Villaflor enrolled at Irvine Valley (junior) College in Southern California, taking fewer than 12 units so that the NCAA's five-year eligibility "clock" wouldn't start, and playing for the Newport Slammers, a prominent club team.
The Slammers played in four major tournaments, where the bleachers were thick with college scouts. It wasn't long before Villaflor's quickness, ballhandling and character were evident and six new scholarship offers were presented.
Erik Visser of University of San Francisco, in immediate need of a center midfielder, offered a full ride and Villaflor enrolled at USF at the start of the spring semester.
"San Francisco (the town) is really cool," Villaflor said last night.
Stacy Kodani (Seabury Hall '00) also plays for USF.
Goalkeeper Eddie Ruhland of Hilo High, the state boys Player of the Year last season, redshirted at University of San Diego.
WRESTLING
The second national women's rankings of the season by themat.com include seven Hawai'i high school graduates. National team member Clarissa Chun (Roosevelt) of Missouri Valley remains No. 1 at 105.5 pounds.
Three are in the new program at Pacific (Oregon): Kristen Fujioka (Castle) is third at 105.5, Katie Kunimoto (Castle) fourth at 112, and Jill Remiticado (Iolani) sixth at 121.
Stephanie Bolton (Radford) of Cumberland (Ky.) College is sixth at 138.5; Hillary Broad (Kalaheo) of the UH Rainbows club team is fifth at 147.5 and Donnell Bradley (Radford) of Missouri Valley is second at 158.5.
In NAIA men's rankings, Pacific (Ore.) senior Kahaa Rezantes (Kamehameha) of Kahuku is seventh at 125 pounds. He has a 23-10 record.
SCHOLARS
Named to conference all-academic teams recently were:
• Northwestern senior Mike Souza (Punahou '97) of Kane'ohe in Big Ten football. Souza will play in Hula Bowl Maui Saturday.
• Portland State freshman Annie Kawasaki (St. Francis '01) of Makiki in Big Sky Conference cross country.
• Eastern Washington senior Fred Salanoa (Radford '96) in Big Sky Conference football. Salanoa's major is therapeutic recreation.
• Sacramento State freshman Jennifer Iha (Mililani '01) in Big Sky Conference women's soccer.
BASKETBALL
A jump shot by sophomore Katannya Kapeli (Kamehameha '00) of Kane'ohe gave Pacific (Ore.) the winning points in a 55-52 victory over Linfield (Ore.). ... Best game so far for Brandy Richardson (Kalaheo '01), three-time state girls Player of the Year, for UC-Santa Barbara, was 12 points and 14 rebounds against Cal State-Northridge. ... Senior Pierre Elliott (Kaiser) had 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting, six assists, six steals and six rebounds and a block as Pacific (Ore.) upset defending Northwest Conference champion Lewis & Clark of Portland, then ranked 24th in NCAA Division III.
Correction: Kalaheo High graduate Brandy Richardson had 12 points and 14 rebounds for UC-Santa Barbara against Cal State-Northridge and was rewarded with her fourth career start. A previous version of this story included an incorrect term.
