Grobe will walk on at Pepperdine

Advertiser Staff

Here is a roundup of high school student-athletes with Hawai'i ties who recently announced their college plans:

• Volleyball

Iolani's Jon Grobe, first-team all-state volleyball player and honorable mention all-state basketball player on the state championship team, plans to walk on to the volleyball team at Pepperdine (Calif.)

Megan Abbott, a second-team all-state defensive specialist in volleyball, starter on Punahou's ILH champion girls soccer team and a top reserve in basketball, has decided to focus on volleyball in college at Colorado-Boulder.

Kristen Luxton was a lifetime Hawai'i resident until she moved to California 15 months ago for "additional volleyball opportunities," her mother said. It paid off last month when Luxton received a full scholarship from Santa Clara.

Luxton, a 5-foot-9 setter, played for Lokahi and Asics clubs and Maryknoll School here. "The moment you watch her set, you'll fall in love with her hands," said Santa Clara coach Jon Wallace.

Luxton will graduate from Los Altos (Calif.) High School.

• Swimming

Three-time state backstroke champion Kim Ono of Iolani will swim and probably also play water polo at Harvard.

• Wrestling

Anna Tong of Kaiser, who completed a four-year unbeaten OIA judo career Saturday, will wrestle at Menlo (Calif.). She finished third this year in the state 140-pound championships.