San Jose State to enshrine Asano
By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer
Olympic Games judo silver medallist Kevin Asano of Mililani will be inducted into the San Jose State Sports Hall of Fame Nov. 8.
Asano, a 1981 Pearl City High graduate, was a national collegiate judo champion for San Jose State in 1986 and 1987, an Olympic silver medal winner in 1988 and a world championship bronze medallist in 1987.
"San Jose State gave me a great education. They had the No. 1 judo program in the country. To honor me, they're giving again. That's what it is all about, giving," Asano said.
Asano is a financial adviser for Shiraishi Financial Group in Ho-nolulu and coaches at Leeward Judo Club, where he trained under Tsuruo Fukushima. Asano was inducted into the Hawai'i Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.
He credits San Jose State judo coach Yosh Uchida with providing him inspiration. "It all boils down to leadership," Asano said. "(Uchida) has been involved with judo for over 50 years. With him, it's not a business. It's a passion.
"My goal in life right now is to help other people achieve their dreams in life," Asano said.
WATER POLO
UCLA
Senior goalkeeper Brandon Brooks had a career-high 16 saves as UCLA beat Southern California, 6-3, Sunday in the championship game of the Nor Cal Tournament at Berkeley.
Brooks shut out the third-ranked Trojans in the final period, avenging a 10-8 overtime defeat the previous week.
He was named Player of the Week in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.
Brooks (Punahou '99) averaged 12 saves for the four-game, two-day tournament.
Brooks was a member of the U.S. Men's National Team in 2001. He was not on the U.S. Olympic team in 2000, as reported in Homegrown Report Sept. 25.
FOOTBALL
Menlo (Calif.)
Senior Duane Miller (Wai'anae '99) has rushed for more than 100 yards for three games in a row, including a school-record 166 yards Sept. 28 at Willamette. On Saturday, he gained 153 yards on 26 carries in a 34-6 homecoming victory over Whittier.
Junior Russ Fukushima (Moanalua '00) caught 10 passes for 84 yards for Menlo (2-3) in its 52-30 loss at Willamette.
Willamette (Ore.)
Junior defensive tackle Vince Sivas ('Aiea '99) scored a touchdown "for the first time in my whole life" against Menlo.
He intercepted a tipped screen pass at the Menlo 12 and bowled his way into the end zone with the Menlo quarterback riding on his back.
"I looked up and saw my teammates jumping around and the ref signaling a touchdown. Frank Kuresa from Radford (another Willamette defensive lineman) was hugging me. I couldn't believe it. Oh my God ... a big smile went on my face," Sivas said.
Sivas, an international relations major, hasn't decided yet if he will graduate next May or return for football in the fall. "It's expensive," he said. There are no football scholarships in NCAA Division III and players are in it for the experience."
Puget Sound (Wash.)
Senior Micah Tanaka (Punahou '98) took the opening kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown but the Loggers lost to Occidental, 38-20, Saturday in Tacoma, Wash. — the 13th straight loss for Puget Sound and 11th straight victory for Oxy.
Tanaka, who was chosen UPS's Athlete of the Week, has averaged 30.8 yards on six kickoff returns this year.
The previous week, senior Chad Mahoe (Kamehameha '99 of Kailua) rushed for 157 yards on 29 carries for Puget Sound in a loss to Lewis & Clark.
Senior David Estermann (Punahou '99) is the leading returning receiver for the Loggers with 25 catches for 199 yards last season. Sophomore Brian Valdez (Punahou '01) starts at offensive right guard. Sophomore Jeremy Kamo (Iolani) is a backup defensive back.
SOCCER
York (Pa.)
Sophomore Bobby Shinn (Pearl City '01) scored two goals and assisted on one in a 4-0 victory over Central Christian.
Puget Sound (Wash.)
Sophomore Sean Akamine (Punahou '01 of Kahalu'u) scored one goal and assisted on the other in a 2-0 victory at Whitworth Saturday. Puget Sound leads the Northwest Conference at 5-0 and 8-2 overall and is ranked fourth in the West in NCAA Division III.
Western Oregon
Goalkeeper Moani Mundo (Castle '00) made 10 saves as Western Oregon defeated Humboldt State, 2-1, to hold onto first place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.
"I have no Idea" Mundo answered when asked if it was a career high. "I don't really pay attention to that kind of stuff, all I care about is how my team does."
It was Western Oregon's third straight road victory over a ranked team and propelled Western Oregon (8-3) to No. 5 in the NSCAA Far West poll.
California Lutheran
Freshman midfielder Justin Green (King Kekaulike '02 of Pukalani) scored the first of what coach Dan Kuntz expects will be many goals last Wednesday. "Justin is a creative, talented player who will figure significantly into the California Lutheran soccer program," Kuntz said.
TENNIS
St. Louis
Sophomore Ikaika Jobe (Punahou '01 of Wailupe Circle) won the "A" singles championship at the Ball State Classic in Muncie, Ind., Sept. 29, and lost the doubles final in a tie-breaker. "It was a huge step for me," Jobe said, and the first time a St. Louis player won that title.
SOFTBALL
Adams State (Colo.)
Nina Richardson (Iolani '00 of Kalama Valley) received an Academic All-American Award from the National Fastpitch Coaches' Association for her 3.89 grade point average.
Richardson started in left field and was the backup catcher last season, but is hoping to break into the infield next season.
GETTING IT STRAIGHT
Pomona Pitzer (Calif.) freshman Ian Kusao (Iolani '02 of Hawai'i Kai) has started at driver all season, water polo coach Jason Gall said. Incorrect information was provided by an athletic department official for a Sept. 25 item.
Former Menlo College football player Al Harrington's Samoan name is Ta'a, not Tau as reported Sept. 18.
