Posted on: Friday, September 6, 2002

Kea'au varsity will play first game in new campus stadium

Advertiser Staff

Kea'au High School on the Big Island will play a varsity football game on campus for the first time on Sept. 21 in the largest, most versatile and modern stadium at a public high school in Hawai'i.

Kea'au, six miles south of Hilo, opened in 1999 and has its first senior class this year.

Athletic director James Bertilacci said yesterday that the stadium will have "seating for about 5,300, with another 2,000 on order.

"The grass is a blend of Bermuda (Tif 419 hybrid) and seashore paspalum, which is salt-air resistant.

"Also, we can fit a full-size soccer field, 120 yards by 75 yards, because of the configuration of the track. It is called a broken back track; it has shorter straightaways and longer curves to accommodate a wider field. And it's NCAA approved."

HAWAI'I PREP
KA MAKANI

• 2001 record: 6-4, fourth in BIIF
• Preseason: Lost to Kailua 40-0
• Coach: Tom Goodspeed, 4th year, 18-13
• Players to watch: TE/LB Mikey Vitousek (6-6, 200, Sr.), C/DT Micah Stevens (5-10, 225, Jr.), OT/DT Max Unger (6-6, 270, Jr.), RB/SS Brad Lau (5-9, 170, Sr.).

HILO VIKINGS

• 2001 record: 4-5, tied for fifth in BIIF
• Preseason: Lost to Waimea 25-0; lost to Pac-Five 42-0.
• Coach: Albert Kawelu Jr., 7th year.
• Players to watch: OT Abe Medeiros (6-5, 270, Jr.), C Kauhane Hansen (5-10, 245, Sr.), OT Blake Mokiao (6-0, 275, Jr.), QB Matt Hassenritter (6-3, 180, Jr.), TE/LB Kalani Kaikuana (6-0, 240, Sr.), MLB Nui Spikes (6-0, 230, Jr.), WR/DB Ikaika Naipo (6-0, 170, Sr.), RB Keoni Daog (5-7, 160, Sr.).

HONOKA'A DRAGONS

• 2001 record: 4-6, tied fifth in BIIF
• Preseason: Lost to Kapa'a 34-14
• Coach: Paul Purdy, 2nd year (4-6)
• Players to watch: RB/LB Kaimana Kahunui (6-1, 220, Sr.), WR/DB/PK Daivah Domingo (5-8, 150, Sr.), LB/OL Cameron Hart (5-11, 200, Sr.), DE Bubba Peltier (6-1, 205, Sr.), DB/WR Pono Kahunui (6-3, 210, Jr.), QB Kyle Umeda (5-10, 155, Jr.), RB Kaneala Ablao (5-7, 155, Jr.), RB Brian Ayoso (5-7, 145, Jr.), OL/DL Pono Kamakeaina (5-11, 260, Sr.), RB/DB Kapono Gacayan (5-8, 150, Jr.), OL/DL Kaneala Kaha (5-11, 265, Jr.), DB/WR Daniel Carvalho (5-10, 165, Jr.), OL Dane Boado (5-11, 260, Jr.), OL/DL Kaipo Nobriga (6-3, 300, Jr.).

KEA'AU COUGARS

• 2001 record: 0-8, ninth in BIIF
• Preseason: No games.
• Coach: Eugene McElroy, 2nd year, 0-8
• Players to watch: QB Austin Meyers (6-2, 175, Soph.). R/DB Sunny Amisimone (5-9, 185, Sr.). LB Kapela Mauai-Caminos (5-10, 220, Sr.). R/DB John Darby (5-10, 160, Jr.). RB/P Ryan Kela (5-6, 170, Sr.). SB/CB Sean Rabusitz (6-2, 190, Sr.). OL Kenneth Fuchigami (5-10, 230, Sr.). OL Kinney Soares (6-3, 260, Sr.). WR Anthony Alonzo (5-6, 150, Sr.)

KEALAKEHE WAVERIDERS

• 2001 record: 7-2-1, fourth in BIIF
• Preseason: 0-2. Lost to McKinley 28-6, Lost to Punahou 21-14
• Coach: Sam Papali'i, 2nd year (7-2-1)
• Players to watch: RB/WR/LB/DB James Kamoku (6-2, 195, Sr.), RB Thomas Kamoku (6-0, 185, Jr.), DE Chris Panavaroff (6-0, 200, Sr.), OL Hinano Lino (6-1, 260, Jr.), SB Justin Chung (5-10, 175, Sr.), WR William Murphy (6-5, 185, Sr.), OL Shane Mata (5-11, 220, Sr.), C Tamatoa Swanson (6-5, 360, Sr.), OG Sam Faleofa (6-1, 305, Jr.), ILB Casey Kaiwi (6-0, 210, Sr.), CB Jonathan Kang (5-7, 155, Jr.), DE Ty Widhalm (5-11, 180, Jr.), OLB Tyson Vea (5-8, 175, Jr.).

KOHALA COWBOYS

• 2001 record: 4-6, seventh in BIIF
• Preseason: Lost to Kamehameha, 21-14.
• Coach: Belden Kealoha (3rd year, 8-22)
• Players to watch: DT/TE Jason Ontiveros (6-1, 245, Sr.), C/LB Ka'anoi Carvalho (6-0, 235, Sr.), OG/DT Robbie Monoske (6-0, 220, Jr.), LB/FB Kaipo Mathey (5-10, 215, Sr.), QB Kekai Nakamura (5-9, 145, Sr.), WR/DB Jared Pasalo (5-9, 150, Jr.), WR/DB Ammon Sanchez (6-1, 145, Sr.), WR/DB Jake Westrum (6-0, 175, Sr.), OL/DL Kaipo Cabrera (5-10, 195, Soph.), OT J.J. Kuhaiiki (6-7, 320, Jr.), OT/DT Jake Acorda (6-1, 250, Jr.). DE/OLB Mahi Vaefaga (5-10, 165, Sr.), OT/DT Chey Moseman (6-5, 230, Soph.), WR/DB/PK Chris Anjo (6-0, 185, Jr.), WR/DB Ryan Brannigan (5-9, 155, Jr.), WR/DB Douglas Sanchez (6-0, 165, Jr.), WR/DE/QB/P Kraig Roxburg (5-9, 145, Sr.).

KONAWAENA WILDCATS

• 2001 record: 8-2, tied for BIIF championship, lost state tournament berth on tie-breaker rule because of loss to Waiakea
• Preseason: 1-1, def. Turner Cascade of Salem, Ore., 32-0; lost to Waialua of O'ahu 22-21.
• Coach: Todd Brown, first year
• Players to watch: MLB/TE Keola Wills (5-11, 210, Sr.), RB Nano Padillo (5-8, 190, Sr.), DL/FB Matt Denniz (5-9, 225, Sr.), RB Bernard Cantiberos (5-7, 165, Jr.), WR Thomas Beckett (5-8, 160, Sr.), WR Pena Akau (5-10, 165, Sr.), OT Kyle Akeo (5-10, 250, Jr.), C/DT Shaun Langsi (5-9, 230, Sr.), CB/SB Brandon Abrojena (5-9, 165, Sr.), SS Bud Demello (5-11, 170, Jr.), LB Frank Cantiberos (5-9, 175, Jr.).

WAIAKEA WARRIORS

• 2001 record: 8-3, tied for BIIF championship, won state tournament berth on tie-breaker rule by defeating Konawaena; lost opening game of state tournament to Kailua 53-8.
• Preseason: Lost to Lahainaluna, 19-18
• Coach: Ed Rocha, 4th year, 26-14
• Players to watch: RB/CB Shannon Camero (5-7, 175, Sr.), RB/CB David Rodrigues (5-7, 160, Sr.), LB/FB Donald Okami (6-1, 215, Sr.), MLB Matt Patterson (5-10, 205, Jr.)