Several athletes prove they're top students as well
By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Several Hawai'i homegrown athletes were named to various CoSIDA Academic All-America District teams for fall sports.
In women's soccer, Harvard senior forward Alisa Sato (Iolani of Mililani) and sophomore midfielder Maile Tavepholjalern (former Punahou student) were named to the District I second team.
Sato, a biology major, has a 3.552 grade-point average. She finished second on the team in points (15) and assists (5).
Tavepholjalern, an applied mathematics major with a 3.918 GPA, started all 16 games for the Crimson.
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps senior defender Shelly Suzuki (Punahou '00 of Kailua) was named to the College Division District 8 first team.
Suzuki is an economics and psychology major and has a 3.59 GPA.
In men's soccer, Whitworth (Spokane, Wash.) senior midfielder Kurt Kagawa (Mililani) was named to the College Division District 8 first team.
Kagawa is a political science major and has a 3.795 GPA.
And in women's volleyball, St. John's senior setter Robyn Kurasaki (Maryknoll '00 of Mililani) was named to the District 1 first team.
Kurasaki is a psychology major and has a 3.83 GPA.
Football
Homegrown Home & Away chronicles feats of college athletes here and away. If you know of former Hawai'i high school athletes deserving of recognition, give us their names, high schools and graduation years, colleges and sports. E-mail us at homegrown@honoluluadvertiser.com or contact Leila Wai at 535-2457 Homegrown appears every Wednesday in The Honolulu Advertiser.
• Fresno City College offensive lineman Kalavi Blanchard (Kahuku '01) was named to the All-California Region II first team.
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• University of Redlands freshman offensive lineman DJ Tano (Iolani '03 of Kailua) was an all-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honorable mention selection.
Junior defensive back Matt Genco (Parker of Kona) also plays for Redlands.
Tano's cousins are volleyball players Kim Tano (St. Francis of Kane'ohe) of Western New Mexico and Nohea Tano (Kamehameha '00 of Kailua) of Hawai'i.
• City College of San Francisco freshman offensive lineman Taase Jennings (McKinley '03) helped lead his team to a 38-35 win over Grossmont College in the 44th Potato Bowl on Dec. 13.
Grossmont, the 2003 Foothill Valley Conference champion, featured several Hawai'i players.
They are freshman running back Nano Padillo (Konawaena '03), freshman defensive back Matt Culver (Punahou), freshman offensive lineman Patrick Kapuniai (Kealakehe '02), freshman offensive lineman Tama Swanson (Kealakehe '03), and sophomore wide receiver Eric Rabara (Konawaena '02)
Men's Basketball
Northwest Missouri State junior guard Sky Wilson (Kalaheo '01) is averaging 10.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. He has started every game for the Bearcats (9-0).
Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.
