Posted on: Tuesday, February 4, 2003
Mililani girls soccer star commits to Idaho St.
By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer
Jennifer Loo, a first-team all-state defender on Mililani's state high school girls soccer championship team last year, will sign a scholarship agreement with Idaho State tomorrow.
Tomorrow is the first day this year that football, soccer and water polo players can sign national letters of intent to accept scholarships from NCAA Division I and II colleges.
Loo's commitment was announced yesterday by Doris Sullivan, director of student services for the HSN Athletic Prep Academy, which helps scores of student-athletes from Hawai'i secure college scholarships.
The signing period for other sports, such as volleyball, basketball, baseball and softball, begins April 16.
Two other soccer players planning to sign tomorrow are midfielders Brandon Tario of Kamehameha and Scott Shiraishi of Iolani, both with University of California-Irvine.
Punahou goalkeeper David Semenza accepted early admission to Brown, which does not give athletic scholarships.
Tario, Shiraishi and Semenza all played for the Honolulu Bulls '85 team, which has won six straight Hawai'i Youth Soccer Association championships, as well as the EuroYouthCup in 2000 and the San Diego Surf Cup the past two years.
Semenza's good health was a major factor in Punahou's undefeated run through the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, coach Bob Clague said. "He has had two shoulder surgeries, and missed his entire junior season. His being there made a difference this year." (Punahou allowed seven goals in 14 ILH games.)
Two men's water polo players from Iolani have made college decisions, a team spokeswoman said. Julian Price has been invited to walk on at George Washington (D.C.) and Tim Brown has been accepted by Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.) and plans to play there.
Although she can't sign for 10 more weeks, Seabury Hall volleyball all-star Lauren Powley has committed to Division II Mesa State in Colorado.
Upon learning of Powley's commitment, coach Rusty Crick said: "We were looking for an athletic, skilled, competitive athlete and Lauren is all that. We think she will fit in great with the team."
At Mesa State, Powley will join senior Rosa Masler (Maui '00 of Kihei) and sophomore Kehaulani Regidor (Kaua'i '02 of Kalaheo).
Powley's scholarship also was engineered by Sullivan of HAPA.
Moanalua golfer Ayumi Hori, an O'ahu Interscholastic Association Player of the Year in 2001 (shared) and 2000, has signed with the University of Idaho. Hori finished 10th in last year's state high school tournament. She was the runaway winner in girls point standings in the Hawai'i State Junior Golf Association in 2001, more than doubling the second place score.
"We are very excited about Ayumi," Idaho coach Brad Rickel said. "She has a lot of golf tournament experience."
