Central O'ahu complex steals show

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

Kim Kaloi, a senior at Kamehameha, serves as partner Gia Nafarrete guards the net. They won the doubles title at the USTA event. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

The courts open to the public today after being christened by 108 of the best girls and boys players in the country. Yesterday's champions had no complaints with the site of their conquests.

The surface played slow, as new courts will. The wind took getting used to, particularly for those like boys singles champion Treat Huey, from Virginia, who has played indoors the past four months. Apparently, he adjusted quickly.

"This complex is incredible," Huey said. "It's really nice. The courts were great and it's real grassy, not all concrete. And, great view."

There was more than enough space to showcase behind-the-back volleys (Wahiawa's Kim Kaloi), sets of excellence and spectacular sequences, and the future of American tennis. To say nothing of a location with panoramic views, ample area for spectators and courts that settle peacefully into the green park instead of adding to a concrete jungle.

"It's open and there are grassy areas," says former Punahou student Crystal Knysh. "It's got very good viewing. It's a good place for a tournament."

Knysh now lives in Carlsbad, Calif., and has secured a scholarship to play for the University of Denver in the fall. She reached the doubles final with partner Emma Taylor. There the fourth seeds fell to third-seeded Gia Nafarrete and Kaloi, 8-6. Nafarrete and Kaloi trailed 5-2.

Kaloi also won 18 doubles last year at Kapalua, with Marianna Lee. Kaloi has captured the last three state high school doubles titles with sisters Heidi and Janalle, now at Santa Clara. Kim, a Kamehameha senior, is headed to Santa Clara.

She too is now a Central O'ahu Regional Park fan, particularly since it is a short ride from home.

"The better the courts, the better I play," Kim said. "I don't know why."

The tournament was run by Punahou Tennis Club, which procured 16 sponsors. Punahou Director of Tennis Bernard Gusman, and his 25 committees, took the nationals on as a "long-term commitment" and want to bring it back annually, and add 16s.

"We wanted to make it an event where we would continue to have our kids participate and kids from the Mainland compete with and against the Hawai'i kids," Gusman says. "What I would hope is that the Hawai'i kids see this and aspire to raise their level of play."

Michael Knysh moved daughter Crystal and sons Zachary and Justin to California for the enhanced competition three years ago. They found it immediately. "Over there, we keep asking, where are the bad players?" he says.

He chaperoned his kids to 52 tournaments all over the country in a three-year span and compares Central O'ahu Regional Park favorably to every site he saw.

"Once the trees mature this will be one of the best places there is," Knysh said. "I've seen a lot of facilities and this is as nice as they come. They set it up so well. They separated the courts nicely. They have open space. It's great for a national event.

"One of the best things is that the facility was built for spectators. That is very, very rare."

Top-seeded Anne Yelsey, of Corona Del Mar, Calif., won girls singles yesterday, 6-4, 6-1, over second-seeded Lindsey Nelson, of Orange, Calif. Yelsey is ranked 27th nationally. Nelson, No. 3, beat Punahou's Jessica Broadfoot in the quarterfinals and Kaloi in the Round of 16.

Huey, ranked 61st nationally and seeded second, defeated fifth-seeded John Pettit, 6-4, 6-4, for the boys championship. Huey captured the 16 doubles last year with Farrington graduate Anthony Ilagan.

Monday's grand opening attracted about 500 to the courts. During the tournament, courts had between 10-30 people watching.

The top six singles players and the doubles finalists qualified for the USTA Super National Spring Championships.

Girls

Singles

Final — Anne Yelsey (1) def. Lindsey Nelson (2) 6-4, 6-1. Third —Tarakaa Bertrand (3) def. Emma Taylor (8) 6-0, 6-2. Consolation semifinals — Lindsey Strauss def. Heidi Kaloi 6-4, 6-1; Tara Simpson def. Ashley Ellis 6-1, 6-0. Final — Simpson def. Strauss 6-2, 6-4.

Doubles

Final — Kim Kaloi/Gia Nafarrete (3) def. Crystal Knysh/Emma Taylor (4) 8-6.

Boys

Final—Treat Huey (2) def. John Pettit (5) 6-4, 6-4. Third— Eric McKean def. Shane LaPorte 7-5, 7-6 (7-5). Consolation semifinals—Christopher Rasmussen def. Jamie Migia 6-4, 6-1; Michael Ricks def. Shantanu Dhaka 6-4, 4-0, retired (injury). Final—Rasmussen def. Ricks 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

Doubles

FinaliFarhat Muhawi/John Pettit (3) def. Alex Chang/Treat Huey (4) 8-1.