ISLE FILE
Hawai'i cheerleaders finish 12th at nationals
Advertiser Staff
The University of Hawai'i yesterday overcame a manpower shortage to place 12th in the Universal Cheerleaders Association's College National Championships in Orlando, Fla.
Two UH cheerleaders were suspended for breaking team rules Friday, forcing the squad to compete with 14 cheerleaders instead of the usual 16. There were no backups available.
Co-head coach Erika Buder-Nakasone said the squad had one day to create a new routine. The squad had worked months to learn their original routine.
"I'm really proud of them," Buder-Nakasone said. "They could have quit, but instead they worked hard to learn an entire routine."
Buder-Nakasone said her squad won over the crowd of about 8,000 at Disney's Wide World of Sports Arena. "They knew we had a lot of adversity," she said.
Central Florida won the championship, upsetting nine-time winner Kentucky, which placed second.
Thirty teams qualified for the championships. UH earned a berth in finals by winning the Western Region, comprising of schools from Texas to Hawai'i. UH has won the region six times.
The competition will air later on ESPN.
BASKETBALL
• UH-Hilo romps: Ryan Abrahams and Osadonor Esene each had 16 points to lead Hawai'i-Hilo to a 90-66 Pacific West Conference men's basketball victory over Western New Mexico at Hilo's Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
Hilo is 11-4 and 3-0 in the PacWest. Western Mexico is 2-10 and 0-3.
Ryan Hogue scored 15 points, and Kyle Bartholomew added 13 points and a team-high six rebounds for the Vulcans. Brady Hyde had five of Hilo's 15 steals.
The Vulcans shot 67 percent (22 of 33) in the first half en route to a 50-29 halftime lead.
Western New Mexico 29 37—66
Hawai'i-Hilo 50 40—90
Scoring—WNMU: David Walker 18, James Newell 14, Anthony Moncrieft 11. UHH: Ryan Abrahams 16, Osadonor Esene 16, Ryan Hogue 15, Kyle Bartholomew 13. Rebounds—WNMU: Newell 8. UHH: Bartholomew 6. Assists—WNMU: Joey Ramirez 5. UHH: Brady Hyde 9.
MEETINGS
• Agbayani at QB Club: Boston Red Sox outfielder Benny Agbayani, who recently graduated from Hawai'i Pacific University, is scheduled to speak at tomorrow's Honolulu Quarterback Club.
The club's luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Pagoda Restaurant.
Other speakers include Ronn Miyashiro, the University of Hawai'i men's golf coach, and Wayne Lavelle, KUMU Radio producer and co-host of SuperBowl Sports program.
