Dismissed Waiakea team allowed to return
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
All 12 players who were kicked off Waiakea High School's varsity boys basketball team two weeks ago will be allowed to return to school and practice tomorrow.
The 12 players had been dismissed from the team by athletic director Ken Yamase after breaking school rules during a basketball trip to O'ahu. But yesterday, Yamase said the players had been reinstated after parents appealed the decision to the school's principal last week.
The 12 players were suspended from school for three days, starting Monday and ending today.
"What happened is, I made the decision (to dismiss the team) and parents appealed the decision to the principal (Ron Furukawa), and he basically changed the disposition of the penalty," Yamase said.
Furukawa's last day as principal was Jan. 10 as former principal Pat Nekoba returned to her position Monday.
Warriors coach Jay Bartholomew earlier said he suspected alcohol use during the trip and confronted the players. After they confirmed his suspicion, Bartholomew said he reported the incident to the school administration.
After the varsity players were kicked off the team, eight players from the JV were promoted to the varsity and that team represented Waiakea in the first four Big Island Interscholastic Federation games. Under BIIF rules, players are allowed to move back down to the JV even after appearing in varsity games, so long as they do not play on both levels in the same day.
Reinstated varsity players are expected to play against Honoka'a on Saturday.
COACHES
• Kaiser baseball: Former University of Hawai 'i catcher Peter Ho is the new head baseball coach at Kaiser High School, his alma mater, Kaiser athletic director Ricky Shimokawa announced yesterday.
Ho, 41, will continue to teach physical education at McKinley High, where he has taught for 14 years and was head baseball coach from 1986-92. He replaces Duke Chinen, who was Kaiser's head coach for four years.
Ho graduated in 1980 from Kaiser, where he was a third baseman and teammate of Sid Fernandez when the Cougars won the O'ahu Interscholastic Association championship and finished second in the state in 1980.
The OIA season opens March 26.
• Sacred Hearts track: Sacred Hearts Academy is seeking applicants for the head coaching position in track and field.
Send or fax applications and resumes to Sacred Hearts Academy, 3253 Waialae Ave., Honolulu, HI 96816. Fax number (808) 732-6524 or e-mail athletic director Wade Okamura at wokamura@sacredhearts.org.
