Mid-Pacific's Higa honored for all-around skills, hustle

• This week's high school events to watch

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Mid-Pacific senior Richie Higa was praised for his leadership as much as his playing ability. "He has excellent skills, but his main asset is his ability as a playmaker in the midfield," said Pac-Five's Paul Fu, who was named ILH Coach of the Year. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

Mid-Pacific Institute senior midfielder Richie Higa was named ILH Player of the Year in a recent vote of league coaches. Higa finished second in the league with 10 goals for the Owls, who ended up fifth in the eight-team ILH with a 5-8-1 record.

"He's very good all-around; he can score and play defense," Pac-Five coach Paul Fu said. "He has excellent skills, but his main asset is his ability as a playmaker in the midfield. He hustles, he has a good attitude and he knows the game well. We had a lot of good players in this league, but he was a good leader because he wasn't surrounded by as much talent as some other players."

Higa was the only Owl named to the ILH all-star first or second team. League champion Punahou led the way with four players on the first team: senior forwards Stephen Carlson and Satoshi Mitsuda, senior midfielder Tamatoa Hackney and senior fullback Makena Carr.

Carlson was the ILH goal leader with 16, and Mitsuda was fourth with eight.

Runner-up Pac-Five was represented by three first-teamers: senior midfielder Alex Wong, junior fullback Kody Seminara and senior goalkeeper Vito Higgins.

Kamehameha placed two players on the first team, senior forward Jordan Aquino and junior midfielder David Gualdarama.

Hawai'i Baptist senior fullback Daniel Arita rounds out the first team. The Eagles were in their first year of varsity competition since 1979.

Fu was named Coach of the Year for leading the Wolfpack to a 10-1-3 record.

This week's high school events to watch

Among high school sports events of note on O'ahu this week:

FRIDAY

• WRESTLING — Data House Boys and Girls State Championships at Blaisdell Arena, qualifying round, preliminary round, quarterfinals and first two consolation rounds, starting at 11 a.m.
• GIRLS WATER POLO — Interscholastic League of Honolulu season opens: Punahou at Kamehameha, Pac-Five at Iolani; Division II games at 4:45 p.m., Division I at 6 p.m.

SATURDAY

• CHEERLEADING — Local Motion State Championships at Stan Sheriff Center, 4 p.m.
• WRESTLING — Data House Boys and Girls State Championships at Blaisdell Arena, semifinals 11 a.m.; girls championship and consolation finals, 5 p.m.; boys championship and consolation finals, 7 p.m.;
• BASEBALL — Interscholastic League of Honolulu season opens at Ala Wai Field: Saint Louis vs. Kamehameha, 9 a.m.; Damien vs. Punahou, noon; Maryknoll vs. Iolani, 3 p.m.; Pac-Five vs. Mid-Pacific, 6 p.m.
• TENNIS — Eight ILH matches at Central O'ahu Regional Park include Punahou vs. Iolani; girls at 8 a.m. and boys at 10.
• TRACK & FIELD — The first ILH varsity meet at Kamehameha's new $14 million Kunuiakea athletic complex, 3:45 p.m. field events, 4:45 running events.