Klaneski gives Islanders a shoulder to rely on
By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer
Eddie Klaneski contemplated not playing football this season after his team — the Fresno Frenzy — folded last November following just one arenafootball2 season and while recovering from season-ending shoulder surgery.
Doug Semones, the Hawaiian Islanders defensive coordinator and special teams coach, wasn't about to let it happen. He wanted the former Damien High and University of Hawai'i standout to return home to play for the Islanders in 2003.
KLANESKI
"As soon as they folded I was on the phone with Eddie," Semones said. "As soon as I found out I was going to be retained and be involved I started calling Eddie on the Mainland to get him over here. I wanted him back."
Klaneski wanted to return to Hawai'i to play only if healthy.
"I told them I'm probably not going to play this year, it all depends on my shoulder," he said. "I told them I'll come home if I get better and I feel like I'm ready."
Klaneski, 27, played in 10 games for Fresno before deciding to end his 2002 season. "I popped out my shoulder every game at least once or twice" and had surgery on his right shoulder in July.
"The surgery went well, it's pretty stable in there," said Klaneski, who also had surgery on his shoulder while at UH. "As time went on I started working out and training and my shoulder was getting better. I still do rehab and things like that, so I have to keep taking care of it."
This season, Klaneski has started four games for the Islanders at defensive specialist and leads the team with 20 tackles, two tackles for loss and six pass break-ups.
"He's got the passion for the game of football, and I think it's so contagious," Islanders head coach Cal Lee said. "He's so upbeat and positive and the rest of the players feed off of that."
Klaneski played for Semones while at UH and in 1999 with the Hawai'i Hammerheads of the Indoor Professional Football League.
Semones said he's built his defense "around Eddie."
"Eddie's been playing a long time, and I've known Eddie for a long time, and we really trust each other and we communicate well," Semones said. "He communicates well with the rest of the defense and makes the defensive calls and adjustments."
In the second quarter of last week's win over the San Diego Riptide, Klaneski made a crucial open-field tackle on a receiver for no gain on fourth-and-1 at the Islanders' 10-yard line.
The Islanders scored a touchdown on the ensuing possession to go up 24-10.
"We talked about making plays on fourth down, and he came up big," Semones said.
The Islanders will need more of the same from Klaneski for tomorrow's road game against the Wichita Stealth, which moved over to the National West Division this season after the demise of Fresno. Both teams are atop the division with 3-1 records. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. (HST) at the Kansas Coliseum.
"You've got 16 games, and every week is a big game no matter who you play," Lee said. "This week is Wichita so you have to focus on what Wichita does. There's no difference this week. It's a big game for us."
Notes: Eddie Klaneski played at UH from 1994-'97. ... He tried out for the San Jose SaberCats of af1 last season, but got cut and decided to stay in California and play for the Fresno Frenzy.
arenafootball2 Standings
National West Division
W L PF PA Streak
Hawaiian Islanders 3 1 195 190 W1
Wichita Stealth 3 1 168 146 W2
San Diego Riptide 2 2 180 172 L2
Bakersfield Blitz 1 3 163 185 L1
Tomorrow's Games
Hawaiian Islanders at Wichita Stealth, 2:30 p.m. (HST)
San Diego Riptide at Bakersfield Blitz
Hawaiian Islanders 2003 Schedule and Results
May 30 Green Bay Blizzard W, 48-37
April 4 at Quad City Steamwheelers W, 53-52
April 19 at Bakersfield Blitz* L, 43-58
April 26 San Diego Riptide* W, 51-43
May 3 at Wichita Stealth* 2:30 p.m.
May 10 Bakersfield Blitz* 7:35 p.m.
May 16 Wichita Stealth* 7:35 p.m.
May 24 at Cincinnati Swarm 8:00 a.m.
May 31 Louisville Fire 7:35 p.m.
June 7 at Arkansas Twisters 2:00 p.m.
June 14 Peoria Pirates 7:35 p.m.
June 21 at San Diego Riptide* 4:00 p.m.
June 28 Quad City Steamwheelers 7:35 p.m.
July 12 at Tulsa Talons 2:30 p.m.
July 18 at San Diego Riptide* 4:30 p.m.
July 27 Bakersfield Blitz* 6:05 p.m.
*—denotes National West Division game.
All home games at Blaisdell Arena.
