Nepo named McKinley volleyball coach
By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer
One of the most honored volleyball players ever developed in Hawai'i's clubs and high schools is coming home to give back as a coach.
Fiona Nepo, a former All-America setter at the University of Nebraska, will coach the McKinley High girls team next season, McKinley athletic director Neal Takamori said yesterday.
Nepo was the Hawai'i state high school Player of the Year for University High School in 1994, before embarking on a glittering career at Nebraska. She played on an NCAA championship team in 1995, was a first- or second-team All-America setter in 1996, '97 and '98, and holds Nebraska's career assists record of 4,824.
"She responded to our notice seeking a coach," Takamori said. "We were really happy that she applied."
Nepo was a graduate assistant at Nebraska last season and said she would try out for the U.S. 2004 Olympic team, a goal deferred after she finished playing at Nebraska because she gave birth to a son.
Instead of the Olympics, "she has decided to come home and start her working career," Takamori said.
Nepo went to University, but her six siblings all attended McKinley. Her four sisters all played volleyball for McKinley (Marjorie was all-state in 1995) and Fiona herself was a club-team "protégé," Takamori said, of long-time McKinley coach Richard "Longy" Okamoto, who died in 1995.
"She has a lot of his values," Takamori said.
"We had her whole family here, she was the only one who got away," Takamori said. "And now we have Fiona, too."
Nepo is teaching at another school and could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Coaching positions available:
Iolani: Head girls volleyball coach. Contact Athletic Director Carl Schroers at 943-2208. Fax resumes to 943-2399 or mail them to Schroers at Iolani School Athletic Department, 563 Kamoku St., Honolulu 96826. Deadline next Tuesday.
Maryknoll: Boys and girls volleyball coaches for varsity, junior varsity and intermediate teams; varsity softball coach/coordinator. Send resumes to Pattie Heatherly, athletic director, Maryknoll Schools, 1526 Alexander St., Honolulu 96822. Fax 952 7371 or email to or athletics@maryknollschool.org. Deadline May 26.
TRACK AND FIELD
Repeat feat: The St. Anthony High School boys 4 x100-meter relay team set a state championship meet record Saturday with a time of 42.98 seconds at Kamehameha's Kunuiakea Stadium.
Team members are Panfilo Bascar, Jamaal Rivers, Jerub-James Pacheco and Brad Somera. The foursome broke their own record of 43.01, set at last year's state meet at Mililani.
The record was not acknowledged in Sunday's Advertiser.
TENNIS
Kaua'i finished second: The Kaua'i High boys team finished second in the Carlsmith Ball/HHSAA State Tennis Championships Saturday. Another school was credited with the second-place finish in Sunday's Advertiser. The correct top five are: 1, Punahou 26. 2, Kaua'i 7. 3 (tie), Farrington, Iolani, Kaiser 6.
BASKETBALL
Roosevelt champs: Tati Beasley scored 27 points as Roosevelt beat Farrington, 51-43, Friday to win the O'ahu Interscholastic Association girls junior varsity title. Roosevelt finished 13-0.
