Donovan Raiola on preseason list
By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Wisconsin junior Donovan Raiola, a 2000 graduate of Kamehameha from Honolulu, has been named to the preseason watch list for the 2004 Rimington Trophy, which is awarded annually to the best center in college football.
RAIOLA
"I'm sure if you started at center last year, you were named to the list, so it isn't a big deal to me," he said. "You still have to go out and prove yourself, show you are the best center."
Raiola started all 13 games last season and was an honorable mention All-Big 10 selection.
Raiola's older brother Dominic (Saint Louis '97) won the award while playing at Nebraska in 2000. He is currently with the NFL's Detroit Lions.
"I think it'll be cool if I can somehow win the award, to have two brothers to have won the award," Donovan said.
More Football
• Tennessee starting defensive lineman J.T. Mapu (Kahuku '02) will not be participating in football this upcoming season, because he is starting a two-year mission with the Mormon church.
NCAA regulations allow Mapu to return in 2006 if he chooses, with two years of eligibility remaining.
The Tennessee athletics Web site lists Jesse Maheloha (Kealakehe '00 of Kailua, Kona) as Mapu's top replacement.
• Washington third-year sophomore Donny Mateaki (Iolani '02 of Honolulu) will move to defensive end, Huskies' coach Keith Gilbertson said in an article in the Seattle Times.
Mateaki played much of last season at defensive tackle, but Gilbertson said the coaches like Mateaki's speed.
Men's Swimming
• Stanford freshman Hongzhe Sun (Iolani '03 of 'Ewa Beach) was named the Pac-10 Conference Newcomer of the Year after placing third in the 200-yard backstroke and sixth in the 100-yard backstroke at the conference championships.
Sun also finished sixth in the 200-meter backstroke in 1:55.47 at the NCAA Championships.
Women's Tennis
• Cleveland State freshman Sarah Galon (Leilehua '03 of Wai'anae) was named the Horizon League Player of the Week on March 31 after going 6-0 in No. 1 singles and doubles March 22 to 28.
It is Galon's second weekly honor. Her overall season record is 14-9 in singles and 15-7 in doubles.
Track and Field
• Cornell junior Ryan Schmidt (Ka'ahumanu Hou '00 of Wailuku) won the long jump and qualified for the IC4A Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the UC San Diego Spring Break Challenge on March 27.
His jump was 23 feet, 11 1/2 inches.
Signings
• Iolani senior Luke Oda signed a scholarship to play water polo at Santa Clara, and will join his older brother, Mark Oda (Iolani '01), who will be a senior for the Broncos next season.
Luke was an Interscholastic League of Honolulu first team selection last season, and was the only player from Hawai'i to participate in the 2003 National Selection Youth Camp, which invites the top 50 high school players nationally, according to the Santa Clara athletics Web site.
• Ashley Dutro, who attended Punahou as a freshman in 2000 and transferred to St. Francis (Mountain View, Calif.), signed with UC Santa Barbara to play volleyball for the 2004 season.
Dutro, a 5-foot-8 setter, is a two-time All-State performer and was named to the PrepVolleyball.com High School All-American Team as a senior.
Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.
