Posted on: Tuesday, May 18, 2004

NOTES
Watson Tanuvasa named coach at Pearl City

Advertiser Staff

Watson Tanuvasa will take over his late brother's role as Pearl City High School football coach, athletic director Roy Ichinose announced yesterday.

Onosai Tanuvasa, who coached the Chargers the past two seasons, died on March 24 of liver cancer. Watson Tanuvasa, 41, had been an assistant on his brother's staff, coaching the linebackers.

"My brother was famous for taking on challenges, and we felt it was important to carry on the philosophy he left behind," said Watson Tanuvasa, who was a fullback for Moanalua and the University of Hawai'i. "I consider myself to be a little more stern, but otherwise our coaching style and philosophy are the same."

Ichinose said Watson Tanuvasa "fits the role" as head coach.

"He's been around kids and works with them real well," Ichinose said. "Plus, we wanted to maintain the staff to make the transition smoother."

Tanuvasa said all but one of last year's assistants will return. Former defensive coordinator Mike Iosua is attending graduate school, so Reid Elam will take his place. Shane Tanuvasa, Onosai's son, will return as offensive coordinator.

SOCCER

• Lipsher gets invite: Punahou senior goalkeeper Allison Lipsher, the Advertiser's Player of the Year, has been invited to play in the third annual McDonald's All-American High School Soccer Game.

Lipsher, who will play for Duke in the fall, was selected as one of 36 girls competing in the East-versus-West format. She will be playing for the West team.

She is a two-time Advertiser All-State first-team selection, and helped Punahou win back-to-back state soccer titles.

She was selected to the NSCAA/adidas Youth All-American team last year, putting her up for consideration for the All-American game.

She is the first female and second player from Hawai'i to be invited to play in the game. Iolani graduate Duke Hashimoto, who is now playing for Southern Methodist, played in the inaugural game in 2002.

This year's game will be at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., on June 13.

BASKETBALL

• Unbeaten champs: Mid-Pacific won the ILH junior varsity Division II girls basketball title with a 12-0 record.

St. Andrew's Priory also went unbeaten (12-0) to win the ILH Intermediate III title.

FOOTBALL OffICIATING

• Rules, mechanics clinic: O'ahu Interscholastic Association football officials will hold a rules and mechanics clinic at 7 p.m. on July 12 at Pearl Ridge Elementary School.

The clinic is open to anyone interested in football officiating, from Pop Warner level through high school.

The group also is looking for prospective officials for the coming season. Jim Beavers, OIA football commissioner of officials, said the group has been affected by recent military deployments.

For information, call Beavers at 262-5738 or 550-0029.

TRACK AND FIELD

• Correction: The track and field at War Memorial Stadium is named after Satoki Yamamoto, a former track athlete, coach and official on Maui. Yamamoto's first name was misspelled in Sunday's Advertiser.