The runners-up were Mililani's Zach Helms, Pearl City's Stayson Isobe and Damien's Michael Kamikawa.

The Advertiser sports staff judged handfuls of entries from Hawai'i public and private school students in grades 9 to 12. The winner will get to meet and write about a Pro Bowl player. The runners-up received prizes.

Writers were asked to tell us about their most memorable sports moment.

Below are their stories:

FIRST PLACE

The trip back to Hawai'i was a sign of hope for the Bierwert family, who had gone through a lot after their young son, Trevor, developed epilepsy.

Epilepsy is a neurological condition that causes seizures and serious medical problems for its patients.

The seizures started when Trevor was 4 years old in junior kindergarten, but they persisted long after. The Bierwert family decided to leave Hawai'i to help Trevor and to attempt to cure his condition. They traveled to Michigan to have an operation that removed nearly half of Trevor's brain. The procedure was drastic, but the Bierwert family felt it was necessary to ease both Trevor's and the entire family's pain.

To fully recover all of the things he could previously do, Trevor had to relearn simple tasks, such as walking and speaking. The process was slow and tedious, but with help from his family, and using leg braces, he began to regain his previous form.

After returning to Hawaii, the Bierwert family heard about VIP soccer, which helps people with special needs play soccer. To help the athletes, the organization employs the help of volunteer "buddies" or soccer guides. To make him feel comfortable, Trevor's mother asked me to help him play soccer, as I had been playing AYSO soccer for several seasons.

The experience was as new and interesting for me as it was for Trevor. I had not seen Trevor in a couple years, and I did not know what he looked like or how to interact with him. He came to practice in a condition where taking a step was the equivalent of running a mile. The leg braces helped, but he still needed to learn to walk again.

Our first practice was just an introduction to the game of soccer and a few simple drills. At first I didn't understand the philosophy of VIP soccer and was being very competitive. After a few practices, I began to understand that the league was not established so I could improve my soccer skills, but so other volunteers and I could help the players. Once I understood that, I was really able to assist the players, especially Trevor.

For more than two years, Trevor needed my assistance to play soccer and I enjoyed helping him, but my favorite sports moment was when he stole a ball on his own and dribbled down the field to score. This really signified to me that I can help others, and it was a great accomplishment for him because he worked so hard to achieve it. Now Trevor needs no help to star on the soccer field, but my family and I continue to coach and buddy with VIP players. Of all the great times I have had during my sports career, Trevor's first individual goal beats them all.

RUNNER-UP

It was two years ago that my most memorable moment in sports occurred.

It was at an invitational track meet, the Kamehameha Invitational to be exact. This was a big one because we were an OIA school and wanted to beat the private schools. Also, on a personal level, this was one of my last chances to prove to myself that I could compete in the 110-meter hurdles.

As always, the first race of the meet was the hurdles. The girls ran first, and by this time I couldn't tell if I was more nervous or excited. I was placed in the fourth heat for the junior varsity, which was one of the last JV heats. I watched as all heats ahead of me finished.
Finally, it was my turn.

The official called all runners to their blocks, and we all shook hands and said good luck, stretched and prepared for our race. Then the commands came, the gun was fired and we were off.

It was the best start I ever had; I cleared the first two hurdles with ease and was up with the lead guys in our heat. Then the third hurdle came up and the next thing I knew I was face down on the track. My knee had smacked the hurdle and flung me forward; my timing had been completely thrown off by the wind. I got up and sort of climbed over the next hurdle (by touching the hurdle with my hands I was automatically disqualified, but I refused to quit so I pushed forward.) I noticed that there was another guy in the same lane ahead of me. That's when I realized that I had rolled into someone else's lane. I got back into my lane and started over the next hurdle and BAM! I was once again hugging the track. By now, almost all the other runners had finished, but I would not quit. I knocked down the next two hurdles with my feet and was coming up on the eighth hurdle. Once more it was destined for me to meet the track with my face.

The third fall was more brutal, and by this time, I was rather humiliated.

I finished up the race to a standing ovation, often referred to as "the pity clap."

It was after the race when I found out that I hadn't done anything to be ashamed of, other than falling three times and being disqualified for at least five different violations. I had finished the race and several coaches and runners came up to me and told me "good job." Of course, my teammates and friends teased me, but that was okay because I knew I had persevered even when others in the same situation would have quit.

RUNNER-UP

Since the age of 4, I've been participating in sports. I've had my ups and downs, the wins and losses, the successes and failures.

But never had I felt as happy as this one night in October, 2005, when I finally felt like a champion.

It was a cool night, and the Chargers of Pearl City High went into battle against the Hawks of Nanakuli High.

As a member of the Charger football team, I was ready for this game, it being the last one of the season.

Our team had every reason to feel down because we had not won a single game in more than a year. However, the Nanakuli team also entered the game with a winless season. This game was much more than a battle between teams seeking their first victory in their season finale. This game happened to be our Homecoming game. Knowing that our season was coming to an end following the conclusion of the game, all of the underclassmen, including myself, wanted to send the seniors off with a victory. As a team we wanted to win this game for all the Charger fans that cheered us on.

As it got closer to game time, we began to pump ourselves up. Then, as soon as we knew it, our JV team had won their game and it was our turn to win ours. After our warm-ups, we were ready to kick off.

The first half was a very intense one, with both schools exchanging the lead. However, we went into halftime behind on the scoreboard. To make things worse, I had not even gotten into the game yet. Following a pep talk during halftime, we were rejuvenated and ready to go and play our hearts out in the last 24 minutes of our season. We charged onto our home field and broke through the banner that our cheerleaders were holding. The crowd went wild and that only pumped us up even more.

The second half was all ours. and with only minutes left to play, we had the lead 28-21. Bino Neves stadium was rocking. As the clock was nearing zero, the countdown began: "Five, Four, Three, Two, One."

At last we had won a game. We had won our homecoming game to send our seniors off with a victory and to give our school a reason to feel good about our football team. I was ecstatic as I rushed onto the field with the rest of my teammates. Even though I only played a handful of plays, I was so happy that we won a game for the school and for the seniors that have all taught me so much about the game of football.

You don't always have to be the best to be champions. All it takes is one moment like this to be one, and in my heart, we were truly champions on this one night in October.

RUNNER-UP

As I slid on my helmet and stepped off our bus, the view of Oahu's southwestern shore captured my attention.

Struggling to suppress the tingling in my gut, I focused on the evening's activities in preparation for the fierce battle that lay ahead. The pressure had begun to mount on the Damien Monarchs, as they had fallen into a two-game losing streak after devastating Pac-Five in the season-opener. On this night, the Monarchs would challenge the Kamehameha Warriors for a victory that could place much weight behind either team's campaign for an ILH championship.

After finally descending the stairs leading to the Warriors' Kuniakea Field, we were greeted by the drizzle that seemed constant atop Kamehameha's campus. The team began to file into the locker room to begin its final review of the game's strategy: Don't over-pursue. Check quarterback drop. Maintain a low blitzing base.

These last-minute thoughts were knocked to the back of my mind when the entry of a coach signaled game time.

As our team took the field, we were granted the first sight of our adversaries, the Warriors; it was an impression that would never be lost to me, the rain had deposited droplets of water upon deep blue helmets that shimmered under the stadium lights, and the glistening moisture of their shoes betrayed the nature of that night's turf conditions.

Our opponents had won the coin flip and elected to receive the ball, drawing me onto the field, as I was on our kickoff unit.

A tremendous thud echoed throughout the night as our kicker launched the pigskin downfield and any anxiety that I had harbored was instantly dispelled.

The initial quarter was a test of defenses, resulting in several turnovers and a score tied at 7. Both team's rushing games had been, for the most part, tempered and Kamehameha's (Aaron) Nichols had yet to find a fissure in the Monarch secondary.

The Warriors had regained control of the football after a Damien punt and were driving the ball with a combination of perimeter runs and short passes. This convergence of circumstances set the stage for the most memorable moment of my athletic career.

My stomach tightened as our linebacker called for a safety blitz. I assumed my position, and crept up towards the line. My world slowed as the ball was snapped and the line of scrimmage shot into motion. I saw the tackle-guard gap widen as my lineman drew them apart and I sprinted through untouched.

After crossing the threshold, only the running back stood between me and the quarterback . A well-executed 'swim' put me past him in a split-second and left me hurtling towards the quarterback's exposed blind side.

I lowered my head and plowed into his back, sending the ball on a lateral course — a fumble!