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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, June 6, 2007

ISLE FILE
Ex-UH guard heads to UC Davis

Advertiser Staff

Maui's Keola McKee, left, lands a shot to California's Malcolm Franklin en route to a 24-18 decision at the U.S. Championship.

ED ANDRIESKI | Associated Press

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Former University of Hawai'i men's basketball player Todd Lowenthal said yesterday that he will transfer to UC Davis.

Lowenthal, a 6-foot-3 point guard, announced last month that he would not return to play for the Rainbow Warriors next season. He received limited playing time as a true freshman at Hawai'i last season.

"The coach at UC Davis (Gary Stewart) watched me when I was in high school, so I knew him and knew what the program was about," Lowenthal said. "I think it'll be a good fit for me."

Lowenthal, who is from San Diego, will have to sit out the 2007-08 season due to NCAA transfer rules. He will have three seasons of eligibility at UC Davis starting in the 2008-09 season.

"I still have a lot of friends over there in Hawai'i, and I'll be keeping up with how (the 'Bows) are doing," he said.


BOXING

MCKEE, ESCALANTE WIN

Keola McKee of Wailuku, Maui and Bruno Escalante of Waimanalo advanced to the semifinals of the 2007 U.S. Championship yesterday at Colorado Springs, Colo.

McKee decisioned Malcom Franklin of Pomona, Calif., 24-18, in the 106-pound division. Escalante won on a disqualification over Vincent Montoya of Cheyenne, Wyo., in the 112-pound division.

Flyweight Rau'shee Warren, trying to become the first U.S. boxer to fight in two Olympics since Davey Lee Armstrong in 1972 and '76, didn't box yesterday because officials granted a rematch of the preliminary bout between Escalante and Vincent Montoya, which Escalante won.

Warren will fight Escalante today, with the winner boxing in a semifinal in a local gym tomorrow, which was scheduled as a rest day before Friday night's title matches.


SOFTBALL

HPU SWEEPS HONORS

Hawai'i Pacific swept the top honors of the All-Pacific West Conference softball team.

HPU's Sherise Musquiz was selected Pitcher and Freshman of the Year; Krystal Plunkett was named Player of the Year, and Howard Okita and Bryan Nakasone were named co-Coaches of the Year.

Musquiz finished the season 14-9 with a 1.39 earned run average and also received NCAA All-West Region honors. Plunkett led the PacWest with a .411 batting average and had four home runs, 16 doubles and 34 RBIs.

Okita and Nakasone guided the Sea Warriors to the PacWest championship, a No. 5 West Regional ranking and a 34-16 record.

Also on the first team from Hawai'i are: outfielder Tajia Acierto and utility player Jessica Adolph from HPU; catcher Meghan Jost, designated player Leo Sing Chow, infielders Miki Asamura and Charity Senas, and outfielders Haunani Haasenritter and Zoie Sevilla from Hawai'i-Hilo; and infielder Jana Dewey from Brigham Young-Hawai'i.


PADDLING

BARTLETT TRIUMPHS

Maui's Kai Bartlett won the 16-kilometer solo race at the Hamilton Island Cup outrigger canoe paddling event last weekend at Hamilton Island, Australia.

Bartlett completed the course in 1 hour, 23 minutes, 27 seconds. Karel Tresnak Jr. of the Outrigger Canoe Club placed second in 1:24:52.

In the team races for six-person canoes, Team New Zealand/Hawai'i placed second in the 42-kilometer marathon.

Team Tiger from Australia won with a time of 3:02:17. Team New Zealand/Hawai'i came in at 3:03:01.

Hawai'i paddlers on Team New Zealand/Hawai'i included Bartlett, Kea Pa'iaina, Thibert Lussiaa and Raven Aipa.

The 'Anuenue Canoe Club from O'ahu — led by Nappy Napoleon — won the golden masters division for paddlers age 55 and older.

The Hamilton Island Cup is the largest canoe race in Australia, featuring more than 60 teams from around the world.

MEMORIAL SERVICE



AH CHOY WAS BEACHBOY

A memorial service for Robert "Bobby" John Ah Choy, a former Waikiki beachboy, is scheduled for tomorrow at 10 a.m. at Kuhio Beach, Waikiki.

Ah Choy, 66, died May 21.

Ah Choy is considered one of the pioneers of stand-up paddle surfing — a method of catching waves with a canoe paddle. He started stand-up paddle surfing in the 1960s so that it would be easier for him to photograph fellow surfers.

Today, stand-up paddle surfing has been revived as a competitive sport. Ah Choy was still competing in events as recently as last year.


GOLF

MORRISON QUALIFIES

The Big Island's Mark Morrison shot a 3-under-par 68 yesterday to win the U.S. Senior Open Sectional Qualifier at Oahu Country Club. Morrison was two shots better than Larry Stubblefield and three up on David Chin and Dean Prince.

Morrison earned a spot in the Senior Open, July 5 to 8 at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisc. The U.S. Golf Association accepted 2,615 entries, between the ages of 50 and 78, for this year's championship. There are 42 qualifying sites.

Dave Eichelberger, a member at OCC, is in the Senior Open as the 1999 champion.


TENNIS

TOP JUNIORS COMPETING

State high school champions Skyler Tateishi and Kristin Lim are the top seeds in their oldest age divisions at the Aloha Airlines Junior Sectionals, beginning Friday at the Central O'ahu Regional Park Tennis Complex. The tournament concludes Monday with finals starting at 8 a.m. Matches begin at 8 a.m. each day.

Tateishi and Lim helped Punahou extend its remarkable streaks last month at the Carlsmith Ball/HHSAA State Championships. Tateishi's singles title was part of the boys' 17th consecutive championship, while Lim's win in the girls final helped her team capture its fifth straight.

Tateishi, who has since graduated, will attend the University of Washington in the fall. Island Pacific Academy's Matt Westmoreland, the player he beat in the final, is the top seed in the Boys 16's. William Chen is the top seed in the 14's and Marcel Chan in the 12's.

Lim, whose brothers Robbie and Mikey also won state titles, just finished her sophomore year. Jackie Owens is the top seed in Girls 16's, Ceara Sumida in 14's and Katie Kim in the 12's.

Tournament draws can be found at tennislink.USTA.com.


FOOTBALL

CLINIC SET FOR 'AIEA

The National Football League, in partnership with the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association, will host the Junior Player Development clinic for boys and girls, ages 12 to 14 at 'Aiea High School, June 18 to 22.

The clinic runs from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. each day.

The JPD program is an introductory youth tackle football program designed to teach participants skills in various football positions. Participants receive instruction from NFL-selected, local high school coaches.

All participants are required to complete a waiver and medical form to participate. Forms are available on the HHSAA Web site www.sportshigh.com and at the 'Aiea High main office. Completed forms must be received by Wendell Say of 'Aiea High by June 15.

Equipment will be issued to participants June 16, beginning at 9 a.m. at the 'Aiea football stadium.

For more information on the clinic, call Say at 483-7300 ext. 231.