Visions of success helped build programs, and developing relationships enhanced the athletic experience at Hawai'i Baptist Academy.

Tucked along Pali Highway in Nu'uanu, Hawai'i Baptist, a small private school with more than 400 students in grades 9 through 12, enjoyed one of its best athletic seasons.

The Eagles won state titles in Division II boys and girls volleyball. The boys bowling team rallied to defend its state title and the Pac-Five softball team, made up of players from several schools, including five from Hawai'i Baptist, won the state Division II title for the second time in three seasons.

Risha Mishima captured state titles in girls wrestling and judo, the boys basketball team finished fourth at D-II states and several Interscholastic League of Honolulu titles were won by teams and individuals. Despite its small student body, almost 75 percent of the student body participated in interscholastic athletics. The school has less than 1,100 students in grades K-12.

"We're really proud of everyone's accomplishments," athletic director Deren Oshiro said. "Just the fact we're a real small school, we've always been known for academics and just our reputation for providing good quality Christian education. It's just great to see more and more kids participating. We try to instill in them they need to compete and win with integrity."

BUILDING BLOCKS

When boys volleyball coach Teoni Obrey arrived at Hawai'i Baptist six years ago, he had players who played volleyball during the season, then go off to their primary sport like basketball. To develop into volleyball players, it took team members three years to buy into the idea of playing club volleyball in the offseason. Coaches saw year-round play as a way to develop consistency and to be competitive.

Back then, players thought they didn't stand a chance against ILH powers 'Iolani, Kamehameha and Punahou. The past three years, the Eagles have been competitive alongside those three, even beating Kamehameha a few years back.

"We had a vision to get them to a certain level, where we could see them competing and battling," Obrey said.

Most of the Eagles now play for Ku'ikahi, where Obrey is the club director.

"We're taught the same techniques, we pass the same, set and approach it mentally the same," senior Devin Pang said of playing for Hawai'i Baptist and Ku'ikahi.

Obrey called this year's team unselfish. Senior Toby Salado told Obrey he'd play any position that would help the team. A month into the season, Branden Kaneshiro had to learn how to play on the right side to give the Eagles a balanced attack. After Hawai'i Baptist defeated Hilo for the state Division II title in May, Kaneshiro was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

"Coach Teoni did a good job," Pang said. "He built the program in six years to the point where we're the top program in the state. Without him, none of this would be possible."

Several years ago, the Hawai'i Baptist girls volleyball team saw how good it was with players like Jayme Lee, Brandi Higa and Rayna Kitaguchi, then saw itself fall short of a state tournament berth. It was the end then, but only the beginning for freshmen who graduate from the school on Saturday.

"It was our goal that year to make it to states and we got so close," senior Stacey Braceros said.

Senior Keisha Miura said that year's team "was a preview of what we could do in the future."

Braceros and Miura said the past couple years have been a lot of hard work and offseason training. This year, they said togetherness and team unity made a big difference.

The Eagles defeated Seabury Hall to win the state Division II title in November, one day after the boys bowling team defended its title.

ALL IN THE 'OHANA

Bowling coach Greg Hayashi sees his program as an 'ohana. He runs the program with his wife, Lynne, has strong parental support and former bowlers have returned to help the team. It's an atmosphere where everybody works closely together. Some parents have volunteered as coaches and even stayed after their children graduated. That continuity has helped the boys and girls teams become a force in the ILH and at the state level.

"The cross connection ... the girls will come out and support the boys and guys will go watch the girls," said Hayashi, who took over the program that was at the bottom of the ILH in 1992. "Even at practices, we try to have separate groups and they intermingle with each other. They have fun and we want them to have fun."

The Eagles were in third place after the state tournament's first day, but rallied on the second day to win their second straight state title and third since 2004.

"It was having fun and still making it on top," said Ethan Kawada, who finished 10th.

UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP

Pac-Five, which started in 1974, combines athletes from small schools so they can compete in sports when their ILH school isn't able to field its own team. It creates an unique environment as a diverse and eclectic mix of students interact with each other. This year, Pac-Five had athletes from Hawai'i Baptist in sports such as football, softball, swimming, wrestling and track.

"Sometimes you think how the mix is going to be, but it's really positive," said Pac-Five track coach Rick Nakashima, who is also a Hawai'i Baptist parent. "I enjoy watching the kids interact and become friends. We don't have problems like this clique and that clique."

Mishima competed under Pac-Five during the wrestling and judo seasons. But at states, she competed for Hawai'i Baptist and won state titles in both sports.

"It was a good experience meeting different people," said Mishima, the 130-pound wrestling state champion and 139-pound judo state champion. "It's good that it's not only your school."

The Pac-Five softball team, which won the state Division II title for the second time in three years, had five players from Hawai'i Baptist. With the school's religious background, players like Chante Tesoro and Keline Yoshimura found a spiritual connection with a higher power. Yoshimura said the softball players prayed together before their games and likewise when she played for the Eagles basketball team.

"If He wants us to win, He's going to let us win, but if He doesn't want us, it's OK and that's how it's going to happen," Yoshimura said. "It's in His plan."

For some, their plans began years ago after dreaming of what could be. This year, a lot of those plans happened.

"We're seniors now, we fulfilled that vision," said Miura, the setter for the girls volleyball team. "I guess as seniors, we had more urgency."