HOMEGROWN REPORT
Ching, Nagata top scholar-athletes
By Leila Wai and Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writers
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Cal State Northridge basketball player Megan Ching and UC Irvine swimmer Chelsea Nagata were chosen their schools' Big West Conference Scholar-Athletes of the Year.
Ching and Nagata were among 16 conference student-athletes selected for the honor.
Ching, a 2003 Kamehameha Schools graduate from Honolulu, was picked for the second straight year. She is third in career assists (321) at Northridge. Ching will graduate this year with a degree in Biology, and plans on attending medical school and becoming a doctor, according to a release.
"Megan is a great team player," said Matador head women's basketball coach Staci Schulz in the release. "She is so unselfish. She always puts the needs of the team first."
Nagata, a 2004 Maui High graduate, recently earned All-America honors in the 100 butterfly for the second straight year at the NCAA Championships.
A psychology major, Nagata has earned Dean's List honors in each quarter at UC Irvine and plans to attend graduate school to become a professor or practice as a clinical psychologist, according to a release.
FOOTBALL
SWIMMING
Nakamoto also finished fourth in the 200 individual medley (2:12.16) and eighth in the 100 backstroke (1:01.39).
Her 200 freestyle relay (1:38.05), 400 medley relay (4:02.39), and 200 medley relay (1:49.94) teams were fourth and her 400 freestyle relay team finished fifth (3:37.99).
Junior Jon Lau's ('Iolani '04) 200 freestyle relay and 400 medley relay squads earned All-America honors after both finished third.
Nakamoto was also named an NAIA Scholar Athlete.
SOFTBALL
She doubled in the fourth inning to tie the game and hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning.
Ghazali posted a 5-1 record, with a 3.86 earned run average.
"I knew that with being a freshman, it would be hard to see some pitching time so I'm thankful for the opportunity to be throwing in games so early in the season and I'm thankful for my team's offensive support," Ghazali said in an e-mail.
BASEBALL
"I was really happy to get it, but was even happier that we were able to sweep a series against UCLA and go into conference with a 15-11 record," Hanzawa said in an e-mail. "I was just honored for the award as well as the sweep."
Hanzawa hit safely in all four of San Diego State's games last week, collecting multiple hits in three of those games.
"I changed some things with my stance and approach to certain pitches," Hanzawa said. "I felt really good this past week and I hope I will be able to transfer it to the upcoming (conference) series."
He batted .533 on the week (8 for 15) with a .632 on-base percentage as the Aztecs went 3-1 on the week. He struck out once in 19 plate appearances.
Johnson also batted 2 for 4 with a double and two steals in a 20-1 win against SUNY-Cobleskill Sunday. He is batting .339 on the season.
In league play, Kamaka is 2-0 in three starts with a 0.38 ERA in 23 2/3 innings pitched.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Moore averaged 5.2 points and 3.6 rebounds per game during the regular season.
Lee also had a game-high 15 rebounds to record her 10th double-double of the season.
WOMEN'S GOLF
Pacific (Ore.) freshman Jasmine Ching (Waiakea '06 of Hilo) was an honorable mention.
MEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Pepperdine senior outside hitter Jon Grobe ('Iolani '02 of Kane'ohe) had seven kills, four blocks and three digs.
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Broadfoot and Kaloi defeated Nora Quintal and Mackenzie White, 8-3, in No. 2 doubles.
Kaloi beat Lucy Scott, 6-3, 6-2, in No. 4 singles and Broadfoot beat Quintal, 6-2, 3-6, 7-5, at No. 5 singles.
SAILING
COMMITMENT
Langley, who did not play for the Raiders this season, joins older brother Dylan at Swarthmore.
Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com and Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.
