Posted on: Wednesday, February 6, 2008
HOMEGROWN REPORT
Commitment fuels Air Force swimmers
By Kalani Takase
Advertiser Staff Writer
Bryan Avery and Kai Yamashiro aren't your typical Air Force Academy cadets.
While the pair are preparing for a future in the skies, a lot of their time in Colorado Springs is spent in the water.
Both are members of the Air Force men's swimming and diving team.
Avery, a 2005 graduate of Mililani, competes in the freestyle and butterfly events. Yamashiro, a 2005 graduate of 'Iolani from Kane'ohe, swims the backstroke and individual medley.
Falcons' head coach Rob Clayton is high on both swimmers.
"Bryan is our top swimmer," he said. "He can swim a number of events very, very well and we count on him in each of our relays."
Avery, who earned first team All-Mountain West Conference honors in the 200-yard freestyle, 200-yard butterfly and as a member of the 800-yard freestyle relay team, should compete for a league championship, says Clayton.
"As Bryan matured, he has developed a tremendous amount of speed," Clayton said. "He has grown into one of the top middle distance swimmers in the Mountain West."
Yamashiro, who was a member of back-to-back state championships at 'Iolani, owns the seventh-best time in school history in the 200-yard backstroke and the eighth-fasted time in the 100-yard backstroke.
"Kai brings a high level of commitment to personal and team success," Clayton said. "He is continually working to develop into a better swimmer."
Like all cadets, Avery and Yamashiro must serve at least eight years — five under active duty and the remainder as inactive reserve — in the Air Force upon graduation.
"Either a young man is interested or not interested," Clayton said. "We're the premier university in the world to prepare men to be pilots. We have unique opportunities if you're interested and things that no one else can offer, but not everyone is ready for the high demands."
The Air Force Academy was founded in 1954 and is one of five military service academies in the nation. With an enrollment of 4,000, the Air Force Academy is still among the most selective schools in the nation. In addition to a fitness test and physical exam, incoming cadets must secure a nomination, usually by a member of Congress.
The Falcons finished 13-3 last season, third in the MWC, matching the most wins under Clayton since 2005 (13-7).
Air Force visits Wyoming for a conference dual meet Saturday before preparing for the MWC Championships, Feb. 27 to March 1 at Oklahoma City.
The West Regional meet is March 6 to 8 with the NCAA Championships March 27 to 29, both in Seattle.
MORE SWIMMING & DIVING
Lindenwood senior Jon Lau ('Iolani '04 of Honolulu) won the 100-yard butterfly (52.17) and the 100-yard breaststroke (1:02.07) in a dual meet against Principia Friday. Senior Chris Ricketts (Mid-Pacific '04 of Honolulu) finished first in the 200-yard individual medley (1:32.39) and teamed with Lau as part of the first-place 200-yard medley relay team (1:39.49). Freshman Devon Palermo (Saint Louis '07 of Honolulu) was third in both the 100-yard breaststroke (1:06.13) and the 200-yard individual medley (2:05.39). Palermo was also on the second-place 200-yard medley relay team (1:42.84). Against Monmouth Saturday, Lau won the 200-yard breaststroke (2:16.50) and was second in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:02.72). Ricketts won both the 200-yard individual medley (2:03.22) and the 100-yard breaststroke (1:01.21). Palermo was second in the 1,000-yard freestyle (10:50.94) and the 200-yard individual medley (2:08.40). Against Principia, senior Mandy Chun ('Iolani '04 of Honolulu) won the 100-yard butterfly (1:04.92) and was on the first-place 200-yard freestyle relay team (1:46.77) along with sophomore Jenna Nakamoto (Kalani '06 of Honolulu). Lindenwood won both meets.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Gonzaga (Spokane, Wash.) senior guard Rachel Kane (Punahou '04 of Honolulu) tore her left anterior cruciate ligament last week. It is the fourth time Kane has torn an ACL. She tore her left ACL as a freshman at Punahou, then suffered back-to-back torn right ACL injuries since. Kane, who already has earned an engineering degree, is one of two seniors on the Bulldogs' squad.
Menlo (Atherton, Calif.) senior guard Kepua Lee (Moanalua '04 of Honolulu) also suffered a season-ending ACL injury last week, ending her collegiate career. Desiree Lee, Kepua's mother, said Oaks' coach Caitlin Collier plans to have Lee check-in and inbound a pass during her final game on Feb. 16.
Pepperdine junior wing Taylor Smith (Kalaheo '05 of Kailua) came off the bench for 14 points with three rebounds in an 81-75 loss at San Francisco Thursday. Smith had two points, two rebounds, two blocks and an assist in Saturday's 83-72 loss to San Diego.
Cal State Northridge freshman forward Analee Viena-Lota (Kamehameha '07 of Honolulu) notched a pair of double-doubles last week. In a 70-55 loss at UC Irvine Thursday, she scored 10 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Against Cal State Fullerton Saturday, she had 10 points and 13 rebounds. The Matadors lost, 59-55.
Washington University (St. Louis, Mo.) junior guard Shanna-Lei Dacanay (Punahou '05 of Honolulu) had 10 points and two assists Sunday in a 54-47 victory over Carnegie Mellon.
Concordia (Irvine, Calif.) freshman guard Nikki Fu (Maryknoll '07 of Honolulu) had 14 points, four rebounds and three assists in a 82-65 loss to California Baptist last week. Fu scored 12 points with two rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block in Saturday's 67-56 loss to The Master's College.
Holy Names (Oakland, Calif.) sophomore forward Mana Camara (Kalani '06 of Honolulu) scored 12 points with two rebounds, an assist and two steals in a 61-56 win over Cal State East Bay Thursday. Junior guard Larissa Nakasone (Roosevelt '05 of Honolulu) had six points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals. Junior guard Chelsie Kadota (Roosevelt '05 of Honolulu) added two points, three rebounds and two steals, and freshman guard C'ani Kealoha (Farrington '07 of Honolulu) had two points and two rebounds. Cal State East Bay (Hayward, Calif.) senior guard Bre Carson (McKinley '04 of Kailua) had two rebounds, one assist and two steals.
Whitworth (Spokane, Wash.) freshman forward Courtney Gaddis (Kalani '07 of Honolulu) scored four points with two rebounds and a steal in a 76-73 win over Linfield Friday. Gaddis scored a career-high 18 points off the bench in an 82-71 win over Willamette Saturday. Freshman forward Johanna Sai (Kamehameha '07 of Honolulu) added five points.
MEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Stanford sophomore setter Kawika Shoji ('Iolani '06 of Honolulu) had 33 assists, two kills and eight digs in a three-game loss to Pacific last week. Shoji had 12 kills, 11 digs and four assists in Saturday's four-game win over Ball State.
Cal State Northridge senior outside hitter Isaac Kneubuhl (Kamehameha '03 of Pukalani) had three kills and one dig in a four-game loss at Brigham Young Friday. Kneubuhl had 22 kills on 44 attempts (.364 hitting percentage) with six errors in a five-game loss to BYU Saturday.
USC freshman setter Riley McKibbin (Punahou '06 of Honolulu) had 16 assists in a sweep of UC San Diego Saturday.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Washington State senior guard Derrick Low ('Iolani '04 of Honolulu) scored five points with two rebounds, four assists and a steal in a 69-64 loss to California Thursday. The Cougars also dropped Saturday's game against Stanford, 67-65, despite Low's 19 points and three steals.
Colorado School of Mines junior guard Kyle Pape ('Iolani '05 of Honolulu) scored 37 points in a 78-75 loss at Nebraska-Kearney last week. He also had 24 points in a 69-65 win over Regis Friday.
Lewis & Clark College (Portland, Ore.) senior Gene Rivera (Maui '04 of Kahului) had nine points, six rebounds, six assists and four blocks in an 85-79 win over Pacific last week. He scored 12 points with seven rebounds, two assists and four blocks in Saturday's 78-76 loss at Pacific Lutheran.
Linfield (McMinnville, Ore.) sophomore guard Cody Tesoro (Baldwin '05 of Kahului) scored five points and had one assist and one steal in a 77-68 loss at Whitworth Friday. Tesoro added 10 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal in Saturday's 83-76 win over Whitman.
WRESTLING
Dana College (Blair, Neb.) junior Ryan "Bulla" Tuzon (Baldwin '05) won a 7-6 decision over Matt Morris of Augustana College Friday night. Tuzon scored first on a takedown and held a 4-1 lead after the first period. Morris tied it at 4 headed into the third period. He took a 6-5 lead on a takedown with 54 seconds left, but Tuzon's reversal with 11 seconds was the difference. Dana won the dual meet, 31-10.
HONORS
Creighton senior Kari Tanimoto (Pearl City '04 of Waipahu) was honored by the Missouri Valley Conference with a Good Neighbor award. Tanimoto, who ran cross country for the Bluejays, completed her eligibility.
Fairfield senior Lindsey Lee (St. Joseph '04 of Hilo) was one of 16 student-athletes named recipients of the Academic Momentum Award, presented by the National Consortium for Academics and Sports. NCAS provides opportunities for current and former student-athletes to continue their education while working with children to address social issues within the community. Lee, an outside hitter on the Stags' volleyball team, is a psychology major.
Reach Kalani Takase at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com.
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