Posted on: Wednesday, May 7, 2008
HOMEGROWN REPORT
Shoji selected second-team All-American
By Kalani Takase
Advertiser Staff Writer
Kawika Shoji is a soft-spoken guy, but don't be fooled, he's a ferocious competitor and many took notice this season.
The Stanford sophomore setter and 2006 'Iolani graduate was named second team All-American by the AVCA after leading the Cardinal to a 17-11 record, a 14-game turnaround from 2007.
Shoji deflects much of the credit to his teammates.
"It was a combination of things: experience, hard work and our young team finally started to mesh and play together," he said. "Our freshmen provided a big lift for us this year."
Two of those freshmen were Spencer McLachlin (Punahou '07) and Jordan Inafuku (Kamehameha '06).
"Spencer and Jordan had a huge impact on our program this year," Shoji said. "They did everything they had to do as freshman to improve the team and we look forward to them having big seasons next year."
Shoji, who averaged 10.31 assists per game and totalled 990 for the year, says expectations will be raised for next season.
"Oh, absolutely. Our goal this year was to make the playoffs. Obviously we weren't happy just making it, but we achieved that goal and we want to improve and keep getting better," Shoji said.
Although he remains modest in his achievements, the award is not lost on Shoji.
"It's a great honor, because growing up in Hawai'i, I got to watch a lot of previous All-Americans in Yuval Katz, Costas Theocharidis ... some of my idols, and to be able to join their company is one of the greatest honors a volleyball player can have," Shoji said.
More schools in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation feature players from Hawai'i than ever before and Shoji says it is a testament to the level of competition locally.
"Basically, every team in the MPSF has a guy from Hawai'i and it's always uplifting to see a familiar face, either a former teammate or an opponent from high school on the other side of the net," Shoji said. "I feel proud seeing guys from Hawai'i in the league because it shows that such a small place can turn out such big talent in the sport of volleyball and it's a tribute to our state and the high school and club programs back home."
MEN'S GOLF
Pacific (Forest Grove, Ore.) freshman Max Bonk (Hawai'i Prep '07 of Kamuela) earned an invitation to the NCAA Division III Championships at the Chateau Elan Resort in Braselton, Ga. Bonk was one of five individual qualifiers nationwide. The tournament runs Saturday through Tuesday.
SOFTBALL
Seattle University junior designated hitter/catcher Kaha Weir (Punahou '05 of Honolulu) drove in the tying and go-ahead runs with a pinch-hit single Thursday to give the Redhawks a 7-6 win over Western Oregon. Weir had a double in the second game of the doubleheader, but Seattle lost, 2-1. She hit a solo homer in a 4-0 win over Western Oregon.
Western Oregon gained national prominence after senior Sara Tucholsky tore her ACL rounding first base after hitting her first career home run and was carried by a pair of Central Washington players around the bases. Western Oregon has a pair of local players in freshmen infielders Sasha Koki (St. Francis '07 of Kane'ohe) and Tierra Cuba (Mililani '07).
East Carolina sophomore right fielder Charina Sumner (Kamehameha '06 of Kailua) went 2 for 3 and scored a run in a 3-1 win over UAB Saturday.
Puget Sound senior second baseman Lindsay Fujita (Punahou '04 of Honolulu) earned second team All-Northwest Conference honors. Fujita started all 34 games, batted .272 with 31 hits, 20 RBIs and 20 runs scored.
Pacific (Ore.) sophomore second baseman Kelly Nishitomi (Castle '06 of Kane'ohe) earned honorable mention All-Northwest Conference distinction.
BASEBALL
San Diego State senior shortstop Troy Hanzawa (Mid-Pacific '03 of Wahiawa) batted 2 for 5 with a triple and RBI in a 13-4 loss at Arizona last Wednesday. Hanzawa went 9 for 15 with a pair of doubles, four runs scored and an RBI in a sweep of Air Force over the weekend.
Sacramento State senior second baseman Taylor Watanabe ('Aiea '03) went 2 for 4 with a run scored in an 8-3 loss at Hawai'i Friday.
BYU junior first baseman Kasey Ko (Punahou '05 of Kailua) went 8 for 15 with a double, four RBIs and five runs scored in a three-game series with New Mexico. The Lobos took two from the Cougars.
Linfield senior second baseman Shannon Chung (Kalani '04 of Kane'ohe) was named first team All-Northwest Conference. Chung started 34 of the 40 games he appeared in, and batted .342, with 39 hits, 15 RBIs and 28 runs scored.
Pacific (Ore.) sophomore designated hitter Kaeo Lau Hee (Kamehameha-Maui '06 of Pukalani) earned second team All-NWC honors after batting .366 with 45 hits, 20 RBIs and 20 runs scored this season.
Puget Sound sophomore Jarvis Nohara ('Iolani '06 of Honolulu) was named second-team All-NWC as a utility player. He batted .327 with 16 hits, 11 RBIs and 14 runs scored. Nohara also went 3-3 on the mound with a 5.29 ERA in 32 1/3 innings pitched.
Puget Sound senior shortstop Shaun Kiriu (Punahou '04) and Lewis & Clark senior shortstop Jordan Shibata ('Aiea '04 of Pearl City) received All-NWC honorable mention.
TENNIS
Alcorn State senior Michael Okada (of Lahaina) was named All-Southwestern Athletic Conference in doubles. Junior Sarah Peters (of Lahaina) was named All-SWAC in both singles and doubles.
Prairie View A&M senior Andy Narido Jr. (Hilo '04 of Kea'au) was named All-SWAC in singles and the league Player of the Year.
DePauw (Ind.) freshman Janelle Arita (Punahou '07 of Mililani) was 26-8 overall this year, including a 19-6 mark at No. 1 singles. The Tigers went 22-5, reaching the third round of the NCAA Division III Tournament, before falling 5-1 to No. 8 Denison.
WOMEN'S ROWING
USC junior coxswain Denise Kobashikawa (Maryknoll '05 of Honolulu) helped the 12th-ranked Trojans beat No. 20 UCLA, 3-1. Kobashikawa's Varsity II team edged the Bruins by nearly seven seconds, finishing the race in 6:52.34.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Colorado School of Mines junior Kyle Pape ('Iolani '05) was one of nine players selected to compete in the USA Athletes International games later this month in Europe. The team is made up of players from lower level colleges in Virginia, Colorado, California and Indiana.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Washington University (Mo.) junior guard Shanna-Lei Dacanay (Punahou '05 of Honolulu) led the NCAA Division II in assist-to-turnover ratio last season, finishing with a 85 assists to 30 turnovers or 2.83 assists for every turnover she committed. The mark was seventh-best in any NCAA level last year. She started all 27 games for the Bears (19-8), who made a Division III-record 19th straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
COMMITMENTS
Saint Louis seniors Joseph O'Connor and Marcus Gonzalez, along with Maui senior Matt Brown, have given their commitment to play football at Linfield.
Reach Kalani Takase at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com.
