Posted on: Wednesday, February 4, 2009
HOMEGROWN REPORT
Nino, Maekawa eager to open season in Hawaii
By Kalani Takase
Advertiser Staff Writer
Kurt Nino and Sean Maekawa could think of no better way to open the spring golf season than back home.
Nino, a senior at the University of San Francisco, and Maekawa, a sophomore at the University of Oregon, are on the Big Island this week to compete in the 19th annual UH-Hilo Intercollegiate Golf Tournament.
The 54-hole tournament starts today at the Mauna Lani Resort's North course.
Nino, a 2005 graduate of Damien and medalist at the 2004 state tournament, is a captain for the Dons. Senior Edward Han is a 2005 Maryknoll graduate.
"It's a good feeling to come back home and open the season," Nino said. "I came back during winter break and played a lot of golf. I played about two weeks ago on O'ahu. It gets me really comfortable playing in Hawai'i as the first tournament."
The 17-team field includes No. 2 Southern California, No. 5 Stanford, No. 8 Arizona State and No. 10 Georgia Tech. The Trojans are led by top-ranked Matthew Giles.
"There are 11 teams in the top 20," said USF coach Dr. Gary Nelson. "It's a very strong field."
Nelson, in his third season at the school, jumped at the invitation to the prestigious tournament.
"There was no doubt at all. USF has a very special relationship with Hawai'i, so we traditionally have a high population of students from Hawai'i," Nelson said. "We recruit quite heavily in Hawai'i."
Moses Kahalekulu, a 2003 Baldwin alum, graduated last year. Nelson said he hopes to continue the line of golfers from Hawai'i at the school.
"Hawai'i puts out a lot of good golfers and we've traditionally had a lot of students from the Islands," Nelson said. "We even have a Hawai'i club on campus."
Maekawa, a 2007 Honoka'a graduate, will feel even more at home than Nino. The Pa'auilo native won the Big Island Amateur in August of last year on the same course.
Today's first round begins with a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. Tomorrow's second and Friday's third rounds begin at 7:30 a.m.
MEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Stanford freshman outside hitter Brad Lawson ('Iolani '08) hit .438 and put down a team-high 27 kills with 11 digs and an ace in a five-set win over Long Beach State Friday. Sophomore outside hitter Spencer McLachlin (Punahou '07) had 17 kills, 10 digs, five blocks and had an ace. Junior setter Kawika Shoji ('Iolani '06) had 38 assists, nine digs, five blocks and a kill and freshman libero Erik Shoji (Punahou '08) contributed 13 digs and four assists. In Saturday's four-set win over UC San Diego, Kawika Shoji had 52 assists, five kills, six blocks, four digs and an ace. Lawson registered 11 kills, six digs, one block and an ace; McLachlin had nine kills, four digs, five blocks, two aces and one assist, and Erik Shoji had 13 digs and three assists. The Cardinal (7-3, 3-2 MPSF) visit UCLA Friday and UC Irvine Saturday.
Southern California sophomore setter Riley McKibbin (Punahou '07) had 36 assists, six digs, one block and a kill in a three-set loss at Pepperdine Friday.
California Baptist junior libero Micah Tokuda (Hawai'i Baptist '05 of Waipahu) had 11 digs in last Wednesday's four-set loss at UCLA.
Lindenwood (Mo.) senior outside hitter Devin Shiroma (Damien '05 of Honolulu) was named National Player of the Week by the Mid-America Men's Volleyball Intercollegiate Conference after he recorded 5.5 kills, 3.0 digs and 1.0 blocks per set. Shiroma, who hit .368, and Lindenwood went 1-1 last week.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Colorado School of Mines senior guard Kyle Pape ('Iolani '05 of Honolulu) scored a game-high 20 points last night as the Orediggers (11-9, 6-6 Rocky Mountain) defeated visiting Colorado Christian, 88-60. Pape scored 15 points in a 67-51 win over Regis (Colo.) Friday and had a team-high 13 points in Saturday's 54-49 loss to Metro State (Minn.). Last week Pape was named to the Academic All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Pape, a civil engineering major, holds a 3.245 GPA.
Linfield junior guard Cody Tesoro (Baldwin '05 of Kahului) had 15 points, two rebounds, three assists and a block in an 87-78 loss to Puget Sound Saturday. The Wildcats (7-12, 5-5 Northwest) visit Whitman (Wash.) Friday and Whitworth (Wash.) Saturday.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
UNLV freshman wing Jamie Smith ('Iolani '08 of Kailua) had 10 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and two steals in a 78-64 loss to Air Force Saturday. The Rebels (9-11, 2-5 Mountain West) visit San Diego State tonight.
Idaho freshman guard Shaena-Lyn Kuehu (Punahou '08 of Honolulu) had 11 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals in a 66-50 win over Hawai'i Sunday. The Vandals (8-10, 5-2 Western Athletic) visit Louisiana Tech Friday and New Mexico State Sunday.
Menlo (Calif.) senior guard Kelci Fushikoshi (Lahainaluna '05) scored a game-high 24 points, but the Oaks dropped a 59-54 decision to Holy Names (Calif.) Thursday. Freshman forward Britni Ronolo (Moanalua '08) added 10 points and five rebounds, and sophomore guard Jamie-Leigh Ronolo (Moanalua '07) had seven points, three boards, two assists and two steals.
SWIMMING & DIVING
UC Irvine senior Randall Tom (Seabury Hall '05 of Wailuku) won the 200-yard butterfly (1:49.69) and the 100 butterfly (48.24) in a tri-meet against Cal Baptist and UC San Diego two weeks ago. Tom also swam on the winning 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay teams. Tom was named Big West Athlete of the Week for his efforts.
Northern Arizona sophomore Meredith Egloria (Kapolei '06) and senior Tami Binek (Waiakea '04 of Volcano) were on the winning 200-yard freestyle relay team (1:37.13) in a meet against Arizona State Saturday.
Fairfield freshman Michelle Yoshida (Punahou '08) won three events in a tri-meet against Iona and Loyola Saturday. Yoshida captured the 100-yard freestyle (53.98 seconds), the 200 freestyle (1:56.12) and swam the anchor leg on the winning 200 medley relay team (1:54.74). Freshman Kekoa Taparra (Kamehameha '08 of Mililani) also took three events — the 100 breaststroke (59.30), 200 breaststroke (2:10.39) and the 200 individual medley (1:59.03). The Fairfield men beat Iona and lost to Loyola, while the women dropped both meets. Yoshida was named Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Women's Swimmer of the Week yesterday.
WRESTLING
Jamestown (N.D.) freshman Tani Ader (Farrington '08) won the school's first individual national title Saturday in the 130-pound weight class at the Women's Collegiate Wrestling Association National Championships in Marshall, Mo. Ader defeated Missouri Valley's Jenny Germany for the title and led four All-Americans from the school. Others earning honors from Jamestown were Chaelyn Tan (Kapolei '08) at 130 pounds, Raquel Pa'aluhi (Wai'anae '08) at 138.75 pounds and Pi'ikea Kalalau (Baldwin '08) at 147.5 pounds. Also earning All-America honors were Cumberland's Ciannah Hee (Kahuku '08) at 121 pounds, Missouri Baptist's Desiree Memea (University High '06) at 180.25 pounds and Oklahoma City's Renee Michell (Konawaena '08) at 97 pounds.
Dana (Neb.) junior Ryan "Bulla" Tuzon (Baldwin '05 of Wailuku) won by pin fall in the 165-pound match of Saturday's dual meet against Briar Cliff (Iowa). Tuzon pinned Sammy Johnson two minutes and eight seconds into the match. Dana won the dual meet 34-10.
Reach Kalani Takase at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com.
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