Posted on: Wednesday, January 21, 2009
HOMEGROWN REPORT
HOMEGROWN
Diving into Florida waters
By Kalani Takase
Advertiser Staff Writer
When Patrick Jeffrey began recruiting Aleia Monden more than three years ago, he knew it may be difficult to persuade the four-time Hawai'i state diving champion to leave paradise for Tallahassee, Fla., some 4,000 miles away.
But for Monden, a Mililani resident and 2006 graduate of St. Andrew's Priory, the decision to attend Florida State on a diving scholarship came easy.
Monden, now a junior captain for the Seminoles, has established herself as a team leader and one of the top divers in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Jeffrey first met Monden in August of 2005 at the USA Diving Senior Nationals in Indianapolis.
"Her (age-group) coach told me about her when I saw her at the national championships," Jeffrey said. "I invited her to come on a recruiting trip, she enjoyed it and she decided to come here ... it's kind of worked out both ways."
Jeffrey was already familiar with Monden's coach, Jeff Stabile.
"I've known her coach since we were young and we used to dive against each other ... He's a good friend of mine," Jeffrey said. "He felt like Aleia would be a good fit and I saw her (at senior nationals) and I agreed."
Monden has flourished under Jeffrey's coaching. She placed 11th in the platform event at last year's NCAA Championships to earn honorable mention All-America recognition.
"I think she's just steadily getting better in every aspect," Jeffrey said. "She definitely has been able to train platform more consistently."
At a dual meet against Clemson last Saturday, Monden scored 283.73 points to win the 1-meter event. She also placed second in the 3-meter with 288.15 points.
"The last meet was the best one for sure," Jeffrey said. "She's just been more consistent. She can have a few great dives, but being able to put them all together in a row was important. That's sometimes where she struggled."
Monden has posted a personal-best of 286.10 in the 1-meter, 291.23 in the 3-meter event and 295.50 in the platform.
"She's a great kid and has a great, positive attitude, which helps her in diving and helps her to be a leader, as well," Jeffrey said.
He expects Monden to better last year's mark at the NCAAs.
"I'd like for her to keep progressing even further and I think she can definitely be an All-American," Jeffrey said.
The ACC championships will be held Feb. 18 to 21 in College Park, Md.
Monden will have to qualify to earn a return trip to the NCAA Championships through one of the five nationwide zone qualifiers, March 13 to 15 at a site to be determined. The top eight divers at the NCAAs — March 19 to 21 at College Station, Texas — earn All-America distinction.
MORE SWIMMING & DIVING:
North Carolina State senior Andrew Lester (Moanalua '04 of Honolulu) won the 1,000-yard freestyle in 9:28.94 in a dual meet against Georgia Tech Saturday. He also placed second in the 400 individual medley (3:59.84) and the 500 freestyle (4:36.40). Georgia Tech won the dual meet, 124-118.
Air Force senior Kai Yamashiro ('Iolani '05 of Kane'ohe) won the 200-yard backstroke in 1:51.87 in a dual meet against Denver Saturday. Senior Bryan Avery (Mililani '05) helped the Falcons to runners-up finishes in the 400 freestyle relay (3:08.78) and 400 medley relay (3:23.97), which Yamashiro also took part in. Denver won the dual meet, 153-89.
Seattle University junior Elizabeth Hanohano (Kamehameha '06 of Honolulu) won three events Saturday to help the Redhawks to a 120-76 dual meet victory over Simon Fraser. Hanohano won the 200-yard freestyle (1:57.68), the 100 freestyle (54.77) and swam the opening leg for the winning 400 freestyle relay team (3:40.91).
Lindenwood (Mo.) freshman Sarah Billamosa (Pearl City '08) finished third in the 200-yard butterfly (2:14.27) in Friday's Washington University (Mo.) Invitational.
Linfield (Ore.) junior Yusuke Kobayashi (Kaiser '06 of Honolulu) won the 200-yard freestyle in 1:48.13 in Saturday's dual meet against Pacific Lutheran (Wash.). Kobayashi also captured the 100 freestyle (49.91) and swam on the winning 400 freestyle relay team (3:21.71). Pacific Lutheran won the dual meet, 103-93.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Colorado School of Mines senior guard Kyle Pape ('Iolani '05 of Honolulu) had 13 points, three assists, one rebound and a steal in a 71-64 loss to Fort Lewis Friday. Pape had a game-high 20 points with two assists and two steals Saturday as the Orediggers (7-8, 2-5 Rocky Mountain) eased to a 79-61 win over Adams State.
Holy Names (Calif.) freshman guard Robert Donley (Waipahu '07) had nine points, three rebounds and a steal in a 64-52 loss to Dominican (Calif.) last week. Senior guard Aaron Kanno (Mililani '04) had 13 points, six rebounds and six assists in Saturday's 80-72 loss to William Jessup (Calif.). Freshman guard Obie Woods ('Aiea '08 of 'Ewa Beach) added four points, five rebounds, two assists and three steals.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
UNLV freshman wing Jamie Smith ('Iolani '08 of Kailua) had 15 rebounds in a 71-64 win over Wyoming Saturday. Smith also had four points, two assists and one steal for the Rebels (8-9, 1-3 Mountain West).
Pepperdine senior wing Taylor Smith (Kalaheo '05 of Kailua) had 10 points, nine rebounds and a steal in a 69-57 loss to San Diego Thursday. The Waves are 9-8, 2-1 West Coast.
Cal State Northridge sophomore forward Analee Viena-Lota (Kamehameha '07 of Honolulu) had two points, five rebounds and two assists in a 72-62 loss to UC Riverside last Wednesday. In an 88-84 overtime win over Long Beach State Saturday, Viena-Lota had six points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block for the Matadors (4-13, 1-3 Big West).
Concordia (Calif.) sophomore guard Nicole Fu (Maryknoll '07 of Honolulu) had 15 points, five assists and a team-high eight rebounds in a 73-68 loss to Vanguard (Calif.) yesterday. She had a team-high 15 points along with three assists, two rebounds and two steals in an 85-54 loss to Biola (Calif.) Saturday. Washington University (Mo.) senior guard Shanna-Lei Dacanay (Punahou '05 of Honolulu) had 11 points, four assists, one rebound, one steal and a block in a 76-40 win over Case Western Reserve (Ohio) Friday. Dacanay had six points, three assists, two rebounds and a steal in Sunday's 77-50 win over Emory (Ga.).
Middlebury (Vt.) junior guard Alana Wall ('Iolani '06 of Honolulu) had eight points, two rebounds and two assists in an 80-67 loss to Bates (Maine) Friday. In Saturday's 60-41 loss at Tufts (Mass.), Wall had four points, three rebounds and two blocks.
Menlo senior guard Kelci Fushikoshi (Lahainaluna '05) scored a game-high 26 points Thursday in a 58-49 win over Bethany (Calif.). In a 67-57 win over Simpson (Calif.) Saturday, Fushikoshi had 15 points, eight rebounds, four assists and a steal for the Oaks (12-4, 6-1 California Pacific).
Holy Names (Calif.) junior guard Larisa Nakasone (Roosevelt '05) had five points, 10 assists, three rebounds and a steal in an 83-62 win over Dominican last week. Senior guard Chelsie Kadota (Roosevelt '05) added six points, three rebounds, two assists and four steals. Sophomore guard Jamie-Leigh Ronolo (Moanalua '07) had eight points and two steals in a 64-59 loss at UC Santa Cruz last Wednesday. In Friday's 68-58 win over William Jessup, Kadota had 13 points, two steals and a rebound, and Nakasone added five points, seven assists, three rebounds and two steals.
Puget Sound junior forward Natasha Ludwig (Waiakea '05 of Hilo) had five points, six rebounds, three steals and a block in a 47-43 loss at Whitworth (Wash.) Friday. Ludwig had nine points, nine rebounds and two assists in Saturday's 69-66 win over Whitman (Wash.).
MEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Stanford sophomore outside hitter Spencer McLachlin (Punahou '07 of Honolulu) had 13 kills, eight digs, four blocks and two aces in a sweep of Pacific (Calif.) last Wednesday. Junior setter Kawika Shoji ('Iolani '06 of Honolulu) had 45 assists with seven digs, four kills and three blocks while his younger brother, freshman libero Erik Shoji (Punahou '08 of Honolulu), had a team-high 13 digs with three assists, and freshman outside hitter Brad Lawson ('Iolani '08 of Honolulu) added eight kills, five digs, one ace and one block. In a sweep of Ohio State Friday, McLachlin had 14 kills, five digs, an ace and a block. Kawika Shoji added 46 assists, five digs, four kills and a block. Erik Shoji contributed 11 digs and two aces, and Lawson added nine kills, seven digs, two blocks and an ace. McLachlin hit .421 with 11 kills, four digs and two aces to lead the Cardinal (5-1) to a sweep of Ohio State Saturday. Kawika Shoji had 38 assists, seven digs and three kills, while Erik Shoji had a match-high 13 digs with five assists, and Lawson hit .308 with 11 kills, four digs, one block and an ace.
Southern California sophomore setter Riley McKibbin (Punahou '07 of Honolulu) had 33 assists, 10 digs, two kills and one ace in Friday's sweep of Hope International (Calif.).
UC Irvine senior libero Brent Asuka ('Iolani '05 of 'Aiea) had eight digs and an ace in last Wednesday's four-set win over UC Santa Barbara. In a four-set loss to Cal State Northridge Friday, Asuka had two assists and one ace for the Anteaters (4-2, 1-1 MPSF).
FOOTBALL
Former Southern California linebacker Kaluka Maiava (Baldwin '05 of Wailuku) tied for a team-high six tackles in Saturday's East-West Shrine Game in Houston. Maiava played for the West squad, along with ex-Oregon State safety Al Afalava (Kahuku '05 of La'ie) and former Hawai'i defensive back Ryan Mouton. The East won the game, 24-19.
HONORS
The Apprentice School (Va.) freshman linebacker Mana Ohia ('Aiea '07 of Honolulu) was named Division III Southwest Rookie of the Year by the Eastern College Athletic Association. Ohia played in six games this season and had 38 tackles — 7 1/2 for losses, including 2 sacks — and blocked two field goals. He was also named Atlantic Central Football Conference Rookie of the Year. The Apprentice School, located in Newport News, Va., is affiliated with the Northrop Grumman corporation and is for students interested in shipbuilding careers.
Reach Kalani Takase at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2404.
SEND US PHOTOS
If you know of any athletes deserving recognition, give us their names, high schools and graduation years, colleges and sports. Photos are also welcome. E-mail us at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com or contact Kalani Takase at 535-2404.
Reach Kalani Takase at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com.
| | |
|
|
