MIL JV Football: LAHAINALUNA 10, KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS MAUI 26 – September 24, 2011

Coming off a dominating 27-0 win against Maui High after a devastating loss to Baldwin after being up by double digits in the 4^th quarter, the Lunas came into this game against Kamehameha Schools Maui understandably confident. Perhaps too confident. Everyone seemed a step slow today. The KSM quarterback was running up the middle at will. The gang-tackling and everyone-to-the-ball defense that are Lahainaluna trademarks were noticeably absent. Players just did not seemed focused, as if they could just turn on a switch and put the game away. As a result, the Lunas lost 10-26.

The score was not indicative of how close the game actually was as the Warriors scored 2 touchdowns in the final minutes of the game – one on a drive that put the Warriors up 20-10 after the Lunas had scored a touchdown to bring themselves within 4 10-14. The final touchdown was scored on a pick 6, as the Warriors intercepted Kinimaka’s pass and returned it for a touchdown in the final minute of the game. Still the Warriors seemed to be in control all game.

Pass interference, no?

My Two Cents

The loss essentially puts an end to the Lunas’ hopes of winning the JV championship. The Lunas need to take care of business and focus on the game at hand. This loss hopefully will teach them that they have to come to play every game and give it 100 % focus and effort on every play, no matter the opponent.

For more photos of the game, click here.

MIL Girls Volleyball: LAHAINALUNA 0, KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS MAUI 3 – September 24, 2011

And then there were seven.

Only seven varsity players dressed up for this match against Kamehameha Schools Maui: #1 Lyla-Marie Talaroc-Kaniho, #3 Sachiko Soares, #4 Leilani Miranda, #5 Kawena Murray, #9 Kulia Murray, #10 Jessica Wallace, #12 Danielle Shaffer.  Not sure where Caidee Nobriga, Jasmine Mehana Chang or Tricia Kama were (could be softball). Although reading between the lines on Tricia Kama’s Facebook page, it appears that she may have quit the team (but I admit that is only speculation on my part).

Despite being down in numbers, they seemed to be unified in spirit and purpose. They were loose, smiling and laughing and picking each other up. Reserve Danielle Shaffer came in and made some quality digs in the backcourt. When used primarily as a hitter, senior Kulia Murray was very effective as was her sister Kawena. Jessica Wallace was steady as the setter. Leilani Miranda tried valiantly to put up an effective middle block, but she was just too undersized against her opponents. It was when the roles were reversed, when Kulia became the primary setter and Jessica an outside hitter, that the Lunas’ momentum, if any, would come to a stop.  The Lunas just don’t have enough effective outside hitters – terminators, if you will – that they can consistently go to to score points or stop rallies. At 0-8, it’s been a very long year.

They appeared to hold their own in the first match, but the size, depth and athleticism of Kamehameha overpowered the Lunas. Unfortunately, because of the time schedule and my need to get back to Wailuku to cover the JV football game, I only captured action from the first set.

#5 Kawena Murray bumps a pass to the front court as #3 Sachiko Soares looks on

Danielle Shaffer

#9 Kulia Murray skies for the kill

#5 Kawena Murray battles at the net while #12 Danielle Shaffer gets in position to cover

#4 Leilani Miranda goes low to dig the ball as #1 Lyla-Marie Talaroc-Kaniho looks on.

For more photos, click here.

MIL Girls JV Volleyball: LAHAINALUNA 1, KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS MAUI 2 – September 24, 2011

Having a volleyball match scheduled on Saturday finally allowed me to capture the action at a JV girls volleyball game for the first (and probably only) time all season.

Left to Right: #18 Kamalani Twiggs, #8 Kalei Steele, #15 Kaile Stockham, #5 Kristina Jan,
#14 Kaihi Kalilikane, #1 Tobie Bonifacio, #13 Jamie Rosenberry, #2 Kim Yap

My schedule on Saturday was really tight – Cross Country in Wailuku from 9:00am to 10:30am, quick breakfast, then drive up from Wailuku at 11:30am to get to the Kamehameha Schools Maui campus by 12:00pm. This would allow me to get shots of individual players during warm-ups prior to the 12:30pm start. The varsity girls would follow at 2:00pm, but I would only have time to catch the first set, as I wanted to head back down to Wailuku, grab a quick lunch and change of clothes, before heading to the War Memorial Stadium at 3:30pm to catch the JV football boys’ warm-up prior to their 4:30pm game against Kamehameha Schools Maui. Then I’d be there until at least 9:30 -10:00 pm to get the varsity game. A full day indeed! I don’t mind - taking pictures has become a source of stress relief for me from my full-time job as an attorney.

Kim Yap and Jamie Rosenberry smile for the camera,
wearing a team t-shirt designed and sold by Pacific Tapa

Kaihi Kalikikane

Tobie Bonifacio

One of the better JV players, Lithe Pokipala-Waiohu, was not present at this match – I assume she was playing softball on Oahu, as I learned that there was a softball tournament going on this weekend. Nevertheless, the girls that were there put up a valiant effort. They came up flat in the first set. After a slow start in the second set, they caught fire and blew them out 21-13. The third and final set was a back and forth affair, but the Lunas seemed to lose momentum during the court change at 8, and they lost the 3^rd set 11-15, and the match.

For more photos, click here.

MIL Cross-Country: @ Keopuolani Park 2011-09-27

I am an idiot.

When I arrived at Keopuolani Park bright and early (8:45am) for the MIL Cross-Country meet, I saw the runners and spectators gathering near the "Pit" area of the park. There was no parking nearby, so I decided to park in the lot near the YMCA. Rather than walking back toward the "Pit" or going through the botanicals, I decided to walk parallel to the softball fields. For some reason, I thought the race course would take it all over Keopuolani Park.

Despite the absence of race trail markers, cones and officials, I sat and waited for the runners to come to me. I waited . . . and waited . . . and waited. Then when I looked back down toward the "Pit" I saw runners criss-crossing back and forth. Crap! The course was confined to the "Pit" area!

I rushed down the walking path toward the "Pit". Just as I passed the intersection with the botanical garden path, I noticed a small pack of runners going towards the "Pit." One of them was the Lunas' Corban Kaikkonen.

I surmised that this was the head of the pack and that the remaining Lunas' boys runners would be coming down the same path shortly. Turns out, I was capturing the last 1/2 lap of the race, and the boys were running for the finish line. It was too far/too late for me to get down to the "Pit" and situate myself near the finish line. If I was going to get shots of the boys team in action, I would have to stand my ground, wait for the Lunas' runners and get as much shots as I could.

Then it was the girls' turn. Now that I knew the lay of the land, I established myself on the top of the hill, waiting for runners to run up, and talking story with Matthew Thayer.

Lahainaluna Results (Varsity only):

Boys:
26.   Kenny Kaikkonen, 21:23
39.   Blake Ramelb, 22:59
40.   Erich Skrotzki, 23:04
46.   Curtis Fletcher, 23:25
51.   Jeremy DeGracia, 24:09
56.   Billy Schusser, 25:20

Girls:
6.    Sydney McKinney, 24:01
10.  Kailey Sager, 24:24
39.  Syren Pendergast, 30:39

JV Boys Champion:  Corban Kaikkonen, 17:56

For the Maui News article on this meet, click here.

For more of my photos, click here.