KIF coaches recognize players who didn’t make the paper, but did make a difference By JASON GALLIC TGI Sports Editor Another Kaua’i Interscholastic Federation football season is in the books. The Waimea Menehunes again dominated the gridiron, taking home their
KIF coaches recognize players who didn’t make the paper, but did make a
difference
By JASON GALLIC
TGI Sports Editor
Another
Kaua’i Interscholastic Federation football season is in the books. The Waimea
Menehunes again dominated the gridiron, taking home their ninth consecutive
crown.
Throughout the season, fans and media were given the chance to watch
nine weeks of heart and soul poured out by the kids in Waimea, Kapa’a and
Kaua’i uniforms.
Those nine weeks do not account for the time put in over
the summer or the exhausting preseason efforts endured by each of the
kids.
So, here in this forum, each KIF school’s coach was asked to
recognize a group of players, their choice, who contributed mightily to the
success of the program, but maybe didn’t get the accolades of others. These
kids were vital to the efficiency of the program, but didn’t necessarily run,
catch or throw the ball.
With his space, Kapa’a coach Gordon Muramaru chose
exclusively to discuss his seniors.
Waimea
Holding a near-perfect
grip on his commitment to team only, Menehunes coach Jon Kobayashi opted not to
recognize individual players with statements unique to each. He chose, rather,
to recognize players through the highlighting of certain
positions.
Defensive linemen
Seniors
Michael Koerte, 5-7,
190
Chris DelaCruz, 5-7, 197
Dustin Silva, 5-10,
175
Junior
Brandon Malama, 5-3, 145
Kobayashi said: “These guys go
head on against the offense all game to keep the guys off our linebackers. They
are always fending off the big boys. They are very important to the success of
our defense, and they did a good job. We only gave up seven points (and just 20
all year) in the KIF. These guys aren’t always in on the tackles, but they keep
the offense off the linebackers, allowing them to make the
tackles.”
Offensive linemen/tight ends
Seniors
BJ Mariano-Hardy,
6-0, 190
Jordan Banquel, 5-4, 160
Robert Badua, 5-8, 228
Bernard
Rita, 5-7, 146
Junior
Abraham Apilado, 6-4, 280
Mark Ruiz, 5-10,
190
Kobayashi said: “These guys have been opening up holes for the running
backs all season. The key to the Waimea offense is how well they do their job.
When they open the holes, the offense moves. A lot of times, these guys don’t
get the accolades of other players, but people who know football understand how
good these guys are and how hard they work.”
Kobayashi did break with his
commentary on team for one player, however.
Ikaika Cabral, Jr., 5-9,
175
Kobayashi said: “He would be our pick for an offensive player of the
year over here. He is our blocking back and the single most important person on
our offense. He is an unsung hero back
there.”
Kaua’i
Seniors
Jonathan Wong, 6-2, 250,
OL/DL
Morgado said: “He moves bodies very well on the offensive line. Plus,
he made several downfield tackles this year. That’s impressive for a big body
like his.”
Kaiku Jerves, 5-6, 175, RB/DL
Morgado said: “It seemed like
he was always getting penetration against the offensive line. He was a good,
undersized, noseguard.”
Kris Speegle, 5-9, 160, OL/LB
Morgado said: “He
was a really consistent right tackle and strongside linebacker for
us.”
Dustin Abrazado, 5-8, 225, OL/DL
Morgado said: “By far, Dustin was
the best lineman in the conference. He’s smart, a really good thinker. If you
look at the tape, you can see how he dominated this year. There’s nobody even
close to him in the KIF.”
Juniors
Dustin Goias, 5-5, 150,
OL/LB
Morgado said: “Dustin has incredible instincts. He’s 5-5 and light
and getting 12 or 13 tackles a game. It’s really uncanny how he always gets to
the ball.”
Bransen Zeffiro, 5-6, 160, WR/DB
Morgado said: “He made a
lot of solo, open-field tackles for us. He isn’t necessarily the quickest guy
we’ve got, but he’s smart and knows how to make the play.”
Kamo’i
Refamonte, 5-9, 140, QB
Morgado said: “People may have seen a lot of
mistakes from Kamo’i, but he’s done an outstanding job grasping this brand-new
offense and making it work. He makes things out of nothing and does a good job
thinking under pressure.”
Sophomore
Jerrick Amaki, 5-7, 200,
OL/DL
Morgado said: “A tough kid who held his own at the center and
noseguard position.”
Kapa’a
All Seniors
Christian Dye,
5-6, 145, RB/DE
Muramaru said: “He is a real hard worker. As a captain, he
always led by example. He might have been hurt, but you’d never know it. He
would just suck it up and do everything asked.”
Anakale Apuna, 5-3, 135,
RB/DB
Muramaru said: “This guy just loves to hit. He ran against the first
defense in practice and just pounded it in there.”
Troy Kubota, 5-4, 165,
RB/DL
Muramaru said: “Troy was a really hard worker. He hurt his knee early
in the season or he could have played a bigger roll.”
Nick Flynn, 5-10,
160, WR/DE
Muramaru said: “This guy played with no fear. He would go out
and hit Kalani in practice, then go back to the huddle and think nothing of it.
He earned himself a spot on the special teams.”
Gavin Yokoi, 5-6, 205,
OL/DL
Muramaru said: “Gavin will come after you. He really knows this
game.”
Bryshaun Kameenui, 5-10, 235, OL/DL
Muramaru said: “Another one
of my captains. He will batter you on the football field. He’s a good
leader.”
Noah Layosa, 5-10, 190, OL/DE
Muramaru said: “Noah, hmm, you
don’t hear him coming after you, he just hits you.”
Kalika Wong, 6-0, 200,
OL/DE
Muramaru said: “Kalika is a tough football player with a good sense
of the game.”
Nick Pananganan, 5-8, 190, OL/DL
Muramaru said: “Nick
came to work everyday. It was good to have Nick on our football team.”
Joey
Adric, 6-2, 250, OL/DL
Muramaru said: “Joey came to play every single day.
He could bury you out there.”
Darren Lacaden, 5-10, 180, TE/DE
Muramaru
said: “He’s one smart football player. He was always very dependable and would
just go out and take care of business.”
Bryson Silva, 5-10, 160,
WR/DB
Muramaru said: “He’s a good boy. He’s not afraid to hit
anybody.”
Edwin Cummings, 5-10, 145, WR/DE
Muramaru said: “Another
worker. We really enjoyed having Edwin out there with us.”
Manuel Untalan,
5-7, 180, RB/DL
Muramaru said: “Manuel is a true football player who loves
to practice.”
Kalani Miyashiro, 5-7, 165 RB/LB
Muramaru said: “An
absolute true soldier. I would take Kalani to war with me. We will miss Kalani
very much. He was another one of our captains who led by example. You’d never
know if he was injured, and believe me, he was.”
