Waimea football coach Jon Kobayashi shouldn’t be too upset about last Friday’s season ending loss to Kakuhu. His Menehunes had a near perfect season (9-2 overall) and beat an impressive Castle team in front of a stadium capacity crowd at
Waimea football coach Jon Kobayashi shouldn’t be too upset about last Friday’s season ending loss to Kakuhu.
His Menehunes had a near perfect season (9-2 overall) and beat an impressive Castle team in front of a stadium capacity crowd at Vidinha.
But what really made this year worthwhile is what’s going to make 2002 an even more productive year.
Some of his best performers are coming back next season, and visions of state title hopes still loom in the locker rooms at Hanapepe Stadium.
One of Waimea’s most valuable assets, running back Jordan Dizon, isn’t ready to untie his cleats. The nimble Halfback look-alike has many colleges wondering when he is going to get older. But he is still a sophomore, and will give Kobayashi two more seasons of 100-yard games, much like he did four times this season.
Dizon has to stay healthy. He has to heal a bum knee that bothered him all season long and needs to get in some off-season conditioning to maintain his strength and endurance. If Dizon stays healthy and in good shape, the Menehune running game should be in tact, as well.
If Dizon is Waimea’s most valuable asset, Rayson Cacal is the team’s most electric playmaker. Cacal, a running back, receiver, defensive back, special teams player etc.-the KIF’s ultimate utility threat, will return yet again to impress Waimea fans with sheer athletic ability. He will round out the Menehunes running attack, and will also contribute to their air game.
Speaking of air game, won’t it be interesting to see what Kobayashi will do with his blossoming receivers squad in 2002. Now that Adrian Agan will graduate, Jon Palacio will take over as Waimea’s quarterback, and his short stints as Waimea’s leading guy, this year, proved he has accuracy.
He may develop into quite a passer if he learns how to move in the pocket. Palacio played in place of Agan at some points against Kahuku, last week, but Kobayashi rarely had him throw. In 2002, he will have a number of targets-Dane Koga, by far the league’s top wide-out, Lanikai Kanahele (also a good thirdbaseman), a sizeable, 250 lb. tight end who will account for plenty of yards after the catch, and up-and-comers Leonard Zalopany, Cory Rita, Oliver Moniz, Levi Maeda and Tyson Fernandez.
Most of these guys will also comprise a wicked secondary unit (especially Koga, Cacal and Dizon (although a linebacker, breaks up plays), who have faced agile receivers both in the KIF and OIA.
Big men Kalae Durant, Michael Yaris and Austin Aquiza will beef up both offensive and defensive lines for the Menehunes. Aquiza was injured early this season and will be an added bonus if he can stay healthy in 2002. Nalu Mata and Jesse Cabatan are guys who need to continue creating those holes if Waimea expects to travel to Aloha in November of next year.
Kobayashi has to be pleased with the way Gary Mata has played this season, and should be ecstatic knowing the linebacker is only a junior. He can run the ball, but his true forte is defense. A Junior Seau-type linebacker, Mata is everywhere. If the ball is there, Mata is there. And this kind of play has made him one of the best defensive players in the KIF. He will play alongside another returner, Brandon Ishibashi.
The Menehunes will bid farewell to their seniors, who have witnessed for the last time their alma-mater’s chase for the HHSAA crown. They will be missed as Kobayashi welcomes junior varsity standouts to his squad.
But, for now, forget the phrase, “out with the old and in with the new.”
There will many familiar faces on this Waimea team next year, and plan again for another strong Kobayashi showing.
