• Just gotta be there! Just gotta be there! By Duane Shimogawa Jr. – The Garden Island You can watch it on television, hear it on the radio, or even see it in the newspaper, but there’s nothing that comes
• Just gotta be there!
Just gotta be there!
By Duane Shimogawa Jr. – The Garden Island
You can watch it on television, hear it on the radio, or even see it in the newspaper, but there’s nothing that comes close to the feeling of seeing a live sports contest.
And I don’t mean just catching the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, the only nationally televised event held on Kaua’i.
Instead, come out to see the three high schools joust for the KIF football and volleyball titles this season.
In fact, make it a point to see at least 10 games from any KIF sport this year. Besides, the prepsters like it when the stand’s are packed, just ask Kaua’i’s Jett Jasper.
Since we have no pro teams in the state, we have to rely heavily on our high school sports teams to give us the excitement and pride that comes with following a local sports team.
Many would also say that the University of Hawai’i’s athletic squads, most notably the Rainbow Wahine volleyball and Warrior football teams are truly our flagship teams.
We all have ties to one school on the island, whether it be where we graduated from, where our kids go, where we teach, or even where we coach, it’s all about pride.
On Kaua’i, there aren’t many opportunities to see professional sports, but that doesn’t mean that the majority of us don’t pay attention to the pro scene.
Our community is built on local sports, and even if we see an athlete from a rival school make it to the collegiate level, we still feel a sense of pride because we all have that special connection.
A good example is Jordon Dizon, who’s in his second season as a starting linebacker for Colorado University.
We follow him like he’s our brother and when we see him on the island, we surely let him know that we’re proud of him.
Tyler Yates is another great example of a Kaua’i boy realizing his dream. The New York Mets relief pitcher went down before the season even started with an injury, but don’t count him out; he’ll definitely be back next season.
Kekaha’s Kaliko Oligo is also faring well on the diamond. Oligo, nicknamed the “Flying Hawaiian” by his Ohio Valley Redcoats teammates, won the award for “Most Endurance,” during the team’s post-season awards ceremony.
The outfielder batted .266 with 101 hits and 36 RBI’s on the season.
But there are many more individuals, like Kapa’a’s Moses Punzal and the Carvalho brothers, who are on to the gridiron’s next level.
These individuals are the reasons why we have to be there in person to see them play, because before you know it, they’re off to the next level!
