Cayla Kitabayashi and Jayrald Watanabe were named the Outstanding Female and Outstanding Male athletes, respectively, during the Waimea High School awards banquet, Saturday. During the awards presentation, Waimea High School staff presented the most valuable athletes in the various sporting
Cayla Kitabayashi and Jayrald Watanabe were named the Outstanding Female and Outstanding Male athletes, respectively, during the Waimea High School awards banquet, Saturday.
During the awards presentation, Waimea High School staff presented the most valuable athletes in the various sporting events it participates in as well as presenting other special awards.
Kitabayashi, who recently completed a strong Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation track & field season as well as playing on the Menehune soccer team, was selected as the female recipient of the Richard Doi Scholarship.
Jared Coleman-Stark, part of the Waimea FIRST Robotics team which inaugurated the Hawai‘i Region competition in late March, was selected as the Male Scholar Athlete, joining Bing Xi “Ceci” Sun who was named the Female Scholar Athlete.
Jordan Sato, who was part of the Waimea boys tennis team that advanced to the state finals earlier was named the Male Army Scholar Athlete. The Kalaheo native was also one of two recipients of a $500 scholarship from the Bunji Shimomura Scholarship which was established this year.
Candice Klein, another Menehune tennis player as well as the reigning Miss Veteran for the Kaua‘i Veterans Council, was the Female Army Scholar Athlete.
Randy Umetsu was the male recipient of the Richard Doi Scholarship opposite Kitabyashi and LeeAnn Sagucio was the female recipient of the Bunji Shimomura Scholarship.
Tialei Agader was named the most valuable for the Waimea varsity girls volleyball while Jared Matsumoto, the setter who said his most memorable moment was the one-handed block he made during the KIF championship, was named most valuable for the boys volleyball program.
Hamiha Arquette was the valued player for the girls JV volleyball program with Ryan Kanahele being the valued player for the boys JV volleyball.
Syanne Sagawa and Tiffany Lum shared honors for the girls bowling team with Harold Shimono Jr. leading the boys bowling program.
Coleman-Stark got the nod for the boys riflery program with Beverly Grande leading the girls riflery contingent.
Nicole Ishibashi and Sunni Acosta were tops in the Menehune cheerleading program, and Matthew Haack being the valued paddler for the Waimea boys paddling program. Xiani Matagiese was the valued paddler for the girls’ canoe.
Waylon Kanahele and Alana Kanahele were named for the JV boys and girls paddling programs, respectively.
Darrel Nonaka was named most valuable for the boys tennis program with Grande announced for the girls tennis.
Distance runners Coleman-Stark and Caralyn Broyles were named to the boys and girls slots for the Menehune track and field program, and Kelly Batis got the nod for the Waimea baseball program.
Coleman-Stark and Broyles were also named to the Cross Country program.
Braxton Garma and Cheri Kua were named to the valued positions in the varsity basketball programs with Vinda Carineo and Brandi Briones being announced to the JV basketball programs.
Kevin Chiba was named to the Menehune boys soccer valued slot alongside Kitabayashi who got the nod for the girls soccer.
Jordan Kitabayashi and Natasha Abadila were named to the JV soccer programs for boys and girls, respectively.
Watanabe was named MVP for the Menehune football program with Kaulana Waalani-Arroyo getting the honor for the JV football team.
Grant Paiste and Melissa Kagawa were named valuable for the Waimea golf program.
Peter James Joyce was named the valued Menehune boys swimmer with Broyles getting the nod for the girls swimming program.
Kanani Mata was named to the softball program to round out the awards.
According to an e-mail from Jon Kobayashi, the Waimea High School athletic director, each year, the Menehune Booster Club presents scholarships to male and female recipients.
Nominees are selected for scholarships based on the following criteria: a graduating senior athlete, exemplifies the Menehune Spirit of good character, discipline, loyalty and commitment.
