The University of Hawai‘i at Manoa’s head soccer coach gushed over Kaua‘i High School’s Skye Shimabukuro. On Tuesday, Hawai‘i released the signings of four players — all from local area high schools — and coach Pinsoom Tenzing had nothing but
The University of Hawai‘i at Manoa’s head soccer coach gushed over Kaua‘i High School’s Skye Shimabukuro. On Tuesday, Hawai‘i released the signings of four players — all from local area high schools — and coach Pinsoom Tenzing had nothing but good things to say about his incoming freshmen.
Of the reigning Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation girls soccer Player of the Year, Shimabukuro, Tenzing said he’d seen her play at all the different levels and is impressed with her offensive capabilities.
“She’s a tremendous striker,” he said in a release. “Every team needs somebody like her.”
Shimabukuro joined Mililani’s Chelsey Goo and Kaitlynn Holt and Kapolei’s Chaney Lopez as the four recruits. Shimabukuro signed her official letter of intent to play for Tenzing on Feb. 10.
“I can’t wait to start training with them already,” Shimabukuro said. “What I’m really excited about though is that I know some of the girls who are going to play next year. I’ve known them but we’ve never played together on a team and I’m looking forward to it.”
Shimabukuro was named to the state all-tournament team twice in her tenure at Kaua‘i and this year, led the Lady Red Raiders to a KIF championship. This was her first year named the Player of the Year.
“It’s an honor to be named that,” she said. “I was surprised because I thought a lot of girls did really well this year.”
Kaua‘i finished third at the Division II state soccer tournament for the second year in a row. Shimabukuro finished her senior season with 20 goals. She joins fellow Kaua‘i grad Tiffany Ikeda-Simao on the Hawai‘i soccer team.
Hawai‘i this past season finished in third place at the Western Athletic Conference.
