Not only will the Kauai Interscholastic Federation football preseason have to wait one more week to begin, but it’s also been cut short. Because of the imminent arrival of Hurricane Iselle, schools across Hawaii are forced to cancel games that
Not only will the Kauai Interscholastic Federation football preseason have to wait one more week to begin, but it’s also been cut short.
Because of the imminent arrival of Hurricane Iselle, schools across Hawaii are forced to cancel games that were scheduled for this weekend, including those in the KIF.
Kapaa High School canceled its flight and will not play Oahu Interscholastic Federation school Nanakuli, said Greg Gonsalves, the school’s athletic director. The game cannot be rescheduled because the OIA regular season begins the following week.
Gonsalves said he and Nanakuli’s athletic director have planned for the two teams to meet again during next year’s preseason.
“We still owe Nanakuli a game because they came here last year,” Gonsalves said.
Kapaa’s preseason matchup against Maui’s Lahainaluna High School will go as scheduled at Vidinha Stadium on Aug. 16.
“It’s a bummer that the kids lose a game, especially the seniors,” said Warriors head coach Philip Rapozo. “These kids work so hard in the spring and summer, and to lose a game with the KIF season as short as it is, we look forward to the preseason games.
“(Lahainaluna) is always tough. The extra days will help,” Rapozo added about preparing his team for it’s only non-league game.
Waimea High’s game against OIA’s Anuenue is also canceled and can’t be rescheduled. The Menehune will play its only preseason showdown against Big Island’s Hawaii Prepatory Academy on Aug. 16 at Hanapepe Stadium.
“It’s one of those things that’s out of our control. Better safe than sorry,” said Waimea head coach Jason Caldeira. “I’m happy with the decision from our principal and our athletic director. We all understand and we’re all cool with it.”
Caldeira added having only one preseason game won’t change his approach preparing for the regular season.
“It would give us one less game of experience as a staff and with the players, but we’ll just stick to the plan and hopefully it’s the right plan,” he said. “I don’t think it will change anything drastically. It is what it is.”
Kauai High’s scheduled home game against Damien Memorial School of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu has been postponed to Aug. 23. The Red Raiders will play its first preseason game against Konawaena High School on the Big Island Aug. 16.
“We’ll just prepare an extra week and prepare for (Konawaena) … whatever we’ve done to prepare for Damien, we’ll just put on hold,” Cox said.
He added having the extra week will give his players more time to heal up as they look forward to starting their season. In addition, he said he hopes the weather clears after the hurricane passes over Kauai so his team can get a full week of practice before flying off to the Big Island.
“Just kind of playing it by ear. If school is canceled, we can’t practice. So we’ll go day by day because we don’t know if it’s going to be bad on Friday,” Cox said.
Fourteen High School Athletic Association non-league football games that were scheduled for this weekend have been either canceled or postponed, according to scoringlive.com.
