WAIMEA — The Waimea Menehune Booster Club will host its annual Menehune Legacy Hall of Honor dinner on Saturday at Waimea High School to recognize its 2019 Hall of Honor class.
Among this year’s inductees are the members of the school’s 2012 varsity softball team which won the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division II softball state championship that year.
That 2012 Menehune softball team won the school its second softball state title, it’s first since 1990.
“Looking back at the 2012 team that went to states, that was junior year, man. All four years, we had a solid team, but that year I want to say we had no losses. We had a perfect record,” said Ulu Matagiese, who played center fielder for that 2012 Menehune team. “I feel honored to be going into the hall of fame with that team because it’s a team sport. Everyone did their job when we got to states. It wasn’t just one individual that carried the team. It was a whole team that carried each other. In a way, I feel it’s great that the whole team, we’re getting inducted.”
Matagiese graduated from Waimea High in 2013, went on to play for the University of Hawaii for four years and is now an assistant softball coach for Kauai High School.
Waimea’s varsity softball head coach Teddy Perreira will be inducted this year as well. He’s been the school’s softball coach for 14 years, including in 2012 when his team won the state title.
“It means a lot to me because they’re recognizing me,” Perreira said. “I think I did a lot for the school. Yeah, I feel good that they’re honoring me.”
Some of their highlights are:
- 2012 varsity softball team: undefeated during Kauai Interscholastic Federation regular season; defeated Nanakuli High School in the Division II championship game, 12-4, at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium; seven players named to Division II all-tournament team; Matagiese named Co-Most Outstanding Player of the tournament
- Perreira: 1977 Waimea High School graduate; lettered in baseball and basketball; won two KIF championships; two-time KIF All-Star; played for Hawaii All-Star Team at the 1977 International Baseball Tournament in Japan
“It feels good because they’re a good bunch, good softball players,” Perreira said of being inducted in the same class with his 2012 team. “Now when I coach, I go back to that team. Every time, I tell the girls about that team and see if these girls feed off that.”
Also being inducted this year are:
- Mahina Anguay: 1978 Waimea High graduate; current Waimea High School principal and KIF president; was co-captain and only female of the school’s golf team, went on to play golf for the University of Hawaii on scholarship
- Claire Niheu: 1976 Waimea High graduate; won four consecutive KIF championships with the school’s girls volleyball team; was girls volleyball team’s captain for two years; played one year of girls basketball; went on to play women’s volleyball for Kauai Community College and the University of Northern Colorado; coached volleyball for four years for Waimea High School and three years for Iolani School
- Paul Parongao: 1951 Waimea High graduate; lettered in baseball and basketball; won KIF baseball and basketball championships during his senior year; Korean War veteran; member of 47th Regiment Baseball Team which won the USA EUR (United States Army Europe) World Series and was named MVP; ninth-degree Kajukenbo black belt
- Vincent Parongao: recipient of 1974 Waimea High Alumni Association Outstanding Athlete Award; lettered in football, baseball and basketball; won KIF titles and baseball and football; went on to coach baseball, softball and football for Waimea High School, Pop Warner, Little League and Pony League baseball; eighth-degree Kajukenbo black belt
“It’s a huge honor. I’m very honored about it,” Anguay said. “I was pretty surprised. Thankful, but very honored.”
She added: “It wasn’t what I ever thought. Golf has been an incredible vehicle for me. It allowed me to travel. I went to school on a scholarship. I met a lot of people. But I think more importantly, it taught me some really valuable life skills — like starting with the end in mind. I play the golf course that way, and I try to generalize that into my work life, which has really helped.”
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Nick Celario, sports writer, can be reached at 245-0437 or ncelario@thegardenisland.com.
You know with so much emphasis placed on sporting events, which BTW generates allot of financial incentives for both the member and schools, why is it not possible to recognized those few who engage their minds into the realms that very few have ever accomplished during their entire life without ever knowing the true meaning of existence?