LIHU‘E — Lessons of life come from the football field, and this was brought to light, Wednesday. The values of respect, discipline, hard work, dedication, responsibility, perseverance, passion, motivation, and the ability to adapt, adjust and improvise all came to
LIHU‘E — Lessons of life come from the football field, and this was brought to light, Wednesday.
The values of respect, discipline, hard work, dedication, responsibility, perseverance, passion, motivation, and the ability to adapt, adjust and improvise all came to fruition in these fine young men, described as “the good product,” states a commendation presented to the Kaua‘i High School football team by the Kaua‘i County Council.
These young men will be our future leaders and will become the positive role models of tomorrow. They have set high standards for themselves and for all those to follow, the commendation states.
“You have brought great recognition to our island,” said Councilman Jay Furfaro on the second-place finish at the 2009 First Hawaiian Bank, Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association, Division II State Football Championships. Kaua‘i advanced to that honor by winning its seventh Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation Championship.
Council Chair Bill “Kaipo” Asing concurred, adding that a team from the public school oftentimes is strapped with limited budgets and equipment, and to finish second against a private school like Iolani brings recognition to “little Kaua‘i,” and the program can feel really proud of what it accomplished.
Derek Borrero, head coach of the Kaua‘i Red Raiders, was tasked with putting out a “good product” at the start of the season.
Rolling behind the mantra of “One Team, One Dream,” the team came together and supported each other as one big ‘ohana and created its own identity, the commendation states.
Trust developed among all the team members — the coaches trusted the players and the players trusted the coaches. This developed through the season resulting in the team finishing with an 11-1 record.
“The lessons you learned will carry you through life,” said Councilman Derek Kawakami, who noted that he played football for Kaua‘i High School under coach Donovan Ferreira. “You may not realize the magnitude of your accomplishments where you have the entire island behind you when you represent Kaua‘i on O‘ahu. You are part of the legacy of Kaua‘i and I know you will continue to represent yourselves well.”
Borrero said he learned from Furfaro during the 10 years he spent in the visitor industry, crediting the team’s success to the hard work put forth by the players and his coaching staff.
“The group is a good corps of boys that decided they wanted ‘One Team, One Dream,’” Borrero said. “They may have come up a little short, but I am proud of what they achieved.”
Cameron Largusa, coming off a stint at the Aloha Prep Bowl, and Kyle Rodero-Workman, labelling himself simply as “Boom,” represented the team in thanking the County Council for its recognition.
“Playing in Aloha Stadium was like a dream come true,” Workman said. “It felt really good.”
Largusa said the feeling you get when you see the luxurious locker rooms at Aloha Stadium, walking through the tunnel to emerge on the field, is indescribable.
“We joined the team as friends,” Largusa said. “We leave as brothers.”
