WAIMEA — Budding athletic prowess, collegiate coaches and athletes, and rare opportunity came into play at the Hawai‘i Speed & Quickness Athletic Skills Training Clinic held Tuesday afternoon at Waimea High School Clem Gomes Gym. The third in a series
WAIMEA — Budding athletic prowess, collegiate coaches and athletes, and rare opportunity came into play at the Hawai‘i Speed & Quickness Athletic Skills Training Clinic held Tuesday afternoon at Waimea High School Clem Gomes Gym.
The third in a series of skills-training clinics hosted recently on Kaua‘i featured University of Hawai‘i assistant football coach Rich Miano and University of Hawai‘i conditioning coach Mel DeLaura, who led the group of 38 participants, in grades seven through 12, in various dynamic strengthening exercises throughout the entirety of the two-hour event.
Assisting both coaches were former University of Hawai‘i football standouts Dan Ahuna and Mike Tresler, the county’s finance director. Also on hand were University of Hawai‘i football junior defensive back Leonard Peters, sophomore defensive back Kenny Patton, and University of Hawai‘i Wahine volleyball all-star Victoria Prince.
Having a slew of athletically inclined instructors seemed to enliven the interest of those in attendance, who watched in awe at the display of their mentors’ athletic capabilities.
Jessie Hathaway, a visiting eighth grader from La Pietra on O‘ahu, was one of those apparently impressed by all facets of the program, being that this was her 14th time attending a clinic.
“While I did go to a lot of athletic clinics on O‘ahu, this was my first clinic on a Neighbor Island. I enjoyed it a lot, and loved seeing different athletes and different faces.”
When asked how she had heard about the clinic on Kaua‘i, she said that the neighbor of her friend with whom she is staying encouraged her to participate in the program.
According to county anti-drug coordinator Roy Nishida, the clinic originated on O‘ahu about four years ago. “After the program began and grew in popularity over the years, there were a few outer-island kids including a couple from Kaua‘i who participated in the clinics and loved it.
“Being that the only way for outer-island kids to experience the clinics was to fly to O‘ahu, the County of Kaua‘i, Mayor Bryan Baptiste, Coach Miano, Coach Tresler and Jamba Juice decided to sponsor Neighbor-Island clinics to provide this usually rare opportunity for the kids of Kaua‘i.”
The speed and quickness clinic, known most of the time simply as the speed clinic, which has been held before at Kapa‘a High School and Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School in Puhi, came to the Westside of Kaua‘i at the request of some residents.
“Being that there were already two clinics which took place on the east and central locations on Kaua‘i, the Westside residents were eager to have the same opportunity,” said Nishida.
“A special thanks is also owed to Waimea High School Principal Bill Arakaki and Waimea High School Athletic Director Jon Kobayashi, for without their cooperation this event would not have been made possible for all of the Westside kids.”
Nishida also noted that more Neighbor-Island clinics are in the works. “In addition to an athletic-skills training clinic, Coach Miano is also negotiating with the University of Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Pacific University, and Chaminade University athletic departments to bring volleyball, soccer, and basketball clinics to Kaua‘i. We expect to have them some time later in the year, perhaps during the summer, but the exact dates have not been set.”
Scheduling for the clinics revolves around the schedules of the athletes and their respective departments, added Nisihda.
As well as stressing athletic excellence, the clinic leaders also impress the importance of retaining a positive attitude in sports, school, and life in general, and the benefits of abstaining from harmful, addictive substances.
These particular choices were the criterion for the participation of collegiate-level athletes, who also serve as role models and are seen by the students as heroes and heroines.
Victoria Prince seemed to be the favorite among all of the females in attendance, who repeatedly asked to be photographed with her.
“I think the offering of the clinic here on Kaua‘i is great since the kids who live here don’t usually have the opportunity to participate in them, like those on O‘ahu, which is unfair for them,” said Prince. “We athletes as mentors enjoy coming to Kaua‘i because it’s really fun, and we love seeing the kids enjoy themselves while improving themselves physically as well as mentally.” The trip to Kaua‘i was especially rewarding to Leonard Peters, who felt right at home on Kaua‘i. “Kaua‘i reminds me so much of the La‘ie countryside where I was born and raised, living the laid-back lifestyle and seeing chickens and cows,” said Peters.
Taren Fujimoto, editorial assistant, is a senior at Kaua‘i High School.
