LIHU‘E — Teddy Arroyo, the president of the Kaua‘i Pop Warner Football League, said he was shocked when he received the letter from the Pop Warner association.
“Kaua‘i swept the Wescon regionals,” said Ginny Agena, the KPWFL treasurer, Wednesday. “I don’t think Kaua‘i has ever won the two spots before. We have won one, but never two spots in the Wescon competition.”
Arroyo was selected as the Male Volunteer of the Year, and Agena was announced the Female Volunteer of the Year for the Wescon Pop Warner Region that encompasses 13 districts, including Imperial Valley, Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, Mount Baldy, Palomar, Mexicali, Arizona, Hawai‘i, the Big Island, Maui, and Kaua‘i.
“I can’t believe it,” said Agena whose history with Kaua‘i Pop Warner traces back to when she was a cheerleader. “There are a lot of candidates who have dedicated more years to Pop Warner. We’re from a small island — in fact, the smallest island — with the smallest amount of kids participating.”
“This was a total surprise, too,” she said. “Teddy nominated me, and I nominated him, and nobody knew — it was a big secret all around.”
Agena’s involvement with the family, school where her children attend, and the community overflows from her position with the KPWFL, her husband Blaine serving as the KPWFL commissioner, and scholastic coordinator.
“She is a very humble and supportive person in the community and at the high school level, unselfishly volunteering for her kids’ sports and school programs,” said Arroyo in his nomination. “It was in June of 2019 when Ginny called me and Randi Levinthol to share with us that she had breast cancer. It was a very emotional conversation through the entire time, but she assured us that she will continue to do her job as treasurer and be at the games during the weekends to help.”
“Although she had some bad days, she would never complain,” the nomination continues. “She would always make sure that the focus was on the kids. With the support of her husband Blaine, family, and friends, Ginny beat the cancer. She will always strive for excellence when it comes to working with the kids — always putting a smile on their faces, making sure they have one of the best times playing football, or cheering for the KPWFL.”
Arroyo said he and the KPWFL board are proud of Agena’s selection.
“It is with great honor to see her win this award for all the many years she has volunteered as a parent, association board member, and now, as the league’s treasurer,” Arroyo said. “We love you. Thank you for all you do for the kids.”
Agena said Arroyo has a long history with football, being a volunteer with the Pop Warner football program for the past 27 years, if not longer.
“He started his Pop Warner career as a Football Coach, then League Commissioner, and now, League President,” Agena said. “He has coached for three of the five associations, but has helped all of them. While running his plumbing business, he helped put a new roof on the Hanapepe Pop Warner Association’s locker room, helped the Lihu‘e Pop Warner with the plumbing in their locker room, and helped the Kekaha Pop Warner with the food booth at their park, and is currently working on the Kapa‘a Pop Warner’s permanent locker room.”
Agena said the KPWFL president has 30 years of coaching experience — 16 with Pop Warner, 14 with high school football, and four with the Kaua‘i Police Activities League flag football. He is the current coach of the Kaua‘i High School Junior Varsity program that captured the league championship in 2020. He also donates his time with the Kaua‘i Officials Association that includes the football referees.
“He is a youth sports advocate,” Agena said. “In addition to running his Arroyo’s Plumbing business, spending time with his family, and dedicating countless hours to youth sports, Teddy has a nonprofit, Triple K Strongman, that is dedicated to training athletes where he puts on free strongman clinics, and runs on 7-on-7 football games. He works long hours and volunteers endlessly because he is dedicated to not only teaching X’s and O’s, but to use the sport he loves as an avenue to teach life lessons. He truly believes in our keiki, and wants each and every one to have the opportunity to become successful.”
Arroyo said he is blessed to be surrounded by good people.
“We want to thank the community for all the years of support,” Arroyo said. “We are who we are because the community is what makes us who we are — they are part of us.”
Both Agena and Arroyo will be submitted to the national competition pool.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
How is there any pop warner? You folks don’t have any money.
Congratulations Kaua’i Pop Warner for receiving the well deserved recognition. Mahalo to Coach Teddy and Mrs. Agena and the entire organization for all you do for our beloved student athletes.