Hawaii Preparatory Academy magnificant 7 all returns

     They’re playing the theme song to the Magnificent Seven out in Waimea as Coach Michael Franklin has his dream team back for another season.

Franklin the head coach of state cross country team champions Hawaii Preparatory Academy is fully loaded as they return all seven girls.  Ka Makani harriers in order of their state finish are Kristiana Van Pernis, Mariah Haight, Zoe Sims, Emily Evans, Kelly Ulrich, Veronica Ladwig and Cat Bradley.

HPA had five girls in the top nine at states which included Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion Zoe Sims for a total of 35 points beating out Punahou with 50.

HPA’s boys under coaches Kimo Higgins and Lupe Diaz will need to adjust because of the numerous seniors lost to graduation.  “We are very excited about our prospects this year,” Higgins said. 

According to Higgins they have a balance between local runners with a strong contingent from Japan.

“Walt Disney, Michael Spetich, Justin Macy, Dan Masuda and Jake McCafferty will team with a strong group of harriers from Japan including Ryuta Yoda, Hide Akai and Keisuke Anzai,” Higgins said. “We certainly look forward to putting on our best efforts with the goal of scoring on our home course in the BIIF and State Championships.”

Five time boys BIIF champions Honokaa aren’t as lucky as their head coach Josh Abner has left for a job in Kentucky leaving Jerri Moniz as the new head coach for the Dragons.

If her last name sounds familiar it is because her son, Chayce, won the BIIF individual title last season. 

“This is a rebuilding year for us,” Moniz said.  “We do have Tony Connors, Clayton Robinson and Pedro Sanches that bring experience and leadership for us.”

On the girls side the Lady Dragons have Haldhang Adona and Kelly Greenwell returning.

“I worked with Coach Abner over the years and I plan on following his program,” Moniz said.

Langtry

Christian Liberty Academy is coached by long time harrier instructor Frank Grotenhuis.  CLA didn’t have a girl’s team last year, but had a good preseason turnout and as a result had 8 girls come out this year.

“The boys will be led by senior Keenan Freitas and juniors Caedan Cambra, Zech DeCleene, Kiyoshi Kaili and Kekoa Mundo,” Grotenhuis said.  “We would like to finish in the top half of the league this year.  We know it will be a challenge, but we are set to give it a good effort.”

Hilo boys return Stephen Hunter, Max Panoff, Max Kerr, Timon Skinner, and Israel Sims according to Coach McMahon.

“We have others that have joined the team over the summer and have worked hard to create a close knit team,” McMahon said.

Joining the Vikings during practice is St. Joseph star Andrew Langtry.

On the girls side Coach Lory Hunter has several returnees in Carmen Garson-Shumway, Kaylee Rapoza, Nina Bean, Satya Ray, Jordan Breibarth and Mahana Sabado-Halpern,

Makua Lani – Coach Doug Andrews is in his fourth year and he returns five girls from last year’s team.  Junior Joy Choe, Sophomore Keili Dorn, Seniors Tiffany Nakamura and Mercedes DeCarli.

“Joy has qualified for the state meet 2 times, Keili qualified as a freshman and Tiffany is a 3 times state qualifier.  If our girls work hard and run for the right reason, they have a good chance of being in the top 4 teams at the BIIF meet,” Coach Andrews said.

Andrews girls team finished third in the BIIF during the 2011 season.

For the boys Andrew Crietz returns as a junior and Josh Kuperus as a sophomore.

Kamehameha has veteran coaches Ryan Cabalse for the boys and Joel Truesdell for the girls. 

“We have three boys returning from last year’s squad that qualified as individuals for States they are all juniors Maka’ala Cruz, Jordan Hirae and Colton Hill,” Cabalse said.  “Our goal this season it to have a ‘team score’ at the state meet.”

For the girl’s team they have three girls returning that ran in the state meet last year.  They are Tiana Iwata, Mikela Cabel and TeHani Jones according to Truesdell.

Coach Cabalse

Garson-Shumway was the first female overall in the Vulcan Women’s 5K with teammate Sabado-Halpern taking second which make for a great one-two punch.

“Our goal for both teams this year is to create a strong team bond, a love for running and have both teams qualify for the State meet,” Coach Hunter said.

Makua Lani – Coach Doug Andrews is in his fourth year and he returns five girls from last year’s team.  Junior Joy Choe, Sophomore Keili Dorn, Seniors Tiffany Nakamura and Mercedes DeCarli.

“Joy has qualified for the state meet 2 times, Keili qualified as a freshman and Tiffany is a 3 times state qualifier.  If our girls work hard and run for the right reason, they have a good chance of being in the top 4 teams at the BIIF meet,” Coach Andrews said.

Andrews girls team finished third in the BIIF during the 2011 season.

For the boys Andrew Crietz returns as a junior and Josh Kuperus as a sophomore.

Kamehameha has veteran coaches Ryan Cabalse for the boys and Joel Truesdell for the girls. 

“We have three boys returning from last year’s squad that qualified as individuals for States they are all juniors Maka’ala Cruz, Jordan Hirae and Colton Hill,” Cabalse said.  “Our goal this season it to have a ‘team score’ at the state meet.”

For the girl’s team they have three girls returning that ran in the state meet last year.  They are Tiana Iwata, Mikela Cabel and TeHani Jones according to Truesdell.

“Right now we have a pretty solid pack running with them,” Truesdell said.  “We have depth and our team goals are to be the best team we can be, to have fun and to do well at states.”

KAU – The Trojans were still looking to hire a cross country coach according to their Athletic Director Kalei Namohala.

Keaau has a huge team of 60 runners for the boys and girls, according to Coach Donna Wong Yuen. 

The Cougars return Natalie Hagemann for the girls and Jeffrey Ferrell, Ariel Navarro and Davin Alviento for the boys.

“We are not a deep team so will need to rely on our core group to stay healthy and not get injured,” Wong Yuen said.  “We need to have our 7 through 10 runners step up.  Our goals are to look at individual improvement because we have a lot of first time runners.”

PAHOA – Coached by John Oliver who has been coaching Dagger harriers for 5 years.  Oliver has no girls and 8 boys that came out to run for the cross country team.

“Most of the boys are just trying to get in shape for wrestling and they are hoping to be able to run the 3 miles,” Coach Oliver said.  “Some of them are pretty large and are doing their best to lose some weight.”

Parker Coach

PARKER – The Bulls Athletic Department is headed by cross country coach, Ceri Whitfield who is a five year veteran. 

Whitfield boy’s team is led by Paul Gregg and Tyler McCullough who both ran in states last season.  While carrying 18 boys and 6 girls the coach has them shooting for the stars.

“Our goal is always to try to win BIIF’s,” Whitfield said.  “I always try to have them set their sights on the stars.”

KEALAKEHE – Third year Coach Arturo Morales has 13 boys and 7 girls on his squad.  Returning for the girls is Kari Van Mols who was 15^th in the state last year. Also for the Waveriders are Sydney Kirkhill and Mika Bettencourt.

 “For our boys team we hope to finish 2^nd in the BIIF this season,” Morales said.

KONAWAENA-both the boys and girls teams are coached by Kuulei Saole in her fourth year with the Wildcats.   “We currently have 4 girls and 3 boys,” Saole said.

The Wildcats return sophomore Shayli Nakamoto who made it to states last season.

“My main goal this year is to get more girls and boys to come out for cross country,” Saole said.

Waiakea with boys coach Jordan Rosado return Ian McQuate, Dyson Sato, Nate Parez, HaJime Hayano and Keoni Rice.

“Keoni is the only senior so we have a good foundation for the next few years,” Rosado said.  “This year we hope to do at least as well as last year and qualify our team for States.”

Rosado might have one of the best runners in the league in McQuate who finished the Vulcan 5K as the top high school runner and looks to be in prime preseason shape.

For the Warriors girls its Coach Winona Hai-Kelly returns Sky Ombac, Jillian Hughes, Vandey Okinaka and Haley Rasse. 

“The fight this season will be for second place between Hilo and us,” Hai-Kelly said.

The Big Island Interscholastic Federation season kicks off with the Cane Fire Conditioner at CLA starting at 10 am on Saturday August 25.

BIIF Girls Cross Country, All League Selections – HPA’s Franklin coach of the Year

Evans

Kobayashi

Franklin

Sims

	GIRLS All-League
				(based on finish at BIIF Championship on 22-Oct)
	1st Team
Zoe Sims	11	Hawaii Prep		CHAMPION
Kristiana Van Pernis	10	Hawaii Prep		2nd place
Mariah Haight	10	Hawaii Prep		3rd place
Kelsie Kobayashi	12	Waiakea		4th place
Carmen Garson-Shumway	10	Hilo		5th place
Kelly Ulrich	10	Hawaii Prep		6th place
Kari Van Mols	11	Kealakehe		7th place
	2nd Team
Satya Ray	9	Hilo		8th place
Mika Bettencourt	10	Kealakehe		9th place
Joy Choe	10	Makua Lani		10th place
Hildhung Adona	10	Honokaa		11th place
Cat Bradley	11	Hawaii Prep		12th place
Dean Nishimura-Thornton	12	Kea’au		13th place
Veronica Ladwig	10	Hawaii Prep		14th place
	MIKE FRANKLIN			Coach of the Year
	Hawaii Preparatory Academy
	2011 BIIF Team Champions
	HAWAII PREPARATORY ACADEMY
				HONORABLE MENTION
	GIRLS
	x			Christian Liberty
	Mia Croonquist			Hawaii Prep
	Shaila De Bourmont			Hilo
	Kelly Greenwell, Elizabeth Aguirre, Katie Aguilar			Honokaa
	Corin Kim, Erin Carvalho, Tiana Iwata			Kamehameha
	Kyra Malepe			Ka’u
	Natalie Hagemann, Mahina Homalon			Kea’au
	Sydney Kirkhill			Kealakehe
	Eloisa Viernes-Obero, Michelle Ruiz Sahagun			Kohala
	Keili Dorn, Grace Choe, Tiffany Nakamura			Makua Lani
	x			Pahoa
	x			Parker
	Jessica Busek, Jillian Hughes, Skye Ombac			Waiakea

Hawaii Prep girls cross country HHSAA state champions for 2011

Franklin

“Something special and magical happened today,” Coach Michael Franklin said when learning that his Hawaii Preparatory Academy girls cross country team won the state title.

Ka Makani harriers gave everything they had during the 49^th Annual Hawaii High School Athletic Association cross country championships held Saturday at the Kapalua Village Golf Course on Maui.

 “Everything worked out according to how we trained over the years, as we ran as a team and packed our runners together,” Franklin said.

HPA the Big Island Interscholastic Federation team champion went step to step with HHSAA six time defending champion Punahou in what proved to be a run for state bragging rights.

Ka Makani harriers were runner up to Punahou last year, but turned the tables on the Buff and Blue with their pack style running.

HPA had all five girls in the top 9, which saw their lead pack of Kristiana Van Pernis, Mariah Haight,   Zoe Sims, Emily Evans and Kelly Ulrich finish fifth through ninth respectively.

This was Hawaii Preps first girls cross country state title since 1994 when the team was coached by Phil Conley.

“Phil Conley and Stan Shutes have played an important role in the success of this program,” Franklin said.  “Those two coaches established the foundation for what we have today as they instilled the tradition and philosophy behind our success.  I just happened to step into a program that fits my style of coaching.”

Franklin also contributed a huge portion of his team’s ascent to being the best in the state to having the right combination of young runners.

“We have the right group of personalities with great team leadership and really positive attitudes,” Franklin said. “What happened today was very special and magical and I’m very proud of what we did.”

Kelly Ulrich

HPA’s number five runner, Kelly Ulrich, didn’t run on the varsity team last year and was key to the team’s success in winning the team championship by finishing 9^th overall this year.

“Our coaches read a poem called ‘Power of the Pack’ and I kept listen to the words in that poem as I wanted to be able to see our top four girls during the race,” Ulrich said.  “I didn’t expect to do as well as I did, but it felt really good to run fast and stay with our pack.”

Kristiana Van Pernis had a 14^th place finish last year during state competition and was the first BIIF girl to cross the finish line this season in fifth place overall.

“I felt like I turned my brain off during the race and just focused on running,” Van Pernis said.  “I enjoyed running with my teammates and that’s where all my thoughts went.”

Trying to stay with the HPA pack was Waiakea’s Kelsie Kobayashi who placed 11^th overall (the top 20 individual boys and girls received state medals.

“This was a phenomenal season,” Kobayashi said.  “I had my best finish ever in the four years I’ve run states.  I just tried to get out fast and not get boxed in at the beginning of the race.  I used the HPA pack as I was trying to make my way up to them.”

Kobayashi, a senior, was pleased with the outcome.

“I left everything on the course,” she said.  “I kept thinking about what my coach (Rosado) told me early in the season, that cross country doesn’t require a lot of equipment, just a lot of heart.”

Seabury Hall’s Dakota Grossman a sophomore won the individual state title for a second year finishing in a time of 19 minutes 27 seconds

In the boys race it was Waiakea’s Jackson Halford being the first Big Island runner to cross the finish line with St Joseph’s Andrew Langtry close behind.  Halford finished eighth overall in a field of 160 runners, managed to redeem himself after a second place finish during the BIIF championships the week before.

“This race more than made up for my finish at the BIIF championships,” Halford said.

“I beat my personal goal coming into states,” Halford said.  “I was just hoping to come in 10^th this year after my 25^th place finish last year.”

Halford started out slow during the opening mile of the three mile race and his strategy paid big dividends.

“I knew everyone was going to go out really fast and then die,” Halford said.  “At the first mile marker I was in 40^th place and people started falling back.”

Halford a senior believes this was the best race of his four year racing career.

For Langtry who finished tenth overall this was his first opportunity to participate in the state cross country championships.

“It was great and I went out perfectly,” Langtry said.  “I was staying close to Jackson and we helped push each other.  Also having my dad come out to watch the race was something that helped me run well.”

Waiakea boys were the top scoring BIIF team, placing ninth to BIIF champion’s Honokaa tenth place finish.

“I told my guys if they didn’t do well today they’d be walking back to Kahului,” a joking Warrior Coach Rosado said.  “They were a lot more serious and focused today than they were at the BIIF Championships a week ago.”

Leilehua won the boys team title with 55 beating out Maui 63 and Iolani with 74 points.

Other top BIIF finishers placing within the top 100 on Maui were:

Boys: 27) Parker’s Paul Gregg  30) Kamehameha’s Shawn Correa Doll,  45) Honokaa’s Robert Conners, 54) Waiakea’s Ian McQuate  62) Honokaa’s Tony Conners  76) Waiakea’s Robbey Meguro  77) Hilo’s Stephen Hunter  80) Kealakehe’s Luka Walter  84) Kamehameha’s Makaala Cruz  92) Parker’s Jesse Tarnas  94) Honokaa’s Chayce Moniz  96) HPA’s Justin Macy    97) HPA’s Michael Rogerson

Girls:   15) Kealakehe’s Kari Van Mols  26) Hilo’s Carmen Garson-Shumway  30) Hilo’s Satya Ray   35) Kealakehe’s Sydney Kirkhill  38) Makua Lani Joy Choe 45) Makua Lani’s Grace Choe  47) Keaau’s Deann Nishimura-Thornton  53) HPA’s Veronica Ladwig  56) Kamehameha’s Erin Carvalho  61) Konawaena’s Shayli Nakamoto  63) Hilo’s Shalila De Bourmont  66) Kealakehe’s Mika Bettencourt  67) Kamehameha’s Corin Kim  69) HPA’s Cat Bradley  80)  Hilo’s Jordyn Breithbarth   81)  Hilo’s Kaylee Rapoza    82) Keili Dorn Makua Lani  84) Honokaa’s  Hildhang Adams 85) Honokaa’s Elizabeth Aguirre  92) Honokaa’s Kelly Greenwell  93)  Kamehameha’s Mikela Cabel  95) Makua Lani’s Tiffany Nakamura   100) Keaau’s Natalie Hagemann

BIIF X-C champs, Honokaa and Hawaii Prep, starting 7 for HHSAA championship

Bradley	Cat	11	Hawaii Prep
Evans	Emily	11	Hawaii Prep
Haight	Mariah	10	Hawaii Prep
Ladwig	Veronica	10	Hawaii Prep
Sims	Zoe	11	Hawaii Prep
Ulrich	Kelly	10	Hawaii Prep
Van Pernis	Kristiana	10	Hawaii Prep

Agbayani	Seanry	10	Honokaa
Aguirre	Alden	12	Honokaa
Conners	Robert	12	Honokaa
Conners	Tony	10	Honokaa
Moniz	Chayce	12	Honokaa
Robinson	Clayton	11	Honokaa
Sanches	Pedro	11	Honokaa

Canefire Conditioner – Cross Country Girls Race – BIIF results

Girls
School	Finish Place	Runners	Time
WKA	1	Kelsie Kobayashi; Haley Rasse	37:04:65
Hilo	2	Carmen Garson-Shumway; Karina Lawrence	38:35:71
HPA	3	Mariah Haight; Cat Bradley	38:38:84
HPA	4	Kristiana Van Pernis; Jasmine Fojas	38:42:50
HPA	5	Mia Croonquist; Kelly Ulrich	38:43:12
HPA	6	Veronica Ladwig; Emily Evans	38:48:26
Hilo	7	Nina Bean; Kirrah Cooke	38:52:28
Hilo	8	Shalila DeBourmont; Kaylee Rapoza	38:58:49
KAM	9	Corin Kim; Erin Carvalho	39:17:55
WKA	10	Krystina Carvalho; Ivy Conley	40:04:88
Keaau	11	Deann Nishimura-Thornton; Shani Cosma	40:11:18
Honoka’a	12	Kelly Ann Greenwell; Allie Shiraki	40:23:83
Keaau	13	Natalie Hagemann; Avery-Rose Jarvis	40:37:96
Hilo	14	Jordyn Breitbarth; Shea Pitoy	41:16:18
KAM	15	Tiana Iwata; Sara Kim	41:48:82
Hilo	16	Satya Ray; Sydney Romo	41:49:45
KAM	17	Alana Manuia; Mikela Cabel	42:02:51
WKA	18	Vandey Okinaka; Kara Paulachak	42:38:21
KAM	19	Britni Napihaa; Tehani Jones	42:40:63
Honoka’a	20	Monica Carlos; Katie Aguilar	42:51:56
WKA/Keaau	21	Vanessa Ignacio; Mahea Kakazu	43:24:87
KAM	22	Shayla Iwata; Kaelynne Manoha	43:35:08
Hualalai	23	Molly Jacoby; Whitney Pautz	44:35:57
WKA	24	Candice Roddie; Skye Rances	44:52:52
Parker	25	Marie Jobes; Taylyn Boyette	44:58:09
Honoka’a	26	Hildang Adona; Camelia Witt	45:06:16
HPA	27	Melia Cavedoni; Meimei Nakahara	45:06:35
HPA	28	Jah’nae Ayoso-Purdy; Malama Tamasese-Solomon	45:11:18
KAM	29	Kaley Bannister; Alexa Bader	45:16:98
HPA	30	Nina Enos; Mikeala Owen	45:17:51
HPA	31	Leila Morrison; Jade Sohriakoff	45:24:56
Honoka’a	32	Emily Ono; Elezibeth Aguirre	45:37:62
WKA	33	Kylie Andaya; Kiana Baruela	45:47:07
Keaau	34	Desiree Sumaoang; Mahina Homalon	46:00:51
KAM	35	Amanda Lerma; Kalai Grothmann	46:13:11
KAM	36	Hannah Trainer; Gina McGuire	46:16:86
WKA	37	Jessica Busek; Bethany Bisel	47:05:28
WKA	38	Noreen Gonong; Katrina Bath	47:30:62
KAM	39	Kalena Medeiros; Iris Jarvis	47:33:96
Hilo	40	Alohi Chambless; Michelle Martinez	47:43:97
WKA	41	Carly Belcher; Shiho Aoki	47:50:31
WKA	42	Courtney Ip; Jillian Hughes	48:03:02
KAM	43	Namele Naipo-Arsiga; Sara Duvoisin	48:03:80
Keaau	44	Rayline Mae-Adrian; Autumn Miyares-Thompson	48:24:69
Keaau	45	Brittney Ganir; Cristine Belmes	48:28:88
Honoka’a	46	Danielle Warren; J. Mae Quiamas	50:06:39
Kohala	47	Chelsea Ventura; Eloisa Viernes-Obero	50:50:42
KAM	48	Kayla Andrade; Mahealani Taganas	51:21:31
HPA/KAM	49	Mikeala Owen; Saydie Mandaguit-Arakaki	51:52:39
KAM	50	Alyssa McGuire; Michelle Fratinardo	54:01:46
KAM	51	Chrisha Sanoria; Shaniah Yogi	56:57:15
KAM	52	Jaysha Alonzo-Estrada; Sarah Barry	58:05:14
Kohala	53	Cody Geiger; Michelle Sahagun	58:12:56
WKA	54	Angela Ames; Ishael Shaw-Demello	58:28:88
KAM	55	Malia Cruz; Lily Ayau	1:03:44:92