Hawaii Prep Girls to make run at HHSAA Championship Title

HPA’s Zoe Sims & Kela Vargas – photo by Patrick O’Leary

It has been more than a decade since a Big Island school has won a state cross country championship, but come Thursday that may all change.

The Hawaii High School Athletic Association cross country championships will be held on Oct. 28 at the Patsy Mink Central Oahu Regional Park and a very strong Hawaii Preparatory Academy girl’s team has a legitimate chance at winning it all.

Last week the lady Ka Makani won their third consecutive Big Island Interscholastic Federation team title in impressive fashion beating out runner-up Honokaa by more than 70 points.

HPA’s Kela Vargas won the individual title with teammates Zoe Sims, Emily Evans and Kristiana Van Pernis finishing second through fourth respectively while teammates Mariah Haight, Sam Neal and Hanna Scully took the seventh through ninth spots.

“Our success this season was from our focus on team goals instead of individual performances,” HPA Coach Michael Franklin said.  “We will keep that same focus at States.”

HPA is no stranger to runner success as their teams over the past four decades have won numerous state cross country championships.

In 1994 HPA swept the boys and girls state championships under former coaches Karl Honma for the boys and Phil Conley for the girls.

No BIIF team, other than Hawaii Prep, has won a state championship and Honma’s 1995 boys’ team was the last time a Big Island school had taken center stage.

“If we are successful at States, then it is our runners’ love of a challenge that is the key,” Franklin said.

The Punahou girls come into the state championships as the five time defending champion and is considered to be the favorite to win their sixth title, but with HPA’s ability to bunch their runners in the lead pack they are recognized as serious contenders.

Dakota Grossman

Punahou returns sophomore Elli Brady who won the state individual championship as a freshman, but it is another freshman, Dakota Grossman of Seabury, Maui, that is the favorite to win the state crown.

“I hope we can make the top five again this year,” said a humble Franklin.  “Punahou is the obvious favorite, but magical things can occur on race day.  As usual, we will run together and we will embrace the challenge.”

Vying for the boy’s state team title is defending champion Kamehameha-Oahu and the 2007 and ’08 champions Leilehua along with a talented Iolani squad.

Four time boys BIIF team champion, Honokaa, is expected to improve on their fifth place finish from last year.

Coach Abner

“Kamehameha, Iolani and Leilehua will score well, but with all the individuals busting up the top runners who knows how the cards will fall,” Dragon Coach Josh Abner said.

During the BIIF championships Honokaa claimed the top individual spots with Chris Mosch successfully defending his title and teammates Joshua Robinson and Chayce Moniz following close behind.

If their top three runners can break into the top 20 at the state championships, while keeping their fourth and fifth runners close behind, then anything is possible.

“I often talk about how anything can happen on any given day and with that mentality any day can be the Dragons day,” Abner said.

Leilehua’s Margarito Martinez is the defending state champion and will get a stiff challenge from Pierce Murphy of Island School from Kauai for the individual crown.

Mosch, an experienced senior, is expected to be somewhere in the top five and if the rest of the Dragon team stays close to Mosch there could be an upset.

“My highest finish was 14^th overall last year,” Mosch said.  “My goal going into this race is to finish within the top five and my plan is to stay with Iolani’s Troy Esaki, Leilehua’s Dylan Martinez and Mid Pac’s Ryan Hobson during the race.”

Earlier this year Mosch ran on Oahu at the HHSAA site during the Kaiser Invitational and learned a lot from the experience.

“What I learned from the Kaiser Meet is that a lot of people go out too hard and burn out, so I’m going to try to run under control during the first mile and not get too crazy,” he said.

Honokaa’s best team finish, fourth, came when Mosch was a freshman and the upper classman now thinks of improving on that placement.

“I think we can make it into the top three on a good day,” Mosch said. 

“This is more than trying to win championships,” Abner said.  “When Dragons are ready to leave the program I hope they’ve learned that hard work and big goals bring the biggest prizes in life.”

The HHSAA championships was moved from a Friday to Thursday because of a County Furlough Day, according to HPA Athletic Director and BIIF cross country coordinator.

“My understanding is that CORP is a county facility on Oahu and HHSAA made the final decision,” Perry said.

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Big Dog’s Boys Top 20 HHSAA cross country predictions

Honokaa's Chris Mosch wins at Kamehameha Invite over talented Iolani runners

BIG DOG’s Top 20 BOYS in HHSAA Cross Country – Predictions

1)      Margarito Martinez, Leilehua, senior, will repeat as HHSAA champ

2)      Pierce Murphy, Island School, senior, state runner-up will give Martinez a strong challenge.

3)      Jordan Thibodeau, Kamehameha-Oahu, senior

4)      Dylan Martinez, Leilehua, sophomore

5)      Chris Mosch, Honokaa, senior, defending BIIF champ

6)      Ryan Hobson, Mid Pacific Institute, senior

7)       Troy Esaki, Iolani, junior

8)      Justin Higa, Iolani, senior

9)      Nikolai Scharer, Punahou, sophomore

10)  Gianni Cuadrado, Kapolei

11)  Royce Yamane, Mililani, sophomore

12)  Zach Furguson, Maui Prep, senior

13)  James Pearson, Baldwin, senior

14)  Chad Nakaoka, Hawaii Baptist Academy, senior

15)  Charles Akiona, Kamehameha-Oahu, sophomore

16)  Zachary Carvalho, Mililani, sophomore

17)  Angelito Cuaremsa, Maui High

18)  Joshua Robinson, Honokaa

19)  Borys Pleskacz, Iolani, senior

20)  Colton Sisler, St. Louis, senior

Leilehua should win the boys team title with Iolani coming in second, Kamehameha-Oahu third and Honokaa fourth.

Big Dog’s Top 20 Boys H.S. Cross-Country Runners in the State of Hawaii

Margarito still #1 in Big Dog’s picks

BOYS Top 20 picks:

1)      Margarito Martinez, Leilehua, senior, will repeat as state champion and dominate OIAstill in  even though he loss at Kualoa to Murphy last week I’m still keeping him at #1.

2)      Pierce Murphy, Island School, senior, state runner-up he will give Martinez a strong challenge this year and successfully defend as Kauai champ

3)      Jordan Thibodeau, Kamehameha-Kapalama, senior

4)      Dylan Martinez, Leilehua, sophomore

5)      Troy Esaki, Iolani, junior

6)      Justin Higa, Iolani, senior

7)      Nikolai Scharer, Punahou, sophomore

8)      Elliot Estranda, Leilehua

9)      Zach Ferguson, Maui Prep, senior

10)  Ryan Hobson, Mid Pacific Institute, senior

11)  James Pearson, Baldwin, senior

12)  Chad Nakaoka, Hawaii Baptist Academy, senior

13)  Borys Pleskacz, Iolani, senior

14)  Colton Sisler, St. Louis, senior

15)  Gianni Cuadrado, Kapolei

16)  Casey Ryan, Pearl City

17)  Royce Yamane, Mililani

18)  Angelito Cuaremsa, Maui High

19)  Rocky Balala, Maui, junior, MIL champ

20)  Chris Mosch, Honokaa, senior

Leilehua should win the boys team title with Iolani coming in second, Kamehameha-Oahu third and Honokaa fourth.

For previous preseason predictions go to:  https://waynejoseph.wordpress.com/2010/07/30/big-dogs-boys-preseaon-x-c-favorites-for-2010/

 https://waynejoseph.wordpress.com/2010/09/08/big-dogs-early-season-boys-cross-country-favorites/

 

Iolani Invatational Cross-Country Top 20 Results

2009 HHSAA state champion, Elli Brady

Results: Boys Varsity (Top 20)

2010 Iolani Cross Country Invitational       Hosted by Iolani School, Honolulu, Oahu, HI

Kualoa Ranch, Ka’a’awa, Oahu, HI 9/18/2010         Results               Boys Varsity

1  Murphy, Pierce  12              Island School                15:25.92

2  Martinez, Margarito  12         Leilehua Highschool          15:51.00

3  Thibodeau, Jordan  12           Kamehameha Boys              16:30.33

4  Unno, Justin  11                Palos Verdes                 16:34.33

5  Dunton, Alec  11                Palos Verdes                 16:50.42

6  Rieger, Daniel  11              Palos Verdes                 16:52.44

7  Dreibelbis, Ryland  10          Palos Verdes                 16:55.14

8  Higa, Justin  12                Iolani Boys                  16:55.59

9  Esaki, Troy  11                 Iolani Boys                  16:59.13

10 Hobson, Ryan  12                Mid-Pacific Institute        16:59.63

11 Snur, Tomas  11                 Palos Verdes                 17:08.77

12 Sidor, Mark  11                 Palos Verdes                 17:10.09

13 Sisler, Colton  12              St. Louis School             17:12.19

14 Pleskacz, Borys  12             Iolani Boys                  17:13.47

15 Cuardrado, Gianni  10           Kapolei High School          17:14.43

16 Akiona, Charles  10             Kamehameha Boys              17:23.19

17 Estrata, Elliot  11             Leilehua Highschool          17:34.39

18 Tilve, Ganesh  10               Cerritos Highschool          17:38.67

19 Lund, David  12                 Viroqua School               17:41.85

20 Achuela, Caleb  12              Kamehameha Boys              17:47.24

Team Scores

1   Palos Verdes   28

2   Iolani    86

3   Kamehameha  96

4   Viroqua  117

5   Leilehua  127

6   Cerritos  181

7   Hawaii Baptist Academy  188

8   Punahou  191

9   Mid-Pacific Institute  192

10  St. Louis    265

Results: Girls Varsity (Top 20)

2010 Iolani Cross Country Invitational  Kualoa Ranch, Ka'a'awa, Oahu, HI 9/18/2010   Results  Girls Varsity  

  1 Capellino, Erica          12 Palos Verdes          19:14.08   
  2 Grossman, Dakota           9 Seabury Hall          19:23.47   
  3 Gomez, Sheridan           11 Dana Hills            19:36.71   
  4 Cota, Paxton              12 Dana Hills            19:44.70   
  5 Mann, Kyleigh             11 Punahou Girls         20:04.53   
  6 Brady, Elli               10 Punahou Girls         20:06.45   
  7 Velarde, Alexia              Marywood Palm Va      20:11.42   
  8 Geyer, Megan              11 Dana Hills            20:15.32   
  9 Nicholls, Heidi           12 Hawaii Baptist A      20:16.31   
 10 Ball, Breanne             11 Iolani Girls          20:24.21  
 11 Kagei, Michelle           10 Palos Verdes          20:30.50  
 12 unther, Natasha           11 Dana Hills            20:33.16  
 13 Mulvabey-Kemp, Julie      12 Viroqua School        20:34.98  
 14 Carr, Aubrey              10 Dana Hills            20:37.34  
 15 Tai, Gina                 12 Cerritos Highschool   20:39.34  
 16 Wong, Melissa             10 Punahou Girls         20:40.52  
 17 Johnson, Jessica          12 Kamehameha Girls      20:43.40  
 18 Canterbury, Paige         10 Dana Hills            20:44.68  
 19 Gagnon, Lauren            10 Palos Verdes          20:45.02  
 20 Durso, Jaime              10 Punahou Girls         21:02.50   

Team Scores:

   1 Dana Hills                   41
   2 Punahou Girls                74   
   3 Palos Verdes                 85   
   4 Cerritos Highschool         154  
   5 Viroqua School              186  
   6 Seabury Hall                194  
   7 Kamehameha Girls            229
   8 Hawaii Baptist Academy      229   
   9 Iolani Girls                254  
  10 Leilehua Highschool         276  

 

Big Dog’s Early Season Boy’s Cross-Country Favorites

BIG DOG’S STATE OF HAWAII X-COUNTRY PREDICTIONS

Cross-country season has started with many of the schools around the state beginning to practice starting on August 2^nd and some early season results are in.

Based on last season state championship results and what is going on thus far this season the Big Dog predicts the following:

1)      Margarito Martinez, Leilehua, senior, will repeat as state champion and dominate OIA if he’s still in Hawaii

2)      Pierce Murphy, Island School, senior, state runner-up if Martinez runs and Kauai champ

3)      Jordan Thibodeau, Kamehameha-Kapalama, senior

4)      Dylan Martinez, Leilehua, sophomore

5)      Troy Esaki, Iolani, junior

6)      Nikolai Scharer, Punahou, sophomore

7)      Justin Higa, Iolani, senior,

8)      Zach Ferguson, Maui Prep, senior

9)      Nicola Perez-Garre, Maui, junior (dropped)

10)  Ryan Hobson, Mid Pacific Institute, senior

11)  James Pearson, Baldwin, sophomore

12)  Chad Nakaoka, Hawaii Baptist Academy, senior

13)  Borys Pleskacz, Iolani, senior

14)  Gianni Cuadrado, Kapolei

15)  Casey Ryan, Pearl City

16)  James Pearson, Baldwin, senior

17)  Angelito Cuaremsa, Maui High

18)  Rocky Balala, Maui, junior, MIL champ

Others to watch:  Alex Ortega, Kamehameha-Kapalama; Micah Velasco, Leilehua;  Zachary Carvalho, Mililani; Dino DeSalvio, Maui Prep; Brandon Miya, Leilehua; Joshua Robinson, Honokaa;  Chris Mosch, Honokaa; Brandt Mabuni, Makua Lani;   Kevin Olsen, Keaau; Quentin Penn, Radford;  Mathew Dodge, Campbell.  

With Kamehameha-Kapalama graduating four of their top six runners and the Big Dog being informed about Leilehua I will go out on a limb and predict the Mules to capture the 2010 HHSAA boys title with Iolani second and Punahou taking third.

For previous preseason predictions go to:  https://waynejoseph.wordpress.com/2010/07/30/big-dogs-boys-preseaon-x-c-favorites-for-2010/