Na Menehune junior outside hitter Johanna Kruize and Govs' senior runnning back Ranan Mamiya led their respective teams to convincing victories last week. ScoringLive photo illustration

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Male Athlete of the Week: Ranan Mamiya, Farrington football
Ranan Mamiya isn't much for words, but after watching the Farrington running back on the football field, it's clear that his play does all the talking for him.

The 5-foot-11, 170-pound Mamiya has made quite the splash in his first season with the Governors after transferring from Division-II Saint Francis during the summer. He has rushed for state-best nine touchdowns and has averaged 10.4 an astronomical 10.4 yards per carry through four games.

"I think he's been successful because of his athletic ability and his attitude — he's very humble and is always thankful — so I think those two things combined makes him a coachable and teachable player," Farrington coach Randall Okimoto said of Mamiya.

Mamiya played quarterback as a junior last year for Saint Francis, a small private school in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, but has quickly made an impact in the public-school Oahu Interscholastic Association, where he has the Govs at 4-0 and atop the D1 Blue division.

"I've got to admit that I pray everyday and so I felt like my prayers had been answered (when Mamiya enrolled at Farrington)," Okimoto said. "Whenever you have an athlete like this it's fun to coach, and I'm not saying that it's not fun to coach other players, but he's a special player. He was one of the pieces that we were missing."

It didn't take long for Mamiya to standout in Okimoto's eyes.

"The first day he came, we threw him the ball out of the backfield and he just blew right by our defensive backs, so I knew right then and there that he's a very special player," Okimoto said.

However, Okimoto noted that Mamiya brought more than just athletic ability.

"Before he came I think we were looking at four sophomores starting at the skill positions — one receiver and three in the backfield — so when he came it added leadership and maturity and he could fit right in because he was already a seasoned veteran," Okimoto said. "He just had to learn the offense and our system."

In the season opener against Waipahu, Mamiya carried four times for 123 yards, including three touchdowns. A week later he ran for 137 yards with two touchdowns and scored on a kickoff return in a win over Kapolei. He followed that up with three rushing touchdowns against Moanalua two weeks ago before perhaps his finest performance yet against Aiea Saturday, when he scored three different ways. He opened the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run just 92 seconds into the game, threw a 71-yard scoring strike to Kingston Moses-Sanchez late in the first quarter and capped off the night with a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown in the third quarter.

"When you have a threat like that who can do it so many different ways it makes things difficult for our opponent because they can't concentrate on one area," Okimoto said. "He also elevates the play of others around him and he's always grateful for his linemen opening up holes the way they do."

Okimoto, himself a former standout Farrington running back, said with a deep corps of running backs that includes Challen Faamatau, Bugsy Tui, Freedom Alulu and CJ Liana, he isn't too worried about overusing Mamiya.

"You're talking to a guy who carried the ball a lot, so when I look at these guys I don't think they're overused," Okimoto said. "If you look at how much he carries the ball, I don't think he's had a 20-carry game yet. I just feel like he's been touching the ball as much as he needs to and it's been working for us. Personally, I would like to see him touch the ball more, but the good thing is we have other players willing to step up and do their part as well."

If Mamiya's workload increases, it won't be because he's been lobbying for it.

"He's a very, very soft spoken kid," Okimoto said. "He doesn't draw attention to himself, he's a good student and he's always on time. He's done all the things we've asked of him."

Mamiya and the Govs return to the field Friday, when they visit Kailua.

Female Athlete of the Week: Johanna Kruize, Moanalua volleyball
Johanna Kruize is the kind of person who knows what she wants.

Among other things, Kruize, a junior outside hitter for the Moanalua girls volleyball team, wants to be the best at just about everything she does.

"She's very competitive, definitely," Na Menehune coach Alan Cabanting said of the 5-foot-11 second-year starter. "She wants to play Division I college volleyball and she knows that she still has a lot to work on, but the thing is that I love that she's willing to work on it and she's willing to put in the hard work to do it. I think with the drive and ambition that she has and her goal in mind, she's headed in the right direction."

Kruize has got to a good start so far this season. She had 12 kills against Castle Thursday and seven kills at Farrington Monday — both match-high marks. Moanalua swept both matches and are 2-0 in the Oahu Interscholastic Association's Eastern Division.

"I think she's a very talented player and she's a great player to coach," Cabanting said. "She gets frustrated at times, but for the most part she knows what she needs to work on and the other thing is she's very committed. She wants to reach her goals and so she's doing whatever she needs to do to reach those goals."

As a sophomore last year, Kruize earned All-OIA East Honorable Mention and Moanalua finished second in the league tournament and fourth in the Division I state tournament. After longtime coach Tommy Lake stepped down following the season, Cabanting — who is also the boys' head coach — was hired to step in.

"We had a meeting last year after I found out that I got the job and I told all of them that whoever our outside hitters are need to play all positions," Cabanting said. "I wanted them to do things they've never done before, so there's a lot more work on their part having to hit, block and play in the back."

Kruize apparently took Cabanting's words to heart and her coach says it has showed early on this season.

"She knew at the very onset that she'd have to work on these things and she's been doing a good job in practices," Cabanting said. "She knows that she has to step up and she's a leader on the court that a lot of the girls can follow, so she's really strengthened herself mentality and become more of a complete player."

Cabanting said one thing he wanted Kruize to improve was her on-court communication.

"She is very vocal and when we're winning she's very positive, but her vocalness needs to translate when we're under pressure because the competitiveness gets the better of her sometimes," Cabanting said. "She's committed this season to working on maintaining that vocal positive leadership because the other five that we have are really depending on her on the court."

Lia Gaogao, a senior hitter who earned first team all-league honors last year, isn't as vocal as Kruize, Cabanting said.

"Lia is a silent leader and she, like the rest of our girls, feed off of Jojo's emotion," Cabanting said. "Jojo will be our go-to player and what's great is Lia is right there to complement her."

Cabanting said Kruize's success this year will be a solid indicator of how Moanalua's season will go.

"When she's on, we know that we can go to her and everybody else rallies around it and she knows that, but I love that she's willing and open-minded to the things that I'm asking her to do," Cabanting said. "I'm excited to see her by the end of the season."

Na Menehune return to the court Wednesday, when they host Roosevelt.

AIR RIFLERY
Matthew Pak, Moanalua — Shot a high score of 521 in a win over McKinley Thursday

BOWLING
Bradley Nakamura, Pearl City — Rolled a high-game of 257 and a three-game series of 674 in an OIA Western Divison match Thursday

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Tiyana Hallums, Kamehameha — Had a match-high 10 kills in a win over Iolani Saturday

Natalia Kaopua, Nanakuli — Had seven kills, three digs, three aces and two blocks in a win over Kapolei Thursday

Anna Uhr, Iolani — Had nine kills in a loss to Kamehameha Saturday

FOOTBALL
Kawika Akahi, King Kekaulike — Rushed for 134 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries in a win over Kamehameha-Maui Friday

John Barbieto, Waianae — Rushed for 106 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries in a win over McKinley Friday

Kyle Bender, Moanalua — Recorded a game-high 12 tackles and forced a fumble in a loss to Kapolei Friday

Tsubasa Brennan, Pac-Five — Caught 15 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Saint Louis Friday

Corry Brown, King Kekaulike — Scored on an 82-yard punt return and kicked a 30-yard field goal in a win over Kamehameha-Maui Friday

Damien Butac, Kauai — Scored on a 76-yard kickoff return in a win over Waimea Friday

Chance Cacatian, Radford — Rushed for 91 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries in a win over Kaimuki Saturday

Ikaika Chong Kee, Kamehameha-Maui — Rushed for 114 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries in a loss to King Kekaulike Friday

Willie Ewaliko, Castle — Threw a pair of touchdown passes and rushed for another in a loss to Leilehua Friday

Challen Faamatau, Farrington — Rushed for a pair of touchdowns in a win over Aiea Saturday

Ofa Fahiua, Hilo — Intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble in overtime in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii Friday

Nainoa Falk, Honokaa — Rushed for three touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass in a win over Waiakea Saturday

Ace Faumui, Kalani — Rushed for 151 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries in a win over Roosevelt Friday

Bryce Felipe, Waiakea — Threw three touchdown passes in a loss to Honokaa Saturday

Kainoa Ferreira, Pac-Five — Completed 30 of 65 passes for 307 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Saint Louis Friday

Makoa Filikitona-Lukea, Lahainaluna — Threw three touchdown passes and rushed for another in a win over Baldwin Saturday

Makoa Freitas, Kamehameha — Ran for a pair of touchdowns in a win over Saint Francis Friday

Makaila Haina-Horswill, Nanakuli — Rushed for a touchdown and caught a touchdown pass in a win over Waialua Saturday

Vaaalotasi Ierome, Radford — Recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown in a win over Kaimuki Saturday

Keith Jones II, Kaiser — Rushed for 135 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries in a win over Waipahu Friday

Kalawaia Judd, Kaiser — Threw for 206 yards and two touchdowns on 7-of-12 passing in a win over Waipahu Friday

Kaimi Kamai, Waialua — Recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown in a loss to Nanakuli Saturday

Kale Kanehailua, Nanakuli — Threw for a pair of touchdowns, rushed for 100 yards and another score in a win over Waialua Saturday

Micah Kanehailua, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Completed 26 of 49 passes for 277 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Hilo Saturday

Nicholas Kapule, Punahou — Completed 10 of 12 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Damien Friday

Paul Kea, Leilehua — Recorded a pair of sacks in a win over Castle Friday

Patrick Keamoai-Strickland, Waimea — Rushed for a touchdown and threw a touchdown pass in a loss to Kauai Friday

Donavan Kelley, Hilo — Scored on an 84-yard kickoff return in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii Friday

Micah Kerisiano, McKinley — Caught a touchdown pass and intercepted a pass in a loss to Waianae Friday

Sean Kinel, Pac-Five — Caught five passes for 97 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Saint Louis Friday

Drew Kobayashi, Saint Louis — Caught three passes for 134 yards, including two touchdowns, in a win over Pac-Five Friday

Janson Kupau, Saint Francis — Scored on a 30-yard interception return in a loss to Kamehameha Friday

Nayton Kuresa, Waianae — Recorded a pair of sacks in a win over McKinley Friday

Jedidiah Lulu, Saint Louis — Scored on a 67-yard interception return in a win over Pac-Five Friday

Micah Maa, Punahou — Caught two passes for 100 yards, both going for touchdowns, in a win over Damien Friday

Jarin Manuel, Damien — Recorded a game-high nine tackles and had two interceptions in a loss to Punahou Friday

Ronald Matautia, Kapolei — Scored a pair of rushing touchdowns in a win over Moanalua Friday

Jensen McDaniel, Kaiser — Rushed for 162 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries in a win over Waipahu Friday

Javal Medlin, Campbell — Caught three touchdown passes in a win over Kailua Friday

Alexcio Meyers, Nanakuli — scored on a 22-yard interception return in a win over Waialua Saturday

Quinten Mundon, Kauai — Recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown in a win over Waimea Friday

Kanawai Noa, Punahou — Scored on a 67-yard punt return in a win over Damien Friday

Sean Noda, Kaimuki — Rushed for 130 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries in a loss to Radford Saturday

Siaosi Pakileata, Farrington — Scored on a 40-yard interception return in a win over Aiea Saturday

Kalanimoku Pauole, Leilehua — Completed 26 of 33 passes for 280 yards and five touchdowns in a win over Castle Friday

Ikaika Piceno, Leilehua — Caught a pair of touchdown passes and rushed for another score in a win over Castle Friday

Kyron Rapacon, Kauai — Rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries in a win over Waimea Friday

Hunter Rapoza, Waiakea — Caught a pair of touchdown passes in a loss to Honokaa Saturday

Kamaehu Richards, Honokaa — Caught a touchdown pass and ran for another score in a win over Waiakea Saturday

Jared Rocha-Islas, Lahainaluna — Caught a touchdown pass and threw for another in a win over Baldwin Saturday

Kea Rodrigues, Moanalua — Scored on a 52-yard fumble return in a loss to Kapolei Friday

Kekoa Sasaoka, Farrington — Kicked a 27-yard field goal and made five PATs in a win over Aiea Saturday

Ezra Savea, Campbell — Completed 19 of 22 passes for 262 yards with six touchdowns in a win over Kailua Friday

Paepaeiva Silifaiva-Kaeha, Kailua — Rushed for 106 yards on 13 carries in a loss to Campbell Friday

Trensten Spragling, Kamehameha — Rushed for 95 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries in a win over Moanalua Friday

Fatu Sua-Godinet, Kamehameha — Ran for a pair of touchdowns in a win over Saint Francis Friday

Tristin Spikes, Hilo — Rushed for 114 yards on 25 carries, including the eventual game-winning 1-yard touchdown, in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii Friday

Tua Tangovailoa, Saint Louis — Completed 20 of 25 passes for 430 yards with four touchdowns and rushed for a 55-yard score in a win over Pac-Five Friday

Wayne Taulapapa, Punahou — Ran for a pair of touchdowns in a win over Damien Friday

Drevyn Tavares, King Kekaulike — Scored on a 6-yard fumble return in a win over Kamehameha-Maui Friday

Shayne Teruya, Roosevelt — Caught four passes for 102 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Kalani Friday

John Toner, Punahou — Kicked a 31-yard field goal and was 7 for 7 on extra points in a win over Damien Saturday

Jordan Walker, Radford — Recorded a game-high seven tackles with two sacks in a win over Kaimuki Saturday