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Elijah Dinkel

KS-Hawaii football  •   #6    

The Kamehameha-Hawaii football team can breathe a collective sigh of relief any time that Elijah Dinkel steps onto the gridiron. 

That's because, as Warriors' coach Kealoha Wengler points out, Dinkel is "money in the bank."

Dinkel has certainly proved his worth over the years, since way back when he first won the placekicking duties as a freshman back in 2019 and more recently in a 45-0 win over Hawaii Prep last Friday. 

The 5-foot-10, 167-pound Dinkel converted all three of his field goal attempts and was a perfect 4 for 4 on point after touchdowns in the lopsided victory for the Warriors (2-0). 

"He doesn't miss and it's just that bit of confidence that he brings to everybody, that when he goes in there, we know that he's got this and it raises and lifts the rest of the team knowing that he's in there and we definitely got a chance of getting some more points," Wengler said. 

Dinkel's first two field goals — both from 32 yards out — came minutes apart and gave his team a 13-0 lead early in the second quarter. His 40-yard field goal on the final play of the third quarter closed out the scoring and made it 45-0. 

"From an offensive perspective, we know that once we get inside the 40-yard line, we're in the money — we're in pay dirt already — and we can get points right there," Wengler said. 

Wengler pointed to his team's come-from-behind 25-21 road win over Kamehameha-Maui two weeks ago as proof of Dinkel's contagious confidence. 

"He helped us get out of that 14-0 deficit against Kamehameha-Maui and helped us to get out of that goose egg that we had," Wengler said of Dinkel's 42-yard field goal in the final minutes of the first half. "That really got us going and helped us rally, but it's his confidence — he's like, ‘Coach, let me go. I'll get us three points right here,' and that confidence really lifts the rest of the team."

While Dinkel doesn't lack for confidence, he's careful not to exude overconfidence nor cockiness. 

"I think he's a high-caliber player, but he's so humble and he's always that, ‘yes, coach' person all the time," Wengler said. "He's really akamai, he's really smart, he knows himself, he knows his capabilities, he knows when he's ready to make those kicks and when he's not and he'll tell you. If he's been kicking kickoffs all night and we put him at a far distance (for a field goal), he'll tell us, ‘Not a good idea right now,' because he knows his body really well and he knows his abilities and he knows the angles and all that and so when he goes to kick, he's very confident."

Wengler explained that Dinkel is one of those low-maintenance players who never lacks for self-motivation. During team weight lifting sessions, Dinkel will often complete the workout alongside his teammates, then do a separate workout on his own. 

"He's the type who does that extra work on the side all the time and he works independently — he doesn't need a whole lot of help because he'll just go in and work on his own — and people see the extra work that he puts into his craft so just that type of leadership that he provides: he doesn't talk a whole lot, he's just quiet and humble and leads by example and he doesn't ask for a whole lot of stuff, he's not demanding," Wengler said. 

Although Dinkel is not designated as a team captain, he is most certainly a leader for the Warriors — just not the braggadocios kind. 

"Whatever we're doing, he'll always push himself to be the first and even push the younger athletes. He's always supportive of everyone else and he's a role model on the field because he's the first one on the field kicking and after everyone leaves he's doing more kicking and stretching," Wengler said. 

In addition to his placekicking duties, Dinkel is also the team's punter and is even listed as a wide receiver on the team roster. 

"He really wants to get into the game as a receiver — and he's a really good receiver — but we don't want to ruin his opportunities as a college kicker," Wengler said. "He's really fast and he's a great athlete and he's one of the fastest guys on our team."

Dinkel's athleticism is on display for the Warriors' boys soccer team during the winter sports season. Last year he led the team to its second state championship in program history was voted as the Division II Player of the Year in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation by league coaches. Dinkel was also selected as an All-Hawaii First Team midfielder. 

And the kicker is, he's just as good in the classroom. 

"He really works hard all the time and his parents did a really good job raising him. He's that well-behaved kid that cranks out A's and B's all the time, so I'm really proud to see this guy up in high school doing what he does and I know he's got a bright future ahead of him," said Wengler, a middle school counselor at Kamehameha-Hawaii. 

On the football field, Dinkel made D2 All-BIIF as a kicker and a punter last season; He was also an All-Hawaii First Team punter. Through the Warriors' first two games this year, Dinkel has converted all 10 of his kicks (four field goals, six PATs) and is tied for the team lead in scoring with 18 points. 

"We may not always see Elijah kicking field goals, but he's the reason why we can take those shots and have that confidence and take a gamble, knowing that we're gonna get Elijah to kick that field goal for us if we get in trouble," Wengler said. 

But Dinkel's numerous duties don't end when practice is over. Wengler noted that Dinkel is also responsible for picking up and dropping off several of his siblings to and from school. 

"After school he's got the family van, so he goes and picks up everybody from their schools and takes them home and that's kind of the arrangement that he has to have the vehicle is that he has to drop everybody off at school and pick them up before he can do sports," Wengler said. 

Occasionally that will result in Dinkel arriving to football practice a bit late. 

"He's very responsible and there's so many really good things that he displays and so we support him and when he's running late he'll call us and let us know, so he's always very responsible. There are other times he'll lead us in prayer and he's probably the most well-behaved player on the team, definitely," Wengler said. "He's just one of those awesome, really good kids that you wouldn't mind dating your daughter."

Dinkel and the Warriors will host Pahoa (0-2 overall, 0-1 BIIF D2) Thursday at 5 p.m. at Paiea Stadium. 

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Natronal Anana, Maui — Had 20 digs and four aces in a three-set win over Lahainaluna

Kamille Febo-Santiago, Christian Liberty — Had 13 digs and eight kills in a five-set win over Laupahoehoe

Maela Honma, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Had seven kills and five aces in a three-set win over Honokaa

Wehi Kahele, Christian Liberty — Had 13 digs and seven aces in a five-set win over Laupahoehoe

Ariana Naipo, Maui — Had 11 kills and 10 digs in a three-set win over Lahainaluna 

Lilinoe Paschoal, Maui — Had 32 assists, three kills and one block assist in a three-set win over Lahainaluna 

FOOTBALL

Jacob Ah Mook Sang, Konawaena — Caught two touchdown passes and made three tackles for loss, including two sacks in a win over Waiakea 

Sylas Alaimalo, Damien — Ran for a touchdown, made eight total tackles, intercepted a pass and broke-up a pass in a loss to Moanalua 

Kolu Alani, Konawaena — Threw for 222 yards and six touchdowns on 15-of-16 passing in a win over Waiakea 

Liatama Amisone, Kapolei — Threw for 250 yards and a touchdown on 21-of-24 passing without an interception and ran for a touchdown in a win over Aiea 

Hezekiah Anahu-Ambrosio — Made 7 1/2 tackles, including 3 1/2 for losses and 1 1/2 sacks, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble, also caught a touchdown pass and ran in another touchdown in a win over Waiakea 

Riley Camarillo, Kapolei — Caught nine passes for 117 yards and a touchdown in a win over Aiea 

Kaimana Carvalho, Kahuku — Scored on a 77-yard kickoff return for touchdown in a win over Waianae 

Waika Crawford, Kahuku — Threw for 158 yards and two touchdowns on 11-of-15 passing without an interception in a win over Waianae 

Trey Dacoscos, Pearl City — Threw for 279 yards and four touchdowns on 19-of-37 passing with one interception and also ran in two touchdowns in a win over Kaimuki

Mason Faoa, Campbell — Scored on a 19-yard interception return for touchdown in a win over Waipahu 

Vaaimalae Fonoti, Kahuku — Ran for two touchdowns in a win over Waianae 

Ryder Garcia, Hawaii Prep — Made 8 1/2 tackles, including three for losses, in a loss to Kamehameha-Hawaii 

Keoni James Ihu-Rodrigues, Maui — Scored on a 91-yard kickoff return for touchdown in a win over Maui

David Kalili, Nanakuli — Caught three touchdown passes in a win over Waialua 

Kaohu Kaluna, Hilo — Threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns on 13-of-17 passing without an interception and ran six times for 70 yards and two more touchdowns in a win over Kealakehe 

Xiah Kanae, Hilo — Rushed 11 times for 104 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Kealakehe 

Bradley Kansou, Pearl City — Caught two touchdown passes in a win over Kaimuki

Kaimana Lale-Saole, Aiea — Rushed 20 times for 108 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Kapolei

Tobey Lau, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Made 8 1/2 tackles, including three sacks, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and registered one pass break-up in a win over Hawaii Prep 

Ieremia Lemaota, Campbell — Had two sacks in a win over Waipahu 

Kynan McCartney, Kalani — Threw for 382 yards and two touchdowns on 23-of-39 passing with one interception and ran in two touchdowns in a win over Kalaheo 

Kahoku McClellan, Moanalua — Made seven tackles, including three for losses, one sack and forced a fumble in a win over Damien 

Bransan Moore, Campbell — Intercepted a pass and registered a sack in a win over Waipahu 

Ezekiel Olie, Aiea — Threw for 309 yards and a touchdown on 26-of-44 passing without an interception and ran for a touchdown in a loss to Kapolei 

Michael Perry, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Threw for 210 yards and three touchdowns on 12-of-20 passing without an interception in a win over Hawaii Prep 

Robert Pule-Annes, Hilo — Made 6 1/2 tackles, including one for a loss and scored on a 23-yard interception return for touchdown in a win over Kealakehe

Dillion Reis, Kaiser — Ran for two touchdowns in a win over McKinley

Donovan Reis, Kaiser — Caught two touchdown passes in a win over McKinley

Travis Ross, Punahou — Scored on a 41-yard punt return for touchdown in a win over Castle

Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, Campbell — Threw for 462 yards and three touchdowns on 22-of-35 passing without an interception and ran for another touchdown in a win over Waipahu 

Hansen Salausa-Kaawa, Nanakuli — Threw for 213 yards and four touchdowns on 16-of-24 passing without an interception in a win over Waialua 

Avin Tanioka, Kaimuki — Caught five passes for 129 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Pearl City 

Clyde Taulapapa, Kahuku — Rushed eight times for 101 yards and a touchdown in a win over Waianae 

Elijah Taylor, Kalaheo — Rushed 22 times for 167 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Kalani 

Silas Tina Soberano, Kalani — Caught five passes for 128 yards and a touchdown in a win over Kalaheo 

Jonah Togafau-Tavui, Campbell — Caught four passes for 125 yards and a touchdown in a win over Waipahu 

Ofa Vehikite, Kaimuki — Rushed 18 times for 240 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Pearl City 

Alai Williams, Punahou — Caught a touchdown pass and ran for another touchdown in a win over Castle 

Kalelepono Wong, Kekaulike — Rushed nine times for 115 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Baldwin 

Taohi-John Williams, Pearl City — Scored on a 38-yard interception return for touchdown in a win over Kaimuki 

Tysin Zackious, Kekaulike — Rushed 12 times for 158 yards and a touchdown in a win over Baldwin