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Donovan Reis

Kaiser football  •   #11    

Donovan Reis wears a lot of different hats for the Kaiser football team. 

That was evident Friday night, when the 6-foot, 165-pound junior did a little bit of everything for the Cougars in their thrilling 31-24 overtime win over Pearl City. Reis, a wide receiver/defensive back, caught four passes for 85 yards and touchdown. He also made 4 1/2 tackles and came up with an interception on defense. 

Kaiser coach Tim Seaman rattled off the numerous duties and responsibilities for Reis, a team captain. 

"Receiver, defensive back, punter, he's our No. 2 quarterback, he can long snap — we've used him at long snapper this year as well — he can actually play corner or free safety, any of the defensive back positions. I mean, he's that old school throw back — he's a football player — that's the best way I can describe him and he's willing to go wherever the team needs and he's selfless in that sense," Seaman said. 

He noted that Reis's primary position is wide receiver, but his versatility has allowed for him to play both ways as the need arose for the Cougars defensively over the course of the season. And play pretty well at that. 

"It's a whole different thing to line up and play each position at a high level and that's what he's done," Seaman said. "Some guys can fill in, but he goes and he plays and whenever he does something, he does it well and that's what really helps us from a team perspective."

Despite missing two games due to injury, Reis is the team's second leading receiver (40 catches, 605 yards, 9 TDs) and third-leading rusher (12 caries, 171 yards, 2 TDs). He's accounted for 66 points, which ranks second behind wide receiver Makana Naleieha (55 catches, 883 yards, 12 TDs). 

"I think he's stepped up and we're probably a little more balanced this year in terms of, I think our slots are a lot more involved in the game. They've matured and having Makana and Donovan, we've got guys that we're spreading the ball around to, as opposed to being so outside-oriented as we were (in years past)," Seaman assessed. 

Reis was impactful from the get-go for the Cougars this season. Against reigning Division I state champion Iolani, he split time at quarterback with starter Easton Yoshino and threw for 136 yards and a touchdown on 10-of-17 passing. Reis also gashed the Raiders for 122 rushing yards and two more touchdowns on only seven carries and added a couple of receptions for good measure. 

"I think that special quality about him is the ability to do so much and do it well, playing at a high level," Seaman reiterated. "He's an excellent split end, eh's an excellent free safety, he's played corner and done it at a high level last year as well. I mean, it's unusual for somebody to be so good at so many different positions at the high school level."

Against the Chargers Friday night, Reis ignited the Cougars' comeback with his 22-yard touchdown reception from Yoshino that was a string of 17 unanswered points by the visitors in the final seven-plus minutes of regulation to force overtime. Reis also punted six times for 153 yards. 

"He also had a key pass break-up late in the game as well and then he didn't punt awesomely, but he punted effectively in the game," Seaman said. 

In almost the same breath, Seaman noted how Reis's contributions go beyond just the statistics. 

"His leadership, even when we were down, he's one of the more vocal guys of keeping the guys more engaged in the game, helping guys get lined up defensively, being aware of down-and-distance and situations, all those types of things. One day he's going to be a great coach if he chooses to go that path, because his knowledge of the game is awesome a high school junior and he's not afraid to speak up," Seaman said. 

While Reis isn't shy about speaking his mind, he manages to do so in a constructive, yet positive way. 

"He's a pretty fiery guy and you don't find that a whole bunch in kids nowadays, a lot of guys would rather stay in the background, but he's not afraid to step forward and when the team needs a boost, he'll encourage guys and sometimes he'll get on guys, but that's what a leader has to do and we're fortunate that not only him, but JT Richards, another junior we have that is another good leader, Easton Yoshino is another captain — we're fortunate that we've got some guys that are willing to speak up when necessary," Seaman disclosed. 

With the win Friday, Kaiser punched its ticket to the six-team First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Division II State Championships and also secured a spot in the OIA  championship game this Saturday. 

Reis and the Cougars (6-3) will try for a second straight league title against the tournament's top seed, No. 15 Nanakuli (8-1). Kickoff at Mililani's John Kauinana Stadium is scheduled for 4 p.m. 

The game will be followed by the D1 title game between No. 11 Aiea (8-2) and No. 10 Waipahu (8-1) at approximately 7 p.m. 

FOOTBALL

Kealii Ah Yat, Kamehameha — Threw for 346 yards and four touchdowns on 27-of-47 passing with one interception in a loss to Saint Louis 

Sylas Alaimalo, Damien — Caught two touchdown passes, threw a TD pass and ran in another score in a win over PAC-5

Bobby Best, Pearl City — Ran 16 times for 110 yards in a loss to Kaiser 

Rowen Bucao, Campbell — Caught 10 passes for 108 yards in a loss to Mililani 

Josiah Calderon, Pearl City — Made 10 tackles and broke up a pass in a loss to Kaiser 

Kaimana Carvalho, Kahuku — Caught seven passes for 122 yards and a touchdown in a win over Kapolei 

Nalu Chinen-Zablan, Damien — Caught four passes for 131 yards and a touchdown in a win over PAC-5

Waika Crawford, Kahuku — Threw for 213 yards and three touchdowns on 15-of-29 passing without an interception in a win over Kapolei 

Kade Cunningham, Lahainaluna — Scored on a 79-yard kickoff return in a win over Kekaulike

Joshua DeCenzo, Damien — Caught seven passes for 131 yards in a win over PAC-5

Chyler DeSilva, Saint Louis — Caught nine passes for 121 yards and a touchdown in a win over Kamehameha

Jadsen Dias, Kaiser — Made eight tackles, including one sack, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble in a win over Pearl City 

Isaiah Enriquez, Nanakuli — Had two tackles for loss and recovered a fumble in a win over Kaimuki 

PJ Freitas, Kapolei — Had one tackle for loss, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble in a loss to Kahuku 

Kekahi Graham, Saint Louis — Threw for 376 yards and two touchdowns on 30-of-44 passing with an interception in a win over Kamehameha 

Arjay Kelemete, Waipahu — Had two sacks in a win over Farrington 

Titan Lacaden, Saint Louis — Caught 11 passes of 161 yards in a win over Kamehameha

Toby Lau, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored on a 20-yard blocked punt return in a win over Kohala

Allen Mahoe III, Nanakuli — Ran 10 times for 97 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Kaimuki 

Kini McMillan, Mililani — Threw for 416 yards and five touchdowns on 30-of-47 passing with one interception in a win over Campbell

Mason Muaau, Campbell — Caught eight passes for 150 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Mililani 

Elijah Nahoopii-Makakona, Aiea — Intercepted two passes and recovered a fumble in a win over Kailua 

Ezekiel Olie, Aiea — Threw for 240 yards and two touchdowns on 21-of-29 passing without an interception and ran for two touchdowns in a win over Kailua 

Joseph Randolph, Baldwin — Ran 11 times for 104 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Kamehameha-Maui

JT Richards, Kaiser — Made 9 1/2 tackles in a win over Pearl City 

Ezekiel Rodrigues, Mililani — Made 7 1/2 tackles, including one for a loss, forced a fumble and broke up a pass in a win over Campbell 

Raymond Roller, Mililani — Caught 10 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown in a win over Campbell 

Jaron Sagapolutele, Campbell — Threw for 457 yards and four touchdowns on 34-of-51 passing with one interception in a loss to Mililani 

Elias Tania, Mililani — Made four tackles, including two sacks, in a win over Campbell 

Anieli Teleaai, Waipahu — Ran 12 times for 123 yards and a touchdown in a win over Farrington

Jonah Togafau-Tavui, Campbell — Caught nine passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Mililani 

AJ Tuifua, Damien — Threw for 400 yards and four touchdowns on 19-of-26 passing without an interception in a win over PAC-5

Liatama Uiliata, Waipahu — Threw a touchdown pass and ran for two touchdowns in a win over Farrington 

Easton Yoshino, Kaiser — Threw for 329 yards and four touchdowns on 33-of-60 passing with one interception in a win over Pearl City 

Alohi Garcia

Waialua volleyball  •   #4  MB/OH  Senior

First and foremost, Alohi Garcia is a lover of people. On top of that, she's a pretty good volleyball player. 

Garcia's aloha is something Waialua girls volleyball coach Bronson Chun has become accustomed to over the years. 

"I've known her since she was in the seventh grade and I think no matter what it is, Alohi is one way on the court, but really loving outside the court," Chun said. 

"She's real family-oriented and always willing to help other people. She's always the one to give and look past whatever flaws they have and be a true friend no matter what. She doesn't judge people too much, she always looks at the brighter side of people, always has a good heart," Chun added. 

Garcia, a 5-foot-10 senior middle blocker/outside hitter and team captain for the Bulldogs, put forth plenty of heart last Wednesday. She notched 15 kills along with 11 digs, five aces and two total blocks to lead Waialua to its first-ever OIA championship with a five-set win over Kailua in the Division II title game at Radford's Jim Alegre Gymnasium. 

"That night there was no stopping her; She didn't let any thing or any bad situations that game bother her," said Chun, whose team won set 1, 25-16, but dropped sets 2 and 3, 25-23 and 25-11, respectively. 

Despite being down a set, Garcia remained optimistic that she and her teammates would rally to force a fifth set and ultimately claim a championship. 

"She knew that we were gonna win; She talked to me after the (match) — we had lost in the semifinals last year on the same court to make it to the championship, so it was big redemption for us. There was no quit, no die against Kailua; we were down so many times, behind in that fifth set, too," Chun reflected. "I think that one of the things about Alohi is she just had a totally different attitude: everything was optimistic about that game and she just didn't let anything bother her and just full steam ahead."

The Surfriders held a 17-14 lead midway through set 4, but the Bulldogs scored the final three points of the set to take it, 25-23, and even the match at two sets apiece. 

Waialua fell behind in the fifth set, 5-2, but surged ahead with a 12-6 run to set-up match point. A Kailua service error a few points later ended the match, 15-12. 

Garcia, who plays all six rotations, took 38 swings for the match. She was also a perfect 11 for 11 on serve-receive. 

As a junior last season, Garcia earned All-OIA Western Division Second Team recognition as an outside hitter. This season, however, she's predominantly been in the middle. 

"And she's one heck of a middle," Chun interjected. 

"I think she's become a smarter hitter. She's just been a banger, that's her thing, she puts the ball down, but now more shot placement and her volleyball IQ improving, she's not looking to murder the ball all the time and just placing it and scoring it with off-speed and roll shots and that's made her into the scorer she is now. In other seasons she probably would look to pound the ball, but I think she's grown smarter in way where she realizes she doesn't have to hit it a thousand miles per hour and just get it down, so I think that's where she's improved a lot this season, just being an all-around smarter hitter," Chun described. 

Not only has Garcia been prolific this season — she's logged double-digit kills in nine of 13 matches this season — she's also been steady. 

"I think she's aggressive when it comes to attacking, but she's pretty consistent and she's never one to quit. She's never one to give up and I I think one thing about her is her aggressiveness and her willingness to keep fighting. With her it's a no-quit type of attitude. She's always training, she goes to a lot of clinic and her willing to just train no matter what happens, her willingness to put whatever it takes into it, I think separates her a lot from the rest," Chun said. 

Garcia's competitive nature, combined with her friendly demeanor, lends to many-a teammates and opponents alike gravitating toward her. 

"Just the love and support she gets and the congratulations after the game, people she doesn't even know after a game will give her a hug and say ‘what a game,' and she'll say, ‘it wasn't just me,' so knowing that you have a player that is humble and knows that it's more about the team than them, I think it says a lot," Chun expressed. 

Chun said that in the aftermath of his team's run to a league crown, the reception from the school and community has been overwhelming. 

"Waialua is always the underdog no matter what it is. I think we grew the girls' confidence into truly believing they can be great. The reception from the community and all the love, it's just mind-blowing for these girls. What these girls have done for this small community, it's like winning the Super Bowl for them," Chun said. 

The Bulldogs (6-7) dropped their opening match of this week's New City Nissan/HHSAA D2 State Championships to Maryknoll in four sets Tuesday night. Garcia put down a match-high 17 kills and hit .333, to go along with eight digs, two blocks and a set assist. 

Waialua will play Lanai in a consolation match Wednesday, 4 p.m. at Kalani's Earl C. Holmer Gym. 

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Anae Asuncion, Mililani — Had 37 assists, five digs, three block assists, two kills and an ace in a three-set win over Kapolei and had 43 assists, 11 digs, three kill, one block assist and an ace in a five-set loss to Kahuku 

Brynn Basilio-Chun, Waialua — Had 37 assists, four digs, two kills, one block assist and an ace in a five-set win over Kailua 

Hope Fine, Maryknoll — Had 14 kills and a solo block in a four-set win over University Lab 

Maiah Kalima-Izumi, University Lab — Had 10 kills in a four-set loss to Maryknoll 

Dani Kapu, Kahuku — Had 15 assists, 11 digs and one kill in a five-set win over Mililani 

Leisey Kelii, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Had 15 digs in a three-set win over Kealakehe 

Hope Kepa, Kailua — Had 16 assists, 15 digs, seven kills and a block assist in a five-set loss to Waialua 

Shayla Lacamiento, Kapolei — Had 23 assists and four digs in a three-set loss to Mililani 

Mao Lauhingoa, Kahuku — Had 10 kills, one dig and a block assist in a three-set win over Farrington and had 12 kills, four block assists, one solo block and a dig in a five-set win over Mililani 

LC Nakagawa, Mililani — Had 20 digs, four aces and an assist in a five-set loss to Kahuku 

Paige Paaluhi, Mililani — Had 10 digs, four kills, one block assist, an ace and an assist in a three-set win over Kapolei

Kailia Phillips, Waialua — Had 12 kills, nine digs and an ace in a five-set win over Kailua 

Hehea Pulotu, Kahuku — Had 18 digs, five assists and an ace in a five-set win over Mililani 

Cha'lei Reid, Kahuku — Had 14 kills, six digs and an ace in a three-set win over Farrington and had 21 kills, nine digs, two aces and a solo block in a five-set win over Mililani 

Erica Roberts, Mililani — Had 11 kills and two digs in a three-set win over Kapolei and had 14 kills, one dig, one block assist and an assist in a five-set loss to Kahuku 

Alexis Rodriguez, Mililani — Had 16 kills, seven digs, two aces and a block assist in a three-set win over Kapolei and had 20 kills, nine digs, three solo blocks, one block assist and an ace in a five-set loss to Kahuku 

Sascha Sanchez, Kailua — Had 11 digs and six assists in a five-set loss to Waialua 

Kanoa Santiago, Waialua — Had 11 digs, two assists and a kill in a five-set win over Kailua 

Kaliko Schilling, Kahuku — Had 11 digs, six kills, two aces and an ace in a three-set win over Farrington 

Ashlyn Tai, Kailua — Had 20 kills, nine digs, seven aces and two block assists in a five-set loss to Waialua 

Anna Takushi, Mililani — Had 10 digs in a five-set loss to Kahuku 

Amber Tania Makainai, Kailua — Had 18 assists, 10 digs, three aces, two kills and one solo block in a five-set loss to Waialua 

Mele Taumoepeau, Kahuku — Had 15 kills, 12 digs, two block assists, one solo block and an ace in a five-set win over Mililani 

Tayah-Anne Toa, Maryknoll — Had 17 kills, one solo block and a block assist in a four-set win over University Lab 

Logan Yogi, University Lab — Had 12 kills in a four-set loss to Maryknoll