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Cole Northington

Leilehua football  •   #9    

Whether it's in the classroom or on the football field, Cole Northington is taking care of business. 

The Leilehua senior has been a workhorse on the gridiron this fall. The 5-foot-9, 190-pound Northington ranks second in the state, regardless of division, with 998 rushing yards. He is averaging 5.5 yards per carry and has scored 10 touchdowns on the year. 

In a playoff game against Radford Friday night, Northington ran for 178 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. 

"I would describe him as ‘athletic angry with an IQ to match,' " Mules coach Mark Kurisu said of Northington, a three-year starter and team captain this season. 

Kurisu noted that Northington's demeanor is all-business when it's time for football. 

"He don't smile, this kid. I said, ‘Dude, you alright?' and he said, ‘I'm good, coach,' " Kurisu recalled. "He just has a focus on him right now and I think one he finds his way to a (college or university) and goes to where he wants to go, I think a lot of that pressure and stress will start to release, so his work isn't done yet, he said."

Northington's work has been steady – he has played in all nine games – and at times, eye-popping. He is averaging nearly 111 rushing yards per game and has eclipsed the century mark five times this year – not including a 99-yard effort in a non-league game against Kamehameha. His best game of the season came against Aiea, when Northington ran for 208 yards and four touchdowns on 37 carries. 

"That's what we've always wanted out of him, to be a workhorse for us," Kurisu said. "He's in great shape, he takes great care of his body, all this while maintaining a 4.0-plus GPA and he may expect more out of himself, too. That's how motivated he is to be successful and this is what we saw in him as a sophomore when we pulled him up."

As a sophomore in the COVID-impacted 2021 season, Northington recorded only 38 carries for 58 yards. Leilehua posted a 1-5 record that season. The following year, Northington led the team in both carries (78) and rushing yards (356) and was selected as an All-OIA Open Division Second Team all-star. 

Kurisu said that Northington's football IQ is evident in the way that he does the little things on the field. 

"He's really bright. He understands schemes, when to cut back, when to attack a hole, how to read the block of the linemen or fullback, he knows how to pass (protect), he's strong, he knows when to take a hit or when to lay off of something," Kurisu said. "He doesn't try to run everybody over, but he'll attack the defender to make sure you need to break down to make a tackle, yet he has the speed to breakaway, so he's tough when he needs to be, but he'll pull away also."

Although Northington gained some notoriety during his breakout junior campaign, the Mules suffered through an 0-7-1 record in 2022. This season has seen a bit of a resurgence for Kurisu's squad, which has posted a 5-5 overall record and 4-3 mark in OIA Division I play. 

"These seniors have gone through so much and the message was that we're done with the pandemic so get done with that pandemic mentality. ‘Let's grow up and make things happen and get back to work' and it all starts with these seniors. This is the first year (since COVID) that we've had a full training session and we started after last season ended in November," Kurisu said. 

Along with Northington, fellow-senior Timothy Arnold has been instrumental in setting the tone for their teammates. Arnold, a 6-foot, 185-pound wide receiver, is having a standout season himself. He has recorded 60 receptions for 976 yards and nine touchdowns on the year. 

"Cole, Timmy, those guys started busting their tails and for their senior year, they could get out there without restrictions and in one year's time we've shown what Leilehua football is all about: just put in work and get results," Kurisu stated. 

Prior to the start of the season, Mules' offensive coordinator Bryant Moniz had his skill position players set some goals for the year. 

"To have a thousand-yard rusher, for somebody to have 10 touchdowns," Kurisu recalled, "and I think we're really close to it. To do it against the teams that we've been playing this year has been real special and it's been the kind of season that I wanted for these seniors because it's been unfair to them because of COVID and a lot of this success is because of our senior leadership and Cole's one of them. He gets in the weight room and works and it's just ‘follow the leader,' you know."

Northington isn't much of a talker. Rather, he tends to lead by example. 

"He sets a high standard for himself and his work ethic never wavers. His leadership style is more of a one-on-one guy – he won't say your name out loud, but if he needs to talk to you, he'll come by and when it comes to football, mum's the word, I guess you could say – but when he says things, it's usually not in front of the team, but usually in front of the offensive huddle and when he's on the sidelines, he's good at giving feedback to the coaches and sharing what he sees out there," Kurisu described. 

He went on, "The good thing is he's vocal when he needs to be. He's not vocal all the time, but his actions speak louder than his words and no doubt his actions speak volumes to the team and you can count on him to be there and show up and put out."

Consistency is a trademark of Northington's – "What you see is what you get with Cole, his personality doesn't change," Kurisu said – both on and off the field. 

"He's just mister do-it-all for us as a running back. He can come out of the backfield and catch a house and take it to the house. He has a lot of love and support from his family and he has a younger sibling who looks up to him," Kurisu added. 

Northington, who is also a member of the track and field team at Leilehua, is also involved in student leadership and community service outside of school. He was recently voted as the school's homecoming king. Kurisu said that Northington is on track to be a valedictorian for his graduating class in the spring. He hopes to continue his education and playing career at an Ivy League school next year. 

Northington and the Mules will visit Masa Yonamine Athletic Complex Friday night for an OIA D1 semifinal against No. 12 Waipahu (4-4). Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

FOOTBALL

Keoki Alani, Konawaena — Threw for 268 yards and seven touchdowns on 21-of-26 passing without an interception in a win over Kealakehe 

Liatama Amisone, Kapolei — Threw for 333 yards and four touchdowns on 14-of-19 passing without an interception and ran for 189 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries in a win over Moanalua 

Jadon Anzai, Iolani — Ran for 107 yards and three touchdowns on four carries in a win over Kamehameha II 

Niko Armstead-Lehti, Moanalua — Caught two passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Kapolei 

Timothy Arnold, Leilehua — Caught eight passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Radford 

Armenio Blanco, Konawaena — Made 5 1/2 tackles, including two for losses, and scored on 25-yard interception return for touchdown in a win over Kealakehe 

Hezekiah Fruean, Kapolei — Recorded two interceptions in a win over Moanalua 

Sonny Iaea, Kalani — Ran for 168 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries in a win over Kalaheo 

Kaina Kamohalii, Kapolei — Caught eight passes for 216 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Moanalua 

Dane Kellner, Punahou — Recorded two interceptions and returned one 36 yards for a touchdown in a win over Kamehameha 

Dillon Kellner, Punahou — Scored on an 82-yard interception return for touchdown in a win over Kamehameha

AJ Lusk, Kailua — Recorded two interceptions in a win over Aiea 

Ty McCutcheon, Punahou — Threw for 205 yards and a touchdown on 13-of-23 passing without an interception in a win over Kamehameha 

Keawe Navas Loa, Konawaena — Made 3 1/2 tackles, including 1 1/2 for losses and one sack, intercepted a pass and scored on a 30-yard fumble return for touchdown in a win over Kealakehe 

Charlie Peterson, Maui — Caught three passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Kekaulike

Hanohano Plunkett, Leilehua — Threw for 344 yards and five touchdowns on 23-of-29 passing with two interceptions in a win over Radford 

Kalani Puu, Kekaulike — Ran for 182 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries in a win over Maui 

Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, Campbell — Threw for 255 yards and four touchdowns on 14-of-20 passing with interception in a win over Waianae 

Zeke Schulz, Radford — Made four tackles for loss and one sack in a loss to Leilehua 

Reyn Shimabuku, Iolani — Intercepted two passes and returned one 64 yards for a touchdown in a win over Kamehameha II 

Silas Soberano, Kalani — Caught four passes for 104 yards and a touchdown in a win over Kalaheo 

Aliimalu Tan, Konawaena — Caught four touchdown passes and recorded an interception in a win over Kealakehe

Kaulana Tihada, Lahainaluna — Ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries in a win over Baldwin

CJ Villanueva, Iolani — Threw for 227 yards and three touchdowns on 18-of-21 passing without an interception in a win over Kamehameha II 

Zion White, Punahou — Caught three passes for 107 yards and a touchdown in a win over Kamehameha 

Makalani Carey

Seabury Hall volleyball  •   #1    

The transition from sea to court is a natural one, it seems, in the case of Makalani Carey. 

The Seabury Hall senior has been an integral part of two highly successful programs during her prep days at the upcountry Maui school. Carey has well established herself as an elite-level outrigger canoe paddler – following in the lead of her father, Mael – but is also a budding star on the volleyball court for the Spartans. 

After earning All-Hawaii honorable mention on the hardwood a year ago, Carey has elevated her play to another level this fall. The outside hitter has recorded six matches of double-digit kills and also leads the team in service aces with 25 on the year. 

"Power. That's what I think of when I think of Maka: Power," Seabury Hall coach Brian Connor said of Carey, who plays all six rotations. 

"She just has it; It's just there in her being and then in her play. She just has a ton of power and a ton of control of her body and so on defense she can take any hit coming at her – she can also move – and on offense with her swing, it's just full power whether it's into the block and out, whether it's finding the team. It's not an incredibly high contact like she's going over the block, but she tends to blast through blocks and she's always confident, always willing to just put the team on her shoulder," Connor added. 

Much of Carey's athleticism – and mental toughness – can be traced to her background in paddling. Her father is a highly-accomplished waterman himself; His love for the water has been passed down to Maka. In fact, the father-daughter duo have completed numerous cross-channel races together; their first came five years ago when they crossed the Pailolo channel between Maui and Molokai in under three hours. 

"She's a world class paddler and I mean, world class," Connor noted. 

Naturally, Carey has excelled for the Spartans' canoe paddling team during the winter sports season. She has helped Seabury Hall to four top-five finishes at the last two state championship regattas. As a sophomore in 2022, Carey was on the girls and mixed crews that finished third and second, respectively. A year ago, they were fourth in the girls' race and matched their runner-up finish from the previous year in the mixed division. 

Connor sees parallels between Carey's paddling abilities and her demeanor on the volleyball court. 

"They're very different sports, but what I see is a calmness in her," he described. 

"She does a lot of long races. Her races aren't quarter-mile sprints, they're channel races and for you to put your paddle in the water knowing that in 53 minutes from now you're gonna stop, I think that mindset of steadiness, of trusting yourself, or reacting to different conditions and you have positives and negatives affecting you and for you to just be able to maintain calm and remain afloat, I think that is what translates from paddling to volleyball for her and to just always be in control of that and see that goal at the end – whether it's another shore or 25 minutes – and keep calm and just keep paddling," Connor said. 

As for her volleyball exploits, Carey is somewhat of a late bloomer. She was called up to the varsity squad as a sophomore at the end of her JV season. She got her first taste of the state tournament that year, but came into her own as a junior. Carey broke into the starting lineup that season, which saw the Spartans run the table in the MIL, but she upped her production in the state tournament. 

"She excelled incredibly at states last year. She had just an amazing hitting percentage. I remember looking at it at the end of states and it was in the .400s as an outside (hitter)," Connor recalled.

He explained that much of the attention from opposing teams was focused on then-senior 6-foot-7 pin hitter Kekua Richards. 

"A lot of teams had Kekua as their target and focused their energy on her, but then Maka just stepped up and filled all the gaps that we hadn't really even prepared her for, so for someone who wasn't the one that everyone in the gym was talking about it was almost like she knew it was coming but she was patient and now she's here, she's being noticed, she's talking about playing in college now and her confidence has sky-rocketed," Connor said. 

While the state tournament was a bright spot for Carey individually, the Spartans were dealt an early exit after losing their first two matches despite being seeded third in the 12-team bracket. Needless to say, last year's disappointment has a tough pill to swallow for Connor and his squad, but the underclassmen of the bunch have used it as motivation in 2023. 

"It was a lesson that we shared at the time and you could see the resolve in the half of the team that was coming back, that it was not gonna happen again," Connor said. 

Whereas the Spartans relied on a few last year, they have developed more of a balanced attack with Carey and fellow senior outside hitter Sophia Connor, the daughter of the head coach, leading the way. 

"I feel like we're not relying so much on just one or two players that really need to carry us and as soon as we started playing and jelling this year, we were starting early in the season with some fine-tuning. We were way past fundamentals already and it became clear that this team has the potential for a state-tournament run again," Connor said. 

Early in the season, the Spartans took part in a preseason tournament on the Big Island, hosted by Kamehameha-Hawaii, but prior to that, Carey, Sophia Connor and sophomore Christina Naish were part of a team from Oahu that played several matches in Europe. 

"It was one of those goodwill tours," Brian Connor said. "They went and played some in Italy, then they played a tournament in Croatia and finished up with some sightseeing, but they had an opportunity to kind of play a lot of high-level ball and whether you're doing well or doing poorly, you're learning, you're kind of seeing what the next level looks like and what's expected of you."

Despite her hectic volleyball schedule, Carey still finds time to get back out on the water. In fact, while the Spartans were on the Big Island for the KS-Hawaii Labor Day Classic Tournament last month, she competed in the Queen Liliuokalani Long Distance Canoe Race. Carey and her partner placed first in the OC2 mixed 14-17 year-old division. 

"We had the tournament Thursday through Saturday and then Maka said her aunty was picking her up at 6 a.m. Sunday for a regatta," Connor said. "Volleyball and paddling, that's what she does."

Carey, one of nine seniors on the team, has recorded double-doubles in each of her last three matches, including a 14-kill, 16-dig effort against Hana in an MIL Division II semifinal match Thursday and an 11-kill, 12-dig outing against Maui Prep in the championship match the following night. The Spartans won both matches to claim their sixth consecutive league title under Connor, who intends to retire after this season.

"In my eight years coaching at Seabury, the championship match against Maui Prep was the best executed three sets that I've ever seen. All of them were just running like clockwork and executing at a high level and to be able to maintain that against a really good team like Maui Prep, that's the kind of arc of the season that we've been working on and Maka has been a huge part of that," Connor said. 

Carey and the Spartans (14-0) will have one of four seeded berths in next month's New City Nissan/HHSAA D2 State Championships. The tournament gets underway on Nov. 7 and culminates with the championship match at the Cannon Activities Center on the campus of BYU-Hawaii on Nov. 10.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Jamilyn Amina, Campbell — Had 18 kills, nine digs, two set assists, two aces and 1 1/2 blocks in a four-set loss to Kapolei and had 13 kills, 12 digs, one ace and one-half block in a three-set win over Waianae 

Brynn Basilio-Chun, Waialua — Had 19 set assists, 11 digs, seven kills and two aces in a four-set win over Aiea 

Annie Filisi, Leilehua — Had 15 kills, 11 digs, one block and an ace in a three-set win over Waianae 

Avery Kirkham, Maui Prep — Had 15 digs, five kills and an ace in a three-set loss to Seabury Hall 

Marielle Angelie Mendoza, Campbell — Had 18 digs and one set assist in a four-set loss to Kapolei 

Ariana Naipo, Baldwin — Had 13 kills, six digs and two aces in a three-set win over Kamehameha-Maui 

Kayla-Jane Padayao, Campbell — Had 25 set assists, three kills, one dig and an ace in a three-set win over Waianae 

Lilinoe Paschoal, Baldwin — Had 28 set assists, seven digs, two kills and two aces in a three-set win over Kamehameha-Maui 

Kailia Phillips, Waialua — Had 15 kills, four aces, three digs and one block in a four-set win over Aiea 

Kanoa Santiago, Waialua — Had 13 kills, 11 digs, one block and an ace in a four-set win over Aiea 

Jadalynn Satele, Kalaheo — Had 18 set assists, 13 digs, 11 kills and two aces in a three-set win over Kahuku 

Jazzahlei Satele, Kalaheo — Had 16 kills, 15 digs, four aces and one-half block in a three-set win over Kahuku