Antone Sanches has always been a team-first guy.

Over his three-plus years on the Baldwin football team, Sanches has wore many hats and filled numerous roles – all in the name of putting his teammates in the best position to win.

In his first few seasons however, the Bears didn't come by many wins. But that's all changed this fall.

Sanches, a senior and four-year varsity letterman, has quarterbacked Baldwin to a 6-2 overall record and a 5-2 ledger in the Maui Interscholastic League. In a lopsided 41-0 rout of Maui High Friday night, Sanches totaled four touchdowns to help the Bears lock up the MIL's Division I second round title.

Baldwin third-year coach Cody Nakamura has relied on Sanches at a number of different positions over the years. He pointed to the athleticism that Sanches possesses as a key reason for his move (back) to quarterback midway through this season.

"We were planning on playing him at wide receiver, but he's listed as a quarterback on the roster – I just changed it recently," Nakamura said of the 5-foot-11, 170-pound Sanches, who used to see more action on defense as a safety, but to a far lesser degree since his full-time transition to the offensive backfield.

As a freshman back in the fall of 2021, Sanches played most of the season at the junior varsity level before he was called up. Under a previous coaching regime, Sanches saw limited time at quarterback before he spent most of the next two seasons starting at either wide receiver or defensive back.

"He's not necessarily a quarterback by trade, but he's played all over – receiver, DB, running back – he's just a football player and has been through a lot. He played quarterback out of necessity as a freshman and slid into more comfortable roles as a sophomore and junior, but circumstances thrust him into being a quarterback again and he's done a pretty admirable job," Nakamura said.

Against the Sabers Friday night, Sanches opened the scoring with his 17-yard TD pass to Ryan Coppa with 7:08 left in the first quarter. He connected with Cooper Watkins on an 8-yard scoring strike 13 seconds before halftime to extend the Bears' lead to 21-0. Sanches ran in a touchdown from four yards out about midway through the third quarter and a few minutes later, he threw a 14-yard TD pass to Noah Reuss to give his team a 35-0 cushion.

"I think this was the first game where he did put everything together as far as the passing goes, his running game and taking care of the football – it kind of all came together, which was nice to see and when we needed a big game from him, he produced one," Nakamura said.

Outside of a 63-0 win over Molokai in mid-September, Friday marked Baldwin's largest margin of victory over an opponent this season with Nakamura citing Sanches as being one of the main reasons for the turnaround since an 0-8 record in 2023.

"I think he's just been more decisive with his choices and with his reads, which was nice because a lot of times he was second guessing – clutching or hitching when he shouldn't hitch, or half a second late and the pass gets batted down – so he's definitely more decisive in that aspect and same thing with his running. He's hitting the correct gap and getting downhill and using his speed to finish it off. It was the first game he put it together with the run and the pass – a lot of past games it was either or, so it was good to see him do both this time," Nakamura said.

After his projected starting quarterback left via transfer in the offseason and another quarterback suffered an injury prior to the start of the season, Nakamura pulled up a signal-caller from the JV squad. Baldwin started the season 3-1, but it was after a 24-7 loss at Lahainaluna that Nakamura opted to shift Sanches to quarterback permanently.

"Antone's been a big difference, along with the defense getting more comfortable with a new (defensive coordinator) this year," Nakamura said.

Two weeks after the quarterback change, the Bears avenged the loss to the Lunas with a 7-3 victory in the rematch.

"It wasn't pretty, but a win is a win and we'll take it," Nakamura expressed.

Sanches has been a captain since his sophomore year and has displayed a steady work ethic throughout his time in the program.

"He's at every workout through the summer, all the morning lifts, meetings – he's at everything. He's a leader by example, not as vocal as most, but he goes hard every practice, doesn't take any plays off, does extra conditioning and is a student of the game. He's been playing his whole life and his dad (Kyle) is a coach, so he's been coached well throughout his life by his family on how to handle these situations to be a good athlete, not only in football, but in track as well," Nakamura said.

Sanches, whose grandfather Gary has coached track and field at Baldwin for more than 30 years, is also a sprinter/hurdler for the school during the spring season. He also excels in the classroom, Nakamura noted.

"You never have to worry about him off the field as far as school is concerned. He's a great student – he's got over a 4.0 (grade point average), so he's a very smart kid – and he's very respectful and when we named him a captain as a sophomore it was because he's the kind of kid that we wanted to mold our program around, one that shows up every day and doesn't complain," Nakamura said.

Nakamura expressed his happiness for this year's seniors, who are finally experiencing some success after an 0-9 record in 2022 and another winless campaign last year.

"That's what makes me the happiest, I think, is those three-year varsity guys that we brought up when they were sophomores – there were a bunch of them, a lot of them that we brought up to bring up the program – they stuck it out and they're here and they deserve it. They stuck it through the 0-17 start and having success their season year, so I'm very happy for them and so hopefully we can continue it and extend the season a little longer," Nakamura said.

Sanches and the Bears will face first-round winner Lahainaluna for the overall MIL title and the league's lone berth in next month's First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Division I State Championships. The third meeting between the teams will take place either Nov. 1 or 2 at a neutral site to be determined.

FOOTBALL

Sylas Alaimalo, Damien — Ran for 156 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries in a win over Iolani 

Zayden Alviar-Costa, Campbell — Caught seven passes for 122 yards and a touchdown in a win over Kahuku 

Kayden Anzaldo, Mililani — Recorded five tackles, two interceptions, forced a fumble and broke up a pass in a win over Kapolei 

Kevin Burke, Leilehua — Made 10 total tackles, including two sacks and intercepted a pass in a win over Radford 

Riley Burton, Castle — Ran for 126 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries in a win over McKinley 

Hilton Edward, Kaimuki — Recovered two fumbles, including one for a touchdown, in a loss to Kalaheo 

B.J. Gonsalves, Baldwin — Scored on a 65-yard interception return for touchdown in a win over Maui 

Tyger Hayashi, Iolani — Caught 12 passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Damien 

Slater Kaleiohi, Waianae — Ran for 178 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries in a win over Nanakuli 

Kekama Kane, Iolani — Caught 11 passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Damien 

Isaiah Keaunui-Demello, Kailua — Threw for 184 yards and four touchdowns on 9-of-16 passing without an interception in a win over Pearl City 

Titan Lacaden, Saint Louis — Ran for 256 yards and four touchdowns on 15 carries in a win over Punahou 

Romeo Ortiz, Kailua — Ran for two touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass in a win over Pearl City 

Ikaika Quidachay, Kailua — Ran for 137 yards and a touchdown on eight carries in a win over Pearl City 

Vance Ramolete, Kalaheo — Ran for 166 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries and recovered a fumble in a win over Kaimuki 

Maui Remigio, Kapolei — Caught three passes for 104 yards in a loss to Mililani 

Michael Robinson, Radford — Caught five passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Leilehua 

Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, Campbell — Threw for 239 yards and a touchdown on 18-of-25 passing without an interception in a win over Kahuku 

Dayton Savea, Damien — Caught four passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Iolani 

Chaysten Senas, Leilehua — Scored on a 54-yard punt return for touchdown, made 1 ½ tackles, intercepted a pass and broke up another in a win over Radford 

Chansen Smith, Farrington — Threw four touchdown passes and ran for another in a win over Waipahu 

Taimane Souza-Fautanu, Roosevelt — Scored on an 80-yard punt return for touchdown in a win over Kalani 

Makana Taylor, Kapolei — Recorded four tackles and two interceptions in a loss to Mililani 

Dayton Tilton, Roosevelt — Scored on punt returns for touchdowns of 34 and 60 yards in a win over Kalani 

Jonah Togafau-Tavui, Mililani — Recorded 4 ½ tackles, two interceptions, one fumble recovery and a pass break up in a win over Kapolei 

Jeremyah Toilolo, Kalaheo — Recorded two interceptions and a fumble recovery in a win over Kaimuki 

AJ Tuifua, Damien — Threw for 274 yards and four touchdowns on 17-of-23 passing in a win over Iolani 

Donte Utu, Punahou — Caught a touchdown pass and recorded two interceptions in a loss to Saint Louis 

Jones Vierra, Iolani — Ran for 126 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries in a loss to Damien 

CJ Villanueva, Iolani — Threw for 326 yards and four touchdowns on 26-of-41 passing in a loss to Damien

Sometimes the numbers don't always tell the whole story, but in the case of Kalaweloilehua Chock, they are indeed quite telling.

The junior pin hitter led the way for her Kamehameha girls volleyball team in three pivotal matches during last week's Interscholastic League of Honolulu double-elimination tournament. Chock, a 5-foot-10 outside hitter/opposite, racked up 73 kills and averaged 5.6 kills per set to help the Warriors go 2-1 in that span.

She started off the week by putting down 27 kills in a four-set win over Mid-Pacific Tuesday, which secured a state tournament berth for her team. Chock also tallied 16 digs, two total blocks, one assist and an ace against the Owls.

"The team wasn't necessarily playing its best and she was continually, both verbally and with her play, supporting everybody and made sure to push us to win that match," Kamehameha coach Chris Blake said.

Chock followed that up with a 24-kills, 18-dig effort in Thursday night's five-set win over No. 1 Iolani to force a rematch Saturday. She added three aces, two assists and one block as the Warriors handed the Raiders their first loss of the year.

"She was solid. She was very vocal and was definitely being that leader both by her play and through her communication with the team and when it came down to it, she performed the best when we needed it the most," Blake said.

Chock closed out the week by recording 22 kills and three total blocks Saturday, but Iolani beat Kamehameha in four sets to secure the ILH championship and the league's top berth in states.

"Although we came up a bit short and although it didn't show up in the scores, she had a very, very efficient game. Despite having to deal with adversity and her going through some stuff, she still had one of her best games of the season as far as efficiency. She had a lot of kills again, her errors were down, (but) she wasn't set enough so she was quite efficient," Blake added.

Since she transferred from Maryknoll after the eighth grade, Chock has shown a penchant for putting in the work day in and day out. She was unable to play as a freshman due to ILH transfer rules, but has been a difference-maker in the starting lineup since her sophomore season.

"She's been a key contributor both years. Last year we had a great bunch of seniors with Adrianna Arquette, Tia Kapihe and Emma Lilo all playing at the next level now and for Kala, although she wasn't a captain or a leader, she let her play kind of speak for her and she's such a competitor that that kind of came out and showed itself this year. She's fiery, she expects a lot out of her teammates and herself, but she has that uncanny ability to be able to rise up when the moment requires it," Blake said.

Chock's steady production has come despite opposing teams keying on her, whether with the serve or at the net.

"I mean, for all the teams that see us, they know that she's going to get a good majority of the swings and she accepts that challenge and is continuing her understanding that she has to keep getting better in order for us to reach our goals, so her consistency has just been wonderful to see and watching her develop over the three years has been amazing to be a part of, yet she still has a long way to go and she still has a lot she can attain as she continues her growth and development," Blake said.

Chock rarely comes off the court as a six-rotation player. She is also a captain this season. Blake noted that sometimes her work in the back row may get overlooked with the high number of swings she's taking on offense.

"She's leading our team in kills and attempts and she actually leads our team in block as well, but she's also second on the team in digs to our libero, so she has contributed to our team in many ways and I think her consistency has been one of the reasons why we're in the place that we're in. When she's asked to pass, she passes. When she's asked to let somebody else do that so that we can use her in other ways, she'll do that. She does all the things that we ask her to do and she's willing to do it not just because she has that ability, but also because she understands that the team will benefit from that change," Blake explained.

As a sophomore last year, Chock earned All-Hawaii Third Team honors. She tallied 16 kiills and hit .394 in the state championship match against Punahou. Blake said that Chock has continued to put in the work since then to continue to hone her craft.

"If you look at a lot of players they reach their ceiling, but she's always asking questions and is a student of the game and is always trying to do everything that she can to improve, which is a great example not only for our team but for others in our program to see and to emulate. She's willing to grind it out and do all the hard things in order to reap the benefits at the end," Blake said.

He went on to describe Chock as a "grinder."

"She has so much volleyball knowledge and a high volleyball IQ that she has a lot of tools in the toolbox and she's continuing to refine her ability to use these tools. She swings from all over the court, both front and the back for us, she's an exceptional blocker and a great defender, so she's a total package," Blake added.

Chock's lineage also helps. Her mother, Toni Nishida-Chock, was a standout volleyball player for the University of Hawaii from 1988 to 1991. Kala is the youngest of her siblings and has benefitted from playing a lot of volleyball over the years, Blake said.

"Like any youngest kid you're always being dragged around to the gym and seeing your brothers and sisters play and having parents with that kind of drive and having played at such a high level, well, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and the thing about her is she is uniquely Kala. She's found her own identity and she's taken on every role that we've asked her to do and been successful with it. She's a fighter and I think that's going to serve her well as she continues to improve and progress," Blake said.

Chock and the Warriors (8-6) moved up one spot to No. 3 in this week's ScoringLive Power Rankings. They are one of 12 teams that will take part in the New City Nissan/HHSAA Division I State Championships next week and will host a first-round, play-in game Monday at Kekuhaupio Gymnasium.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Taimane Ainuu, Iolani — Had 18 kills, nine digs, six block assists and four set assists in a five-set loss to Kamehameha and had 17 kills, four block assists and two aces in a four-set win over Kamehameha 

Tiahna Aldeguer, Kamehameha — Had 44 set assists, 12 digs, four kills and three block assists in a four-set win over Mid-Pacific, had 54 set assists, 17 digs, three block assists and two aces in a five-set win over Iolani and had 39 set assists, three block assists and two aces in a four-set loss to Iolani 

Shay Beals, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Had 10 kills and 13 digs in a three-set win over Hilo 

Simone Decatur, Pearl City — Had 16 kills and one dig in a four-set loss to Farrington 

Mari Furoyama, Mid-Pacific — Had 17 digs and one set assist in a four-set loss to Kamehameha 

Kamanaookalani Goldstein, Kamehameha — Had 17 kills, 19 digs, one block assist and an ace in a four-set win over Mid-Pacific, had 18 kills, 11 digs and two block assists in a five-set win over Iolani and had 16 kills, one block assist and an ace in a four-set loss to Iolani 

Poema Kalama-Kingma, Iolani — Had 16 kills, 11 digs and one set assist in a five-set loss to Kamehameha 

Khiana Kauweloa, Nanakuli — Had 37 set assists, 15 digs, two kills and one block assist in a four-set win over Roosevelt 

Lamona Lauhingoa, Kahuku volleyball — Had 10 kills, 11 digs, two aces and one block assist in a three-set win over Mililani 

Destiny Look, Mid-Pacific — Had 21 kills in a four-set loss to Kamehameha 

Ashli Lum, Kamehameha — Had 18 digs, nine set assists and three aces in a four-set win over Mid-Pacific and had 21 digs, 14 set assists, three aces and one kill in a five-set win over Iolani 

Trystin Lum, Castle — Had 16 kills, 10 digs, five aces and one set assist in a four-set win over Waianae 

Marley-Alize Matautia, Nanakuli — Had 16 kills, five digs, one solo block and a block assist in a four-set win over Roosevelt 

Rylie Matsuda, Castle — Had 14 digs, four set assists, three aces and one kill in a four-set win over Waianae 

Ariana Naipo, Baldwin — Had 10 kills, 13 digs and one ace in a three-set win over Kekaulike and had 15 kills, seven digs and one ace in a three-set win over Kamehameha-Maui 

Bailey Nakanelua, Iolani — Had 44 set assists, 12 digs, four aces, two block assists and one kill in a five-set loss to Kamehameha and had 40 set assists, four block assists, two kills and one ace in a four-set win over Kamehameha 

Leila Paraoan, Kapolei — Had 12 kills, six digs and two aces in a three-set win over Kalani 

Lilinoe Paschoal, Baldwin — Had 34 set assists, four aces and three kills in a three-set win over Kamehameha-Maui 

Milan Scanlan, Mid-Pacific — Had 36 set assists, nine digs, five kills and one ace in a four-set loss to Kamehameha 

Anny Scott, Kapolei — Had 15 set assists, 10 digs, nine kills, two block assists and one ace in a three-set win over Kalani 

Nikko Stack, Mid-Pacific — Had 12 kills and 11 digs in a four-set loss to Kamehameha

Maddix Taniguchi, Iolani — Had 20 digs, two set assists and one ace in a five-set loss to Kamehameha 

Brandilyn Tisalona-Perez, Farrington — Had 20 digs and two set assists in a four-set win over Pearl City 

Abelyn Toloai, Farrington — Had 18 kills, 14 digs, one block assist and an ace in a four-set win over Pearl City 

Saydee Vera Cruz, Pearl City — Had 20 digs, five set assists and three aces in a four-set loss to Farrington 

Chandy-Lee Westbrook, Nanakuli — Had 17 digs, three set assists, two aces and one kill in a four-set win over Roosevelt 

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