KAILUA-KONA — It didn’t take long for Hawaii Preparatory Academy to settle into the top spot of the Division I standings — a place Kealakehe had kept warm for many, many years.
Ka Makani are coming off back-to-back state championships and have already taken down nearly all the top teams in the BIIF this season after moving from Division II to Division I. The team came out of the gate with games against Hilo and Waiakea, as well as former D-II rival Kamehameha-Hawaii to start the year. They beat those three schools by a combined score of 16-6.
Last year, Hawaii Prep became the first team in four years to defeat the Waveriders in league play. That victory came nearly a year ago, with Ka Makani winning 6-1 in Waimea. The two teams met again in January at Kealakehe and the Waveriders battled Hawaii Prep to a 1-1 draw.
For the first time in a long time — if ever — Hawaii Prep enters the game against the ‘Riders as the prohibitive favorite. Kealakehe has struggled this season to a 1-3 record, with losses against Waiakea, Hilo and Kamehameha. They have been outscored in those three games 15-2.
Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. today as Ka Makani travel to take on Kealakehe and look to do something that the program has not done in a long time — defeat the Waveriders on their home pitch. It’s something that Hawaii Prep head coach Richard Braithwaite has made sure his team doesn’t take lightly.
“I have tried to impress upon the boys the gravity of this game,” Braithwaite said. “Playing on their field, in front of their home crowd, it will be extraordinarily tough.”
This will also be the first meeting between the two schools as Division I programs.
“In the past we would go down to the Thunderdome and try not to get battered, but now the boys are feeling pretty good,” Braithwaite said. “We are going to go in their with energy and focus.”
Hawaii Prep, being a boarding school, will be playing shorthanded, missing a half-dozen or so student-athletes who are back home for the holidays. However, Ka Makani does welcome back Sihkea Jim to the backline, who has missed the last couple of weeks due to an injury.
“A lot of what we do starts in the back with Jim,” Braithwaite said. “It will be good to have him back.”
Hawaii Prep is a team-first squad, but several players have stood out early this season. Jake Schneider leads HPA with five regular season goals. Chris Whitfield — normally a 15-20 minute guy — has upped his playing time on the front line and has two goals to show for it. Riley Hiatt has also proved to be a nice surprise for Braithwaite.
“The guys on this team have been with me for years so they know what they are doing,” Braithwaite said. “This team, more than any team I have coached, is team first. We have a ton of boys I am happy to start on the pitch.”
Girls soccer
HPA 9, Honokaa 0
Ka Makani stayed unbeaten with another mercy rule victory over North Hawaii rival Honokaa.
Emi Higgins netted four goals in the rout, and five other Hawaii Prep player (Alexa Richardson, Bella Police, Alianna West, Makana Blake, Maia Mills).
Mills and Ella Martin combined for the shutout in net.
