Before Konawaena’s Cherilyn Molina joins her sisters at Washington State, first she’ll join them in the HHSAA Hall of Honor.
For the first time since 2012, the BIIF had three honorees, with Kamehameha’s Saydee Aganus and the Wildcats’ Mikayla Tablit and Molina set to be inducted at an HHSAA Awards Banquet at 5 p.m. June 3 at Dole Cannery on Oahu.
Molina’s selection means Konawaena’s girls basketball dynasty has produced nine honorees since the awards started in 1983, including Celena Molina last year and Chanelle Molina in 2016.
Cherilyn Molina is the two-time BIIF Division I basketball player of the year, while Tablit has made first-team All-BIIF the past two seasons for the four-time defending state champion Wildcats.
Aganus is a three-time BIIF Division II girls basketball player of the year and a track standout, setting an HHSAA record in the 100-meter hurdles as a junior.
Each of the 12 inductees will be awarded a $2,000 scholarship courtesy of the HHSAA and Enterprise Holdings.
The last time BIIF student-athletes made up three of the 12 selections, Konawaena’s Lia Galdeira and Dawnyelle Awa were joined by Hawaii Prep’s Shane Brostek.
Below is a look at all the student-athletes how were named to the Hall of Honor (capsules by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser):
Saydee Aganus
Kamehameha-Hawaii
The explosive hoopster and trickster led the Warriors to the Division II state basketball title as a senior as their point guard and leading scorer. Aganus had 18 points and 11 rebounds in the state final against St. Francis. She also broke the 100-meter hurdles mark as a junior at the state championship. She scored points for the track-and-field Warriors in five events at the state meet as a sophomore, and four more as a junior and senior. Aganus has earned an appointment to West Point.
Teniya Alo
Hawaii Technology Academy
Cabanban’s exploits on the mat are equalled, perhaps, or even surpassed by the three-time girls state champion, who won USA Wrestling national championships in 2013 and ‘15. Starting her career at ‘Iolani, then transferring to Hawaii Technology Academy and wrestling for Kahuku, Alo won the 122-pound title as a freshman, lost with a bad shoulder in the semifinals as a sophomore, but bounced back with championships at 132 as a junior and 138 as a senior. Alo also won judo state titles as a freshman (122) and junior (139). She is considering Hawaii or Colorado.
Corey Cabanban
Saint Louis
Cabanban won the 106-pound division as a freshman, then the 113 weight class as a sophomore, the 120 crown as a junior, and finally, the 126 championship as a senior. His final record as a prep wrestler: 110-1. The only loss came as a freshman. He was also named No. 1 in the Star-Advertiser’s Pound 4 Pound rankings as a junior (27-0) and senior (28-0). He will wrestle for Iowa State next season.
Andre Ilagan
Farrington
The durable southpaw became the first state tennis champion from Farrington — the first public-school state champ since 2010. Then, he repeated as state champion with a state-final victory over ‘Iolani’s Phuc Huynh this spring. He also collected four OIA titles along the way, matching and surpassing the achievements of older brothers Anthony (two OIA crowns) and Mark (one). He will play at Hawaii next season.
Taegan Keep
Kauai
If it seems like the modest, smiling senior feels lucky to be a champion, it’s because she says she never expected to be a champion. Keep, a 6-foot-2 center for the two-time KIF champions (and three-time leading scorer) happened to come out for the track and field team as a sophomore. One year later, she was a state discus champion, and she repeated as a senior. She will throw the discus at BYU next season.
Gwen Maeha
Leilehua
She is the second bowler to win three state championships. Maeha is also one of the top hitters for a Mules squad that captured their first state softball title last week. Maeha will bowl at national powerhouse Nebraska next season.
Cherilyn Molina
Konawaena
The Washington State-bound basketball standout was a two-time Star-Advertiser All-State player of the year. She was a four-time All-State Fab 15 pick in all four years, and was also an All-State pick in volleyball as a freshman. Molina’s teams won four straight Division I basketball state titles. She will join older sisters Chanelle and Celena Jane Molina at Washington State.
Taysia Pimentel
Seabury Hall
The induction of four-time state champion Pimentel marks the first time a paddler has entered the Hall. The four titles, a first for a female paddler, helped the Spartans usurp the throne from ILH powerhouses. She also placed fifth in the state shot put after winning the MIL crown. She will row at San Diego State next season.
Mikayla Tablit
Konawaena
A three-time All-State Fab 15 selection, Tablit’s prowess as a scorer, defender and surprisingly prolific rebounder sparked Konawaena to D-I state titles in each of her four seasons. She proved her leadership and ability as a junior, carrying a big part of the scoring load while Molina was injured during part of the regular season. She will play at UH Hilo next season.
Ally Wada
Hawaii Baptist
The versatile, two-sport standout was a three-time Star-Advertiser All-State Fab 15 basketball selection, helping the Eagles to the D-II state crown as a sophomore. She was often at her best against D-I powerhouses in nonconference games, a tremendous long-range shooter, playmaker and rebounder. She was a sometimes acrobatic setter for the volleyball squad, an All-State Fab 15 selection as a senior. She will play volleyball at the University of San Francisco.
Ryan Wilcox
Punahou
The 6-3 outside hitter is a two-time Star-Advertiser All-State player of the year for the Buffanblu, who have won seven D-I state volleyball crowns in a row. Wilcox amassed 45 kills at the state tourney this spring, including 15 in the final against Moanalua. He will play for UC Santa Barbara.
Veronica Winham
Seabury Hall
She carried on the legacy and tradition of Spartans harriers, winning the girls 1,500- and 3,000-meter runs at the state championships a week ago. She placed second in both events as a junior. On top of her track exploits, Winham has won the last two cross country state championships. She will run at Dartmouth next season.
