The Konawaena High School football team, behind first year head coach Brad Uemoto, accomplished many of the goals it set out to attain at the beginning of the 2015 season, from winning the BIIF Division II title, to representing the Big Island well in the HHSAA state tournament.
However, the team accomplished probably Uemoto’s biggest goal of the year when Konawaena was named the 2015 Big Island Football Officials Association Sportsmanship Award recipient at their end of the year banquet on Sunday at Julian Yates Field.
“When I got hired, winning the sportsmanship award was my first goal and I made it one of the priorities for the team,” Uemoto said. “I wanted to make sportsmanship and academics our identity. We still have a long way to go with academics but definitely winning the sportsmanship award is something to be proud of.”
The BIFOA Sportsmanship Award has been in existence since 1978 and is voted on by Big Island officials at the end of every season. Last year both Kamehameha-Hawaii and Pahoa shared the honor.
“The officials keep track of sportsmanship throughout the year and then at our final meeting we vote,” said head official Randy Morris. “Talking to Brad, I know this was a goal of his because they have not won it here in a while.”
The Wildcats had an impressive season. They defeated Kamehameha in the BIIF D-II title game 44-21 and then rolled over Damien in the first round of the HHSAA state tournament with a 42-33 home victory.
The season culminated in a trip to Oahu for a semifinal match-up with Radford. The game was a shootout with the Rams edging out Konawaena 48-46. The combined scores set a new record for most points scored in HHSAA Division II tourney history. The two squads combined for 843 yards of offense.
Radford went on to beat Kapaa in the D-II state title game, 30-16.
Konawaena sophomore quarterback Austin Ewing had his HHSAA coming out party in the Radford game, throwing for 272 yards and five touchdowns. It was a solid performance for an underclassman who had only his teammates to thank for such a great season.
“My whole team really helped out and gave me little tips along the way,” Ewing said. “It was a successful season, and with our community behind us we were able to get our name out there.”
Defensively the team was led by Cameron Howes, but that statement alone is an understatement. Howes was all over the field, hauling down catches on offense and making highlight reel plays on the kick return team along with Kayson Mahiai.
“I am just very grateful for all the opportunities we had this year and going to states,” Howes said. “I was glad we had the chance to gain the experience of playing a big team like Radford.”
Banquet Awards
Outstanding Fundraiser: Jamieson Sakata-Nahale; Most Inspirational: Cameron Howes and Mahina Ellis-Noa; Most Improved: Jordan Kikugawa and Jake Unger; Outstanding Character Traits: Tristan Fleming-Nazara; Scholar Athlete: Torin Tuppein.