The Big Island was well represented at the third annual US Club Soccer Hawaii State Cup on Oahu.
Kona Crush Soccer Academy took 16-and-under and 17-and-under boys squads to the tournament to battle against the top teams in the state.
The U16 Kona Crush team dominated on their way to the title game, knocking off FC Hawaii 5-0, Hawaii Rush Nero Oahu 5-0 and the Honolulu Bulls 4-1. The Big Island squad came up just short in the championship game, falling to defending champion Hawaii Rush Oahu 2-0.
The results were similar for the Kona Crush’s U17 squad. They beat Mana Oahu 3-0, defending champions Maui United 2-1 and then Hawaii Rush Nero Oahu 7-1 to advance to the title game. The team settled for runner-up honors after being defeated by Hawaii Rush 2-0 in the final.
Vinny La Porta, director of coaching for the Kona Crush program, noted that this was the first time a team made up of 100 percent Big Island talent had made it to the finals of a State Cup tourney.
“To have our high school aged boys teams both make the finals at this tournament displays the great progress these kids have made training here on the Big Island,” La Porta said. “The losses in the championships, in my opinion, were both due to inexperience in big games. Meaning we will go back again next year and be more experienced, and more apt to take this state championship home to the Big Island for the first time.”
The Crush rosters read like a who’s who of the top players on the high school circuit.
The U16 team was made up of: Jake Schneider (HPA), Kupa’a Fernandez (Konawaena), Maiki Kawakami (HPA), Riley Patterson (Hilo), Teddy Rubenstein (Kealakehe), Toby Balaam (HPA), Tyler Thompson (Hilo), Brendan Moynahan (HPA), Emmett Alcos (Makua Lani), Iokepa Perez (Kealakehe), Mateo Batol (HPA), Sihkea Jim (HPA), Tage Boyette (Parker), Kama Morrison (HPA), Iwi Pilayo (Honokaa), Eima Kozakai (Kealakehe), Kento Komatsu (HPA) and Logan Ichishita (Konawaena).
The U17 team was made up of: Matthew Castro (Kealakehe), Rylen Kaniaupio (Hilo), James Caudell (Kealakehe), Jon Takahashi (Kealakehe), Michael Scott (Waiakea), Braden Kojima (HPA), Laukoa Santos (Kealakehe), Riley Pries (Makua Lani), Brayon Munoz (Kealakehe), Travis Cotton (home school), Kalei Perry-Tolentino (Hilo), DJ Madigan (Makua Lani), Austin Schneider (HPA) and goalkeepr Ryan Mariano (Kealakehe).
Kona Crush also took its developing U14 girls team. They went 2-1 in the tournament.
The team was made up of: Jenna Perry, Zane Garrigan, Moni Moniati, Karenza Chavez, Jadaisha Waahila, Jaymie Kunitomo, Tia Lurbiecki, Ilinahe Beatty, Alianna West-Rodrigues, Maila Brost, Bella Police, Tatia Denis-McRight, Maia Mills, Breeze Chinen, Kyanah K Blas, Kawai Kauahi and Michelle Gonzalez.
Coaches for the Kona Crush squads were La Porta, James Berry, Jen Jaques and Lewie Valentine.