Ghar Pautz entered the ninth grade at Hawaii Prep as more of a soccer player, contributing for four seasons on stellar teams and fitting in well as one of the guys.
It was on the volleyball court, however, that Pautz would grow to become the man.
As a senior, he led BIIF Division II champion Ka Makani in hitting, passing, digging – you name it – all of which made him a worthy choice as league Player of the Year, as selected by the Hawaii Tribune-Herald, West Hawaii Today and the league’s coaches.
“He was the backbone of our team with his play and his leadership,” coach Sharon Peterson said. “He’s very deserving. He was our most experienced player and he had the most passion
“He came through for us time and time again.”
That includes the evening of April 26 – these are the moments that make or break an MVP’s credentials. When push came to shove it was his serving that HPA couldn’t do with out.
Ka Makani had just got a sideout against Kohala but still faced two match points in the fifth set of their back-and-forth BIIF semifinal when the 6-foot-3 Pautz juggled the ball behind the line and was prepared to serve.
“I remember looking across the net and seeing them celebrate but thinking that the game wasn’t over yet,” Pautz said. “I was telling myself that I had to get this (ball) in.”
“I didn’t want my high school career to be over. I was just trying to get it over the net.”
He would do so four times as HPA closed out the match. Fellow all-BIIF first-teamer Zach Chaikin had a big block during the sequence, and on match point Pautz set Ethan Stake, another first-teamer, for the decisive kill.
“Everyone did their job,” Pautz said.
“I remember as a sophomore, I told Coach Peterson that I wanted to be the BIIF POY,” he said. “She told me it’s going to take a lot of hard work.
“My teammates always came through for me, and in the end, I hoped I returned the favor.”
In that regard, the numbers don’t lie
Pautz led Ka Makani in kills per match (12.2), hitting percentage (.500) and digs per match (10) and also chipped in at setter.
He finished with 15 kills as Hawaii Prep dethroned Konawaena for the BIIF title, and he put down 34 more in three matches at the HHSAA tournament as Ka Makani won two matches to finish in fifth place.
Beyond the stats, one off-the-court sequence in particular tells the tale of leader.
Hawaii Prep’s four-set win against the Wildcats in the title game may have looked easier than their semifinal win, but in reality Ka Makani showed up late to the gym that night and Pautz detected that his teammates were tight and felt rushed entering the match.
“I told them if you feel nervous or scared, look a me,” he said. “Shake it off and follow me.”
Pautz, Chaikin and Stake are joined on the first team by Konawaena’s Ben McKinley and Viliami Kaea, Pahoa’s Dylan Salmo and Kohala’s Cole Fuertes.
“I really thought each team had a Player of the Year,” Pautz said, citing McKinley, Kaea and Kohala honorable mention selection Kahua Kualii.
Peterson was honored as Coach of the Year after guiding Ka Makani to its third BIIF title, all since 2012, and second in three seasons despite having just one club player. Pautz plays with Ku’ikahi on Oahu.
“I think this year he made a big jump in his leadership role and I would say he was more coachable,” Peterson said. “Luckily, he was healthy. We had a hard season with sickness, but we had him.”
Pautz was born in Alaska and lived in Kailua-Kona from ages 8-13, playing club soccer, before moving to Waimea. He’ll soon leave to study at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., and may play club volleyball.
Being a role player on HPA’s state championship boys soccer teams that past two seasons has provided plenty of highlights, but nothing quite compares to being the man.
“In soccer, I competed for myself and wanted to see how much I could contribute,” he said. “When it came time for volleyball, I was trying to make sure I was focused all season long. I had to be that leader and direct people where they are going.
“I went from being a contributing player to being in demand.”