Emily Turmelle misses BIIF sports as much as anybody. The Keaau senior has the calendar covered, competing in volleyball, soccer, and judo.
She’s working to get back on the field as a co-president of the BIIF Student Athlete Activity Committee, which serves as a liaison between student-athletes and administrators of their schools, the BIIF, and HHSAA. Kamehameha’s Cheyenne Sato is the other co-president.
“Basically, we come up with ideas for the BIIF and the leagues in general,” she said. “Right now, there’s no official word. We’re waiting on CDC (Center of Disease Control) guidelines.
“We’ll have an all-school meeting with athletic directors and student representatives from the schools. We’ll come up with ways to get the athletes back.”
It was disheartening on Wednesday that four UH-Manoa football players tested positive for the coronavirus.
UH reported the players are asymptomatic, and football, basketball, soccer, and women’s volleyball were put on pause.
“I’m an advocate for health,” Turmelle said. “But everyone is missing sports. We’ll come up with virtual competitions. We could do weekly challenges on Instagram or online competitions to keep everyone’s spirits up.”
It’s far more likely Turmelle’s favorite sport will get in. Soccer is far safer than close contact sports like judo.
“I’m thinking wrestling and judo might not be in the cards,” she said. “I’m hopeful that we can. It sucks a lot because I’m a senior. I was looking forward to playing.”
She’s also a vice president on the HHSAA SAAC.
“It’s been super fun,” she said. “It’s my first year in office. As the HHSAA VP, we come together, each individual league to share ways to play and help the state out.”
Turmelle holds a 4.0 GPA and said she may join the military or study biology in college. If she attends college, she’d like to play soccer.
Until then, she’s working out and staying in shape.
“I’m staying active,” she said. “I have contact with my friends. They really miss sports. I work out at home, running, soccer drills at home.”
