Under-19 boys, Under-16 girls win at Kirk Banks Judging strictly by the numbers, soccer is the most popular youth sport on Kaua’i. At last count, nearly 2,500 were involved in the activity, or five percent of the island’s population. At
Under-19 boys, Under-16 girls win at Kirk Banks
Judging strictly by the numbers, soccer is the most popular youth sport on Kaua’i. At last count, nearly 2,500 were involved in the activity, or five percent of the island’s population.
At the March 28-31 Kirk Banks Tournament on Oahu, some of that pool of youngsters performed at a very high level.
The Under-19 East Kaua’i boys won their division. Meanwhile, the Under-16 East Kaua’i girls did the same.
“We played really excellent soccer,” said Greg Strickland, the team’s head coach. “We were basically playing the varsity team from Pearl City High School in the final. They’ve got a few college-bound soccer players. It was really good.”
The Under-19 team was comprised mainly of Kapa’a High School varsity players, the same team that took the Kaua’i Interscholastic Federation crown this season and represented the league at the state tourney. Of further interest is the fact that in the Kirk Banks semifinal, East Kaua’i faced West Kaua’i, whose members hailed from Kaua’i and Waimea High School.
The East Kaua’i boys emerged 1-0 victors in that game, setting themselves up for the final against Pearl City. In that game, the teams were tied 2-2 at the end of regulation. In the sudden-death overtime, Kyle Strickland assisted Eddie Adams on the game-winning goal.
“It was a really rewarding experience,” Strickland said. “Our boys played really hard and showed a lot of endurance.”
The East Kaua’i team played a game each of the first three days of the tournament and then twice on Sunday. In addition to its tourney win, East Kaua’i also was awarded the sportsmanship award.
The U-16 East Kaua’i girls also brought home a Kirk Banks championship. They are the annual-tournament’s first-ever girls’ champion from Kaua’i.
“We had a ‘Cinderella’ team and did not expect to go as far as we did,” head coach Sue Strickland said. “Five of the players are under 14, and four girls live on Oahu and were unable to attend any practices.”
Due to illness, the team had just one substitute for the semifinal and final game. Yet chemistry and a desire to win prevailed.
Team members include:
Teri Konishi, Whitney Planas, LaRisa Nebre, Jackie Alapai, Dara McKeown, Leshay Gusman, Casey LaPlante, Jackie Huttger, Mariko Strickland, Nicole Kahea Lingaton, Stevie Kawatomari, Dayna Omiya and Sarah Vasconcellos.
Coaches: Sue Strickland & Andrea Alfiler.
Strickland wanted to send special kudos to Alifler, who was also the team trainer.
Alifler is a former Kapa’a High School stand-out athlete and will be returning to Azusa Pacific University in California to complete her senior year in Physical Education.
She plays on the APU women’s soccer team and was selected all-NAIA after her sophomore and junior seasons at APU.
