HANAPEPE — Pop Warner football is not just tackle football. The arena expands to include accomplishments by cheer squads and outstanding scholastic achievements by individual Pop Warner participants.
Earlier in the year, the outstanding football play was demonstrated at the final game of the season that was made challenging by the ominous COVID-19 cloud that threatened play on the stadium arenas resulting in the cancellation of the Harold Naumu Bowl.
Accomplishments in cheer were demonstrated during the no-audience-allowed Regional Cheer Championships, where four of the Kaua‘i squads earned eligibility to compete in the National Pop Warner Cheer and Dance Championships in Orlando, Florida.
The winning teams included Pee Wee Division Level PW2 Medium, The Kapa‘a Eagles, the Junior Varsity Division Level PW3 Small, The Hanapepe Colts, Junior Pee Wee Division Level PW1 Small, The Kekaha Titans, and the Junior Varsity Division Level PW1 Small, the Kekaha Titans.
“This year was very challenging for each association and athlete due to the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions,” said Patsy Rapozo, Kaua‘i Pop Warner Football League board member. “But together, as a league and community, we came together to allow these student-athletes to have a successful season.”
The KPWFL hosted 15 All-American Scholars as a reception at Wong’s Restaurant and Bakery in Hanapepe earlier this month, where the scholars were announced and congratulated by Sherwin Kaleo Perez Jr., a previous recipient of the All American Scholarship.
By maintaining a grade average of 96.6 percent, the student-athlete earns eligibility and allows he or she to be nominated for national recognition.
Coach Dick Ueoka, one of the founders of Pop Warner football on Kaua‘i, joined the group to present Nia Pablo with the 2020 Dick Ueoka Award of Excellence.
This year’s All-American Scholars come from four KPWFL associations, including Kapa‘a, Lihu‘e, Hanapepe, and Kekaha.
Nainoa Melchor, Dustin Jerves, Jonathan Canha and Alexis Telles earned All-American nods from the Kapa‘a association, joined by Chase Kawakami, Colten Dela Cruz, Nicholas Gandeza, Chaz Corona and Broc Candido of the Lihu‘e association.
Tiernie Clagett, Nakili Kauwe and Alyssa Agena got the All-American nod from the Hanapepe association, and Ho‘olu Akeo, Rylee Bernabe and Milana Schaefer were named All-American from the Kekaha association.
“The KPWFL would like to thank all those who contributed prizes and financial donations to this scholastic event,” Rapozo said. “We would especially like to thank the County of Kaua‘i, the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, Life’s Choice Kaua‘i Program Grant, E Ola Mau and the Kekaha Agriculture Association.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
