NAWILIWILI — While the University of Hawai‘i softball team was trying to secure an ESPY as a nominee for its comeback win against No. 1 Alabama, its shortstop was enjoying her own day. Jessica Kapunohu‘ula‘okalani Iwata, a 2009 Kaua‘i High
NAWILIWILI — While the University of Hawai‘i softball team was trying to secure an ESPY as a nominee for its comeback win against No. 1 Alabama, its shortstop was enjoying her own day.
Jessica Kapunohu‘ula‘okalani Iwata, a 2009 Kaua‘i High School graduate, was the recipient of accolades from Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., who proclaimed Wednesday as “Jessica Iwata Day,” with the Kaua‘i County Council.
“You are a gem to Kaua‘i,” Carvalho said. “You make Kaua‘i proud because everywhere I go, people were asking ‘What’s up with Jessica?’”
The mayoral proclamation states that Iwata continues to captivate our hearts and interest with her exceptional prowess, her natural talent for sports reading like a journal.
Some of her achievements include earning nine varsity letters in five different sports, four in softball that led the Red Raiders to four consecutive league titles as well as the 2009 Division II state championships.
Other arenas include two bowling league titles as well as league titles in soccer and track as well as earning all-league first team for four years in softball and earning all-league honors in bowling, soccer and track.
“You have experienced such an exciting transition, from playing in the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation a year ago, to playing in the Women’s College World Series, to starting on the USA Softball Women’s Futures National Team who played against the USA Softball Women’s National Team,” said Derek Kawakami, who authored the Kaua‘i County Council certificate. “What a year of fulfilling dreams.”
During her freshman year at the University of Hawai‘i where Iwata nailed down the shortstop position, she earned the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year, WAC All-Conference First Team, Verizon Wireless WAC Hitter of the Week in week nine, Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I National Player of the Week on April 13, Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-West Region Second Team, WAC All-Tournament Team, WAC All-Academic, and the USA Softball Women’s Futures National Team.
“It is a delight that you chose to remain in Hawai‘i,” said Jay Furfaro, vice chair of the council. “The University of Hawai‘i team makes the state proud and you make us proud.”
Iwata is no stranger to making history, requiring the Hawai‘i State Americans of Japanese Ancestry Constitution to be amended when she became the first female in the state to play AJA baseball under coach Peter Ishibashi and the Kalaheo Farmers.
As a Hawai‘i shortstop, Iwata made history by having the record-breaking home run at the WAC Tournament, a feat that earned her the Louisville Slugger Player of the Week.
The County Council certificate states the daughter of Jason and Joycelyn Iwata has been playing baseball since she was five years old.
“I had a hard time, the first game at the University of Hawai‘i,” Iwata said. “I sat out a couple of games until coach found a lineup that worked.”
Iwata said credit for getting the team to the Women’s College World Series goes to the upperclassmen and seniors who could see the value in the younger players.
“I have to give it to them for believing that the underclassmen had what it took,” Iwata said. “It was a matter of believing in one’s self.”
Iwata will be back on the field July 22-26 when the USA Softball Women’s Futures National Team will be playing at the 2010 World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma against the national teams of Canada, Japan, and the USA.
“I appreciate all of the things you have accomplished,” said Bill “Kaipo” Asing, the council chair. “To even start as a freshman, to make the first team is very rare. And to accomplish all of those things is amazing. You make Kaua‘i proud.”
Carvalho said Jessica’s field of dreams is boundless with a solid foundation and level of excellence on the field boosting her confidence and motivating her to higher goals, not only on the field, but in her lifetime aspirations.
