KAPA‘A — There was so much dodgeball, Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. had to make a return trip to present the awards, Saturday. “We have more than 70 matches on the books,” said Bill Dahle, an announcer at the 4th
KAPA‘A — There was so much dodgeball, Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. had to make a return trip to present the awards, Saturday.
“We have more than 70 matches on the books,” said Bill Dahle, an announcer at the 4th Annual Fun In Fellowship Dodgeball Tournament. “It’s going to be a long day.”
Sybil Nishioka, the tournament co-chair, said the tournament featured 39 teams from Keiki to Masters divisions with more teams on the wait list.
“This was by far the biggest, and loudest, tournament we’ve had,” Nishioka said. “It’s a lot of work for a small congregation like the All Saints Church, but to see the joy an event like this brings to so many makes it all worthwhile.”
Despite having a full workload, the All Saints Church managed to field a team that finished by being named the Tournament Team as voted by the spectators.
The Saints, a Masters Coed squad, featured Steve Bauman, Jeff Mendez, Ben Nelson, Linda Nelson, Shane Nishioka-Healy, Ashley Nonaka, George Sellner, Jadah Sellner and Ty Shiramizu.
The Surfer Dudes picked up one win, but was eliminated; its members insisting they had more games to play in the Keiki Division. They earned the Keiki Tournament Team honors for Edward Bernabe, Kai Brun, Elijah Fox, Kyler Michaels, Grace Stokes and Eryn Yamamoto.
Michelle Fitzgerald, part of two winning teams in the Masters division, had a great group, said Nishioka.
“She organized the Abdulah Fataai Oommpfufus, taken from Frank Delima’s football character. They had teams in nearly all the divisions and practiced long hours in the gym, sometimes until 9:30 at night, and it showed,” Nishioka said. “Her teams did really well, taking first in the 10 and Under and the Masters Coed.”
Nishioka said the most memorable moments of the tournament came before the actual tournament when teams took advantage of open practices to scrimmage and learn the game.
“It’s a time when people get to know each other,” Nishioka said. “We really mix it up and a practice team could have players from the North Shore and players from Waimea so complete strangers leave as friends. It really makes for friendly competition when everyone can have fun together and not be so serious about just winning all the time.”
Nishioka said that is the basis of the tournament’s namesake — Fun in Fellowship, and the organizers really work to keep that focus.
Caleb Greer, Mia Fitzgerald, Sophie Piearce and Micah Tabura formed the Abdulah 8s that finished as the Best Sportsmanship in the Keiki division.
On the older youth side of the court, acrobatics and laughter generated by the Manapua Munchahs added to the tournament atmosphere, flavoring the music and commentary being injected by Zabbie Zablan, the second tournament announcer.
Brysen Saito, Jordan Libre, Benjamin Osorno, Dayson Nanbu, Michael Julian, Colson Fernandez, Joey Banasihan, Schyler Arakaki and Hank Ibia made up the Manapua Munchahs that earned Best Sportsmanship in the Youth division.
Best Uniform honors went to the Louzrz, finishing third in the 17 Under division, whose players donned cut-up shirts and crunched paper bags over their heads, but during the final match, ripped off the bags to reveal their identities just as the whistle sounded.
Keiki uniform honors went to Bridget Bodor, Gray Bodor, Isabella Fox, Haden Michaels and Lily Stokes of the Goofballs whose colorful ensembles lit up the courts.
“It was really nice of the mayor and his wife to adjust their busy schedule,” Nishioka said. “The tournament was running really late and they got to enjoy some of the action, but had to leave, and returned to present the awards after the tournament ended.”
Nishioka said it appeared that everyone had fun, but it was definitely a long day, and organizers are looking at having a two-day event so more teams can join and not have to wait between matches.
FIF Dodgeball
Aug. 1, 2009
Division Winners
8 Under Keiki
1. One Love (Riley Pezario, Kamakana Gonsales, Maluhia Kauhane, Pohaku Kauhane, Christina Torio, Kawaiola Torio)
2.Scorpions (Lanakila Pagtolingan, Ezra Copeland, Haiden Genegabuas, Leimana D’avila)
3. TNT Dynamites (Keoka Lemke, Braden Tabura, AJ Arruda, Raiden Kurisu)
10 Under Keiki
1. Abdulah Black 10s (Michaele Fitzgerald, Makena Tabura, Gabe Keener, Samuel Vernola)
2. Kapa‘a Vipers (Eljay Camat, Reis Nakamura, Kaiona Nakamura-Makanani, Keona Nakamura-Makanani, Clifton Oliver, Mason Tabura)
3. Tamba 1 (Jordan Cummings, Chayse Basuel, Kade Kupihea, Cade Halemanu, Braden Watanabe, RJ Garcia, Raven Cummings)
13 Under Youth
1. Waimea B&G Club (keanu Hanohano, Isaiah Mawae, Pono Manoi, Kaonohi Sullivan, Tyrelle Unciano, Alakai Mawai-Lujan, Storm Costales, Chaz Kohatsu)
2. Surfing Blueberries (Cole Donnelly, Charles Fox, Austin Havens, Ashton Scott, Sather Scott, Jonah Stokes)
3. Junior Abdulahs (Tanner Franklin, Justin Franklin, Tristan Greer, Keahi Tabura, Makena Tabura, Samuel Vernola)
17 Under
1. Tamba 2 (Kekoa Alfiler, Trestin Brady, Devin Chong, Xavier Cummings, Jordan Cummings, Austin Delos Santos, Rylan Laguguen, Westin Moniz, Shawn Shigematsu, Zachery Rodriguez)
2. Awdamatiks (Kory Kaneholani-Davis, Kaipo Keale, Austyn Pagtolingan, Ryden Tacbian, Chris Villabrille, TJ Daligdig)
3. Louzrz (Kaleo Carvalho, Tyler Costa, Devin Gandia, Aharon Kalekini, LaDeveon Jones, Damien Lynch, Ty Shiramizu)
Masters Coed
1. Abdulah Coed (Kevin Chiba, Kylan Chinen, Michelle Fitzgerald, Glenn Gusman, Ryan Ichikawa, Marde Boy Arcos, Mar Lon Marcos, Aimee Palaroan, Corgy Gaspar)
2. Any Kine (Colby Baliaris, Kainani Gonzalez, Kimo Gonzales, Kalalea Kauhane, Kamahalo Kauhane, Kelii Sanico, Chesary Torio, Jeremy Torio, Kapule Torio, Sheana Tori)
3. Skadooshes (Cory Arashiro, Stanson Chung, Allen Koerte, Alec Reichle, Rachel Taira, Devon Takenaka, Kelson Sumida)
Masters Kane
1. Brahdahood (Eddie Adams, Grady Smith, Joel Rumion, Myles Rumion, Nephi Quereto, Phil Rumion, Punua Kaimana, Christian McKeown)
2. Whatevas (Kalani Apilado, Zackery Gardien, Quinn Gonsalves, Caleb Licke, Siasau Matagiese, Cody Owen, Alika Preseza)
3. Abdulah Blacks Kane (Kylan Chinen, Michelle Fitzgerald, Glenn Gusman, Ryan Ichikawa, Marde Boy Marcos, Mar Lon Marcos, Kevin Chiba, Corey Gaspar)
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
