LIHU‘E — While the Kaua‘i High School Red Raiders move forward as defending Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation champions, it seemed necessary for head coach Derek Borrero to give a nod to the recent past. While discussing the upcoming season, he noted
LIHU‘E — While the Kaua‘i High School Red Raiders move forward as defending Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation champions, it seemed necessary for head coach Derek Borrero to give a nod to the recent past.
While discussing the upcoming season, he noted the accomplishments of recent graduates whose hard work and dedication have allowed them to take their skills to the next level.
Teila Huni, the team’s dominant middle linebacker, will be heading to Western Oregon University in Monmouth, Ore. Matt Parr, who played with Huni in the linebacking corps, will be on his way to Willamette University in Salem, Ore.
Graduates Keala Lovell, Beau Valeria and Canaan Bernard will be keeping the Raider bond intact as they will all become Gauchos at Saddleback Junior College in Mission Viejo, Calif.
Bradsen Hironaka will not have to change mascots as he joins the Moorpark College Raiders in Moorpark, Calif.
Finally, reliable receiver Sheldon Sakai leaves one surf mecca for another as he heads to Golden West College in Huntington Beach, Calif.
Coach Borrero feels it is important for the young players of Kaua‘i to see that there are possibilities after high school and with the work these kids put into both athletics and academics, they created opportunities for themselves.
With 34 of last year’s 58 team members having been seniors, there will be a fresh look to the 2009 KHS squad. The new players are not the only update, as the program itself is moving forward with technology and ideas that should keep them current and, they hope, ahead of the competition.
“It’s going to be updated football with old-school methods,” said Coach Borrero.
One of the biggest changes will be the addition of a Web site, powered by the Sportata network. The site will allow the community and team to be up to date with news, schedules, photos, contact information and more. It is available for use at http://sportata.com/kauaihighfootball.
The staff feels that technology can assist in streamlining the program, as well as simply providing better assistance with things such as play cards and video editing. The point of this evolution is to make the program not just great on Kaua‘i, but to keep it great on the state and national level.
Getting the site up and running and doing much of the work in the streamline process is coach Eugene “Geno” Fernandez, the manager of football operations.
Though a Waimea graduate, Fernandez is bringing something new to the Red Raider program.
“Coach Borrero brought me here and gave me the opportunity to do different things,” he said. “I just want to say thanks to Coach.”
On the field, the changes will be just as important. With the limited number of players returning, the team may lose some of its instinct and compatibility.
Coach Borrero said last year’s team had a comfort level with each other, so that they knew exactly what to do when they had to win.
“They were able to read the situation and ad-lib,” he said.
This year’s team has different types of players, starting with the wide receivers. All four of last year’s wideouts are gone, with a more dynamic and athletic group stepping in this season. That lack of experience on the outside may indicate a shift in play-calling to utilize the run game a bit more.
“We feel it’s time for a change,” he said. “They’ve sniffed us out.”
“They” is referring to Kapa‘a and Waimea, who Coach Borrero feels are ready to take a stand.
“They might feel like a young kid who has been picked on and teased, punked all day long,” he said. “One day, that kid has had enough. They want to pull us off that mountain.
“Kapa‘a is a team to watch out for. People say that Waimea is struggling, but I don’t believe it.”
The team’s current transition period could leave them vulnerable, but the rest of the summer will be when Kaua‘i tries to continue its championship form. With three preseason games leading right into the KIF season, the team will open with five games in five weeks.
While some might see this as a hindrance, Coach Borrero says it’s all about mentality.
“I think we’ll be ripe and ready,” he said.
