Lenny Rapozo and Kurt Toma were out early Saturday morning for different reasons. Rapozo was engrossed with completing team photos for the Kaua‘i Pop Warner Association’s Jamboree. Toma, on the other hand, was enjoying the early morning sunshine while keeping
Lenny Rapozo and Kurt Toma were out early Saturday morning for different reasons.
Rapozo was engrossed with completing team photos for the Kaua‘i Pop Warner Association’s Jamboree. Toma, on the other hand, was enjoying the early morning sunshine while keeping an eye on the Kekaha team.
The KPWA Jamboree signals the start of the 2006 tackle football program on Kaua‘i for over 500 Kaua‘i youths involved in football and cheer spread over three age groups.
“I’m here just as a parent,” said Toma, a former coach for the Kekaha Pop Warner Association. “My stepson plays for the PeeWees so I’m here to just watch and help. It’s hard to get football out of your system.”
Toma is now one of the assistant coaches for the Waimea High School JV football program.
“He’s really good,” Toma said, referring to Rapozo, who was working with coaches on the far side of Vidinha Stadium. “He just charges us for materials. Everything else, he donates. You don’t find too many people who will do that.”
Though Rapozo normally dons the referee’s cap, yesterday he was working under the scrutiny of Michael Alonzo’s video camera as it captured the picture-taking sequences.
KPWA started their tackle football program Aug. 1 when teams started assembling at their respective home fields for the five Kaua‘i associations that make up the league — Kekaha, Hanapepe, Koloa, Lihu‘e and Kapa‘a.
Toma said the North Shore took a leave this year because of low registration numbers.
“But the players who want to play have to combine with Kapa‘a this year,” he said.
During this period, the five associations worked on conditioning, training and practice leading up to the Jamboree and actual play between teams.
At the Jamboree, winners of the 2005 season were acknowledged along with the program’s outstanding scholar-athletes.
“Each year, the most academically accomplished Pop Warner youngsters compete for Academic All American,” said Gracie Grace, chair for the scholastic committee and president of the Lihu‘e Pop Warner Association.
Grace said the process starts at the association level and works up through eight Pop Warner Regions. The Pop Warner Little Scholar All-American requires a minimum 96 percent grade point average to apply for the All American Scholar status.
“For the 2005 season, Kaua‘i had awesome numbers turned into nationals,” Grace said. “Sixteen applications were turned in and 14 All-American scholars were selected. These included seven cheerleaders and seven tackle players. Additionally, we had one First Team All-American.”
Jordan Tottori, a freshman at Iolani School, was the First Team All-American Scholar with a grade point average of 100 percent for the 2005 school year, Grace said.
For his achievement, the former Lihu‘e Patriots player earned a $1,000 scholarship from Marsh at the 46th Annual Awards Banquet in Florida. In addition to being awarded the First Team All American Scholar, Tottori was selected to enter the Wescon Scholar Program where he was honored with the Certificate of Excellence Award for his academic and extracurricular achievements during the 2005 season.
Mariah Navor-Gasmen, in addition to being a Second Team All American Scholar, was also selected for the Wescon Scholar program and was awarded the Certificate of Excellence for her academic and extra curricular activities, Grace said.
Other Second Team All American Scholars that received plaques and certificates include:
• Jonathan Yam and Alexis Thompson of the Northshore association;
• Tyra Lum and Lyle Nemeth of the Lihu‘e Patriots;
• Dallas Correa, Sydney Yamase, Kehaulani Medeiros and Trent Allianic for the Koloa association;
• Kainalu Barino for the Hanapepe association;
• Stephanie Acoba, Michael Acoba and Jennifer Pancho for the Kekaha association.
During the day-long celebration at Vidinha Stadium, players from the 2005 season were also recognized:
• JPW champion Hanapepe Colts and runner-up Kapa‘a Eagles;
• PW champion Lihu‘e Patriots and runner-up Koloa Rams; and
• Midget co-champions Koloa Chargers and Lihu‘e Patriots, with runner-up Kekaha Chargers.
The festivities done, Rapozo had since changed into his referee’s outfit and Toma had found a seat in the stands.
As Rapozo took his turn shaking the hand of special honoree Stupe Shimogawa, a single common line shared by Rapozo and Shimogawa was echoed by Mel Rapozo, the league’s president.
“It’s all for the kids!”
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
