LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i High School girls’ soccer squad finished the 2004 Ohana Hotels & Resorts state soccer championships as the consolation champions, and the Red Raider boys tied with Waiakea of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation for consolation champs
LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i High School girls’ soccer squad finished the 2004 Ohana Hotels & Resorts state soccer championships as the consolation champions, and the Red Raider boys tied with Waiakea of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation for consolation champs in their tourney.
From this field, Jose Aguayo, general manager of King Auto Center, presented student athlete awards to Raiders Amber Thronas and Todd Yamamoto.
They bring the total number of honored Red Raiders to five with the Wednesday announcement.
“We’re hoping to get someone in from Kapa‘a,” Aguayo said. “But, we don’t make the selections.
“The schools’ athletic directors vote on the selections, so if there are parents or students who feel that someone deserves to be recognized as a King Auto Center Student Athlete of the Month, they should discuss it with their athletic directors,” said Aguayo.
Aguayo noted that Yamamoto and Thronas are just two of the winners, with several more months remaining in the school year before all of the selections are chosen, and then reconsidered for the naming of Student Athletes of the Year.
Thronas, who plans on trying to continue her soccer career at Southern Oregon, was a key defensive player for the championship Kaua‘i girls’ team, a right-hander who played left fullback because of her strong left foot.
Coach Blanche Arakaki noted the versatility of the primarily defensive fullback, her speed allowing her to get to the ball first while constantly reading the field to find the open person to pass off to.
Arakaki also praised Thronas’ leadership role on the field.
Although defense was her primary responsibility, Thronas has the ability to play most positions, including midfield and striker, these demonstrations being shown on the field as the KIF season wound down.
“He’s like the quarterback of soccer,” Kaua‘i High School boys’ soccer coach Mark Brandeburg said of Todd Yamamoto.
A defensive fullback, Brandeburg said Yamamoto was small in size compared to other fullbacks, but made up for it in terms of his speed in getting to the ball.
Possessing great footwork and ball-handling skills, Yamamoto was able to get his share of goals while still getting the ball off to other players downfield.
“Todd controls the entire defense,” Brandeburg said, echoing Arakaki’s sentiments on the Red Raider defensive showing in soccer. “And, without the strong defense, we would never have gotten as far as we did.”
Previous King Auto Center student athletes include Aren Racca, Shauna Tachibana, Casey Kaohelauli‘i, and Anna Quibilan.
Sports Editor Dennis Fujimoto may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@pulitzer.net.
