Kalani Takase | ScoringLive
August 1, 2013, 2:40pm
Demanding Excellence
A view of the press box and stands at Iolani's Kozuki Stadium. Kalani Takase | SLOff the football field Wendell Look is a pretty mellow guy, but once on the gridiron he’s all business.
The longtime (see: 22 years) coach of the Iolani Raiders knows what it takes to win and expects the same enthusiasm and work ethic that he possesses from each of his players.
Iolani’s success has been well documented. The Raiders have won seven of the last eight Division II state championships, including six straight. Attend a Look-run practice and you’ll quickly learn why. Practices are up-tempo, repetitions are numerous and after every play, Look is taking notes.
“We have a pretty young group that’s still learning how to practice, they’re getting used to the tempo of practice,” Look said. “We practice pretty fast – we try to play fast, so we have to practice fast – so they’re getting used to that.”
Look also commented on the two players vying to replace ILH all-star QB Reece Foy: senior Easton Tsubata and junior Austin Jim On.
“They’re doing well,” Look said of the pair. “I told them the competition is good and it’ll make us better as a team and we’ll have two quality guys ready to go.”
However, Look is quick to point out it won’t matter which QB will be taking the snaps if the offensive line doesn’t do its job.
“It all starts with our line and we’re fortunate that we have Spencer Kiehm coming back at center,” Look said of 5-foot-9, 175-pound senior. “That’s the focal point for us on offense and especially the line, he’s the communicator, he makes all the calls.”
Kiehm summed up the Raiders’ mantra well: “Speed and explosiveness. That’s what we have and we have to use that to our advantage,” he said.
Two of the faster players on the team are the starting cornerbacks: seniors Max Look (5-7, 160) and J.T. Los Banos.
“Two quality corners that we can shut down the outside. Gives you a lot of options.”
Look, the nephew of the coach, is a three-year starter and one of the best punt returners in the state. The starting centerfielder on the Raiders’ baseball team said he tries to emulate former Iolani defensive backs Reid Saito and Landon Patoc, as well as former Kamehameha DBs Chaz Bajet and Walter Santiago.
Los Banos (6-1, 170) broke out with a three-INT game in the state championship win over Lahainaluna last November. He anticipates the Raiders’ playing more man-to-man coverage in the defensive secondary this year – eventually.
“We’re slowly developing and getting to where we want to be, but we’re not there yet,” Los Banos said.
If previous Iolani teams are any indication, you can be sure a Wendell Look-coached team will be ready when the games matter the most.
