Kristin Frost

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Leilehua WR Tristin Kamaka heads to the endzone for a 96-yard kickoff return for touchdown against Campbell. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Male Athlete of the Week: Tristan Kamaka, Leilehua football

After returning a kickoff 96 yards for touchdown and later catching a 22-yard pass for another in Leilehua's 28-21 win against Campbell on Friday, it would seem speed and versatility are Tristin Kamaka's best traits.

Yet, those characteristics run a distant second his unselfishness.

"First of all, he's a great team player," Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda said. "He does everything you ask. He's son of a coach, but not spoiled. He doesn't act entitled or anything. He just goes out there, does his best. He was raised right by his dad and his mom."

Kamaka's father is Leilehua assistant Kai Kamaka, who coached Pearl City two seasons ago.

"He played a big role, actually," the younger Kamaka said of his father emphasizing the team-first concept. "Growing up, he taught me ways not to be selfish, how to lead, when to step up and what to say when the team is down."

So caring and unselfish, Tristin pulled a surprising move in the past state wrestling tournament. After a sleepless night, he decided to forfeit his semifinal match to his older brother, Jonathan, a senior at Kamehameha. Jonathan would go on to win the 135-pound weight class. For good measure, Tristin placed third. It was solely his decision to forfeit to his brother.

"Growing up, me and my brother always went at it," Tristin said. "I wanted to do something good out of my love for him. It felt good to do that, now that he's state champ and now on a scholarship wrestling at Midland University (Nebraska)."

Tristin said the kickoff return against Campbell was his longest ever. When he read his blocks and saw the seams, he just couldn't believe what was unfolding in front of him.

"I'd say it was an amazing and shocking feeling at the same time," he said of his kickoff return to start the game. "I didn't know if it was true or not."

- Stacy Kaneshiro

Female Athlete of the Week: Kristin Frost, Pearl City bowling

Kristin Frost is not your conventional bowler.

The Pearl City sophomore is, however, a pretty darn good one. Frost, who rolled a three-game series of 633 pins in an Oahu Interscholastic Association Western Division match Thursday, throws a straight ball – much like her spring-time sport: softball.

"I think because her arm is so strong, she's able to really throw the ball really straight," Chargers' coach Millie Gomes said. "She's also a pitcher on the varsity softball team, so she's pretty athletic. Kristin is very steady. I know that I can depend on her. She's just a natural athlete and a great person to be around."

Frost, who bowled a high single-game of 244 pins, has a distinct advantage over most opponents, according to Gomes.

"She doesn't hook the ball, so any kind of (lane) condition is not going to affect her game," Gomes said. "Some bowlers like to put stuff on their ball, not her. She doesn't put anything on the ball. She just gets up and there winds up. Every once in a while she'll have a wild pitch, but she's usually pretty accurate. She's got a dead eye."

As a freshman last year, Frost was the Chargers' second bowler and finished 12th at the Billy Tees/HHSAA State Tournament on Kauai, helping her team to its second straight state championship. Gomes said the experience has helped to mature Frost into one of her team's leaders this year.

"She just seems to have this new maturity and leadership about her and with only five girls on the team this year, everybody has to contribute to the (team) score and she knows that – they all know that we don't have any extras – everybody has to bowl their game," Gomes said. "Kristin's not a team captain, but she sets the pace for us as our leadoff bowler."

Gomes said that Frost's junior league experience, combined with her competitiveness, should spell even more success in 2013.

"She's a Leeward junior bowler and that makes a big difference," Gomes said. "Kristin pushes herself – she really wants those strikes, she really wants those big games. She's not satisfied with 170 (pins) or 180, she wants 220, 230, 240 a game."

Gomes says her team is poised for a run at 10th state title and third in a row.

"They really want to and I'm not saying that they're not nervous, but they've been there before, so they have that experience under their belt," Gomes said. "All of these girls were on the team last year when they won and I've told them before that there is a big target on their backs and people are expecting a lot, but to just give their 100 percent."

Frost and the Chargers return to action Thursday in another OIA West match at Schofield Barracks.

- Kalani Takase

TOP PERFORMERS - WEEK 3

Bronson Ader, Mililani - Caught eight passes for 149 yards in win over Kapolei

Soli Afalava, Kahuku - Rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries in win over Kaimuki

Kailoa Akoi, Kamehameha-Maui - Kicked field goals from 48, 18 and 21 yards in win over King Kekaulike

Jeremiah Badillo, Baldwin - Passed for touchdowns of 33, 19 and 9 yards and added a 17-yard rushing score in win over Maui

Jayce Bantolina, Campbell - Caught touchdown passes of 60 and 20 yards in loss to Leilehua

Blaine Broberg, Kealakehe - Recovered two fumbles in loss to Kamehameha

Noah Brum, Kalani - Completed 17 of 24 passes for 180 yards and four touchdowns in win over Pearl City

Chance Cacatian, Radford - Scored on two 1-yard runs in win over Nanakuli

Michael Chun, Kamehameha-Hawaii - Intercepted two passes in loss to Iolani

Naia Graham, Kailua - Kicked the game-winning, 32-yard field goal and made both extra points in an overtime win over Castle

Enrique Gruber, Kalani - Caught touchdowns passes of 17 and 10 yards in win over Pearl City

Absolom Henry, Radford - Caught 10 passes for 166 yards with an 11-yard touchdown in win over Nanakuli

Shaenan Hernandez-Fonoti, Aiea - Caught three passes for 102 yards, including a 59-yard touchdown pass in loss to Waianae

Brandon Howes, Konawaena - Passed for 375 yards and touchdowns of 79, 6 and 26 yards in win over Hilo

Goro Iijima, Kalani - Scored on a 41-yard interception return in win over Pearl City

Francisco Jajo, Aiea - Returned an interception 52 yards for a touchdown in loss to Waianae

Makena Johnston, Kalaheo - Rushed for 196 yards on 11 carries with touchdowns of 15 and 67 yards

Tristan Kamaka, Leilehua - Scored on a 22-yard reception and a 96-yard kickoff return in win over Campbell

Kekoa Kaluhiokalani, Jr., Waianae - Completed 12 of 19 passes for 209 yards and threw touchdown passes of 26, 28 and 35 yards in win over Aiea

Malik Kuhia, McKinley - Intercepted two passes in win over Moanalua

Nayton Kuresa, Waianae - Recorded two sacks in win over Aiea

Donald Lambert, Moanalua - Returned a kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown in loss to McKinley

Hirkley Latu, Kahuku - Returned an interception 95 yards for a touchdown in win over Kaimuki

Taleon Lele, Waialua - Rushed for two touchdowns and passed for two other scores in win over Roosevelt

Polikapo Liua, Jr., Kahuku - Rushed 11 times for 115 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown run in win over Kaimuki

Cody Lui-Yuen, Radford - Passed for 358 yards and four touchdowns in win over Nanakuli

Wyatt Maa, Iolani - Intercepted two passes in win over Kamehameha-Hawaii

Vavae Malepeai, Mililani - Rushed 18 times for 153 yards and touchdowns of 1, 1 and 4 yards in win over Kapolei

Chase Newton, Kamehameha-Maui - Rushed for a 24-yard touchdown and threw a 10-yard score in win over King Kekaulike

Jameson Pasigan, Radford - Caught seven passes for 114 yards, including touchdowns of 34, 9 and 20 yards

Ikaika Piceno, Leilehua - Returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown in win over Campbell

Kainoa Plitz, Kealakehe - Forced two fumbles in loss to Kamehameha

Brandon Roberts, Kalani - Caught touchdown passes of 22 and 64 yards in win over Pearl City

Jason Sharsh, Moanalua - Caught seven passes for 105 yards and a 4-yard touchdown in loss to McKinley

Paepaeiva Silifaiva-Kaeha, Kailua - Returned an interception 39 yards for a touchdown in overtime win over Castle

Chad Souza, Kamehameha - Forced a fumble and recorded two sacks in win over Kealakehe

Tristin Spikes, Hilo - Rushed for an 80-yard touchdown and had a 95-yard kickoff return for another score in loss to Konawaena

Noah Sua-Godinet, Kamehameha - Completed 12 of 19 passes for 240 yards with two touchdowns and rushed for another score in win over Kealakehe

Mika Tafua, Kamehameha - Recorded six tackles, including five for losses, and recovered a fumble in win over Kealakehe

Chase Takaki, Konawaena - Rushed for a 29-yard touchdown and caught a 6-yard touchdown pass in win over Hilo

Benjamin Taliulu, Aiea - Recorded two sacks in loss to Waianae

Ina Teofilo, Kamehameha-Hawaii - Rushed 19 times for 118 yards in loss to Iolani

Kevin Togami, Iolani - Intercepted two passes in win over Kamehameha-Hawaii

Mathias Tuitele-Iafeta, McKinley - Rushed for touchdowns of 4 and 21 yards in win over Moanalua

Kyle Urasaki, Castle - Returned a punt 41 yards for a touchdown in overtime loss to Kailua

Jamieson White, Kailua - Returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown in overtime win over Castle

Tuli Wily-Matagi, Kahuku - Completed 6 of 10 passes for 100 yards with two touchdowns and rushed for 43 yards and another score in win over Kaimuki

William Young, Kamehameha - Caught six passes for 123 yards, including touchdown receptions of 29 and 26 yards in win over Kealakehe