Pac-Five WR Tsubasa Brennan caught seven passes for a season-high 137 yards, including a 29-yard, second-quarter touchdown reception. Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 1 of 1

Male Athlete of the Week: Tsubasa Brennan, Pac-Five football

Kip Botelho wishes he had more players like Tsubasa Brennan.

Brennan, a junior wide receiver, has earned the respect of his head coach as not just one of the best players on the Pac-Five team and a top pass-catcher in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, but "just a great kid that everybody loves."

The Wolf Pack beat Saint Francis in a 37-0 shutout Saturday to pick-up their first win of 2013 and Brennan factored largely into their success. He caught seven passes for a season-high 137 yards and caught a 29-yard, second-quarter touchdown reception. Brennan had six grabs for 120 yards by halftime and averaged 15.1 yards per catch for the game.

"Tsubasa Brennan is just a great football player and he had a great game," Botelho said. "He just wants to play football. He doesn't care what the score is or what our record is. He's one of those guys that enjoys being out there everyday and just competing."

With his team shorthanded in the defensive secondary, Brennan was summoned to help at safety in the second quarter of Saturday's game and played both ways the rest of the way.

"He never played defense before two weeks ago when we threw him back there because we were thin; he didn't know what he was doing, but he just makes plays. He's a true football player, you can put him anywhere and he'll learn the position," Botelho said. "He made some outstanding catches and does all the little things like blocking and making tackles, covering on the the defensive side of the ball. He's one of our better players just because he's an all-around football player. If we put him on the O-line, he'll learn the position and probably excel at it."

Brennan, who has 30 receptions for 416 yards and four touchdowns on the year, ranks fifth in the ILH in receiving yardage in league games.

Botelho said that Brennan's toughness is probably his best asset.

"That's something that nobody realizes, he has no fear," Botelho said. "I remember his 10th grade year, he just came out - it looked like he got off the plane from Japan - we're doing tackling and blocking drills. He lined up against our starting back last year, goes and comes back and his cage is bent wide open and he's smiling. I wish we had more of him - just because of his toughness and attitude."

Although Pac-Five lost its first five games this season, Botelho said Brennan's positive outlook never wavered.

"It's tough to come to practice everyday and battle when you're not winning, but Tsubasa's always smiling, nothing bothers him - he just enjoys the game of football," said Botelho, whose team faces six-time Division II state champ Iolani Friday. "It was big because it was our first win and it brings the morale a little better and keeps our hopes alive in D2."

If the Wolf Pack can upset the Raiders, they would move into a tie for first with Damien at 2-3. Kickoff between Pac-Five and Iolani is set for 5 p.m. at Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium and precedes a Division-I contest between Punahou and Saint Louis at 7:45 p.m. Live audio of both games will be available on ScoringLive.com and simulcast on NBC Sports Radio/AM1500.

Female Athlete of the Week: Kristi Takaki, Pearl City air riflery

In each of her first three seasons, Pearl City's Kristi Takaki has bettered herself as a shooter.

The junior put forth one of her best efforts last Wednesday to lead the Chargers to a lopsided win over Waipahu. Takaki shot an individual score of 536.16 in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Western Division competition at Pearl City.

"She was focused on that day and just ready and she shot well," Chargers coach Les Aranaydo said. "Normally her average is about 520 or so, but was in a rhythm on that particular day. Emotions can affect a shooter's control, but she's a good, focused shooter and she's dependable in terms of team points."

Aranaydo said Takaki has steadily improved since her freshman year and has developed into one of his team's top shooters this year.

"She was an above-average shooter from her first year and every year she's been slowly increasing in terms of score and confidence and it's showing this year," said Aranaydo, who is in his 18th season at the helm of the highly-successful program. "She's become more consistent to the point where this year, I don't coach her too much. Because of her experience, she knows what to do, so it's been really easy to coach her at this point in time."

Takaki placed 16th - one spot away from medalling - at last year's state championships and helped Pearl City to a third-place finish as a team. The Chargers won their second straight OIA team title and fifth overall in school history last year. Aranaydo said he expects Takaki to improve upon that finish this year and his team to contend against frontrunners Punahou, Sacred Hearts and defending champion Waiakea for its first state crown.

"I think she should medal this year - she made one little mistake that cost her last year," Aranaydo said. "We have a good amount of depth and we've been dominating our league on the girls side so going into states, it should be interesting. The top three or four schools can beat each other on any given day."

Aranaydo said that he has six girls who can each shoot 500 or better, a luxury that most teams only dream about.

"Five-hundred is the score to get all the time - out of a possible 600 - and I think we probably have the most shooters who can reach that consistently," Aranaydo said. "Most of the other schools probably have one of two, so out of six shooters, you score the top four and it's kind of hard to beat a team when it has that kind of depth."

Takaki and the Chargers take on return to action Saturday for the OIA team semifinals, followed by the individual and team championships on Oct. 12. The Civilian Marksmanship Program/HHSAA State Championships are on Oct. 29 at the Neal S. Blaisdell Exhibition Hall


WEEK 7 TOP PERFORMERS
AIR RIFLERY
Sarah Fujihara, Kapolei - Shot a high-score of 502.04 in win over Raford

Nathan Kirk, Radford - Shot a high-score of 511 in win over Kapolei

Kayla Hooker, Kailua - Shot a high-score of 509.13 in win over Kalaheo

Joshua Shin, Leilehua - Shot a high-score of 504 in win over Waialua

James Sison, Leilehua - Shot a high-score of 513 in win over Campbell

Ashley Somera, Pearl City - Shot a high-score of 523.10 in win over Radford

Rebecca Yamashiro, Kalani - Shot a high-score of 500.09 in win over Kaimuki

BOWLING
Kristian Adams, Campbell - Rolled a high-game of 239 and a three-game series of 664 in an OIA Western Division tournament

Ken Hayase-Fong, Pearl City - Rolled a high-game of 272 in an OIA Western Division tournament

Haunani Inouye, Kalani - Rolled a high-game of 212 and a three-game series of 535 in an OIA Eastern Division tournament

Chelsi Morishige, Pearl City - Rolled a high-game of 237 and three-game series of 616 in an OIA Western Division tournament

Keenan Nakagawa, Kalani - Rolled a high-game of 222 and three-game series of 590 in an OIA Eastern Division tournament

Brendyn Nayal, Leilehua - Rolled a high-game of 264 and a three-game series of 688 in an OIA Western Division tournament

CROSS COUNTRY
Amanda Beaman, Iolani - Won an ILH girls' race in Kapolei in a time of 19 minutes and .34 seconds

Davis Kaahanui, Kamehameha - Won an ILH boys' race in Kapolei in a time of 15 minutes and 45.52 seconds

FOOTBALL
Reno Abero, Pearl City - Rushed for 86 yards and two touchdowns in win over Nanakuli

Kaua Aganus, Kamehameha - Scored on a 38-yard punt return in win over Honokaa

Noah Auld, Kailua - Passed for 201 yards with a touchdown and ran for another score in loss to Kahuku

Noah Brum, Kalani - Passed for 264 yards and five touchdowns in win over Anuenue

Anthony Canencia, Pac-Five - Passed for 228 yards with two touchdowns and rushed for 48 yards with another score in win over Saint Francis

Galuenga Castro, Campbell - Caught seven passes for 109 yards in win over Waipahu

Tristan Centeio, Kapolei - Scored on a 95-yard kickoff return in win loss to Waianae

Curt Clivio, Kaiser - Caught two touchdown passes in a win over Roosevelt

Blake Cooper, Pearl City - Scored on a 20-yard fumble return in win over Nanakuli

Bubba Ellis-Noa, Konawaena - Rushed for two touchdowns in win over Waiakea

Keola Himan, Campbell - Caught four passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns in win over Waipahu

Keanu Holmgren, Pac-Five - Recovered two fumbles, including one for a touchdown, and recorded a sack in win over Saint Francis

Isaac Hurd, Campbell - Completed 21 of 31 passes for 341 yards with five touchdowns in win over Waipahu

Alapaki Iaea, Kamehameha-Hawaii - Caught three touchdown passes in win over Honokaa

Justin Ikei, Kaiser - Scored on a 57-yard punt return in win over Roosevelt

Niko Kala-Mahiai, Waianae - Scored on a 25-yard fumble return in win over Kapolei

Kekoa Kaluhiokalani, Waianae - Rushed for 92 yards with a touchdown and passed for 81 yards and another score in win over Kapolei

Micah Kanehailua, Kamehameha-Hawaii - Completed 11 of 19 passes for 120 yards and three touchdowns in win over Honokaa

Chase Kanekuni, Iolani - Caught four passes for 107 yards in loss to Punahou

Micah Kaneshiro, Moanalua - Completed 26 of 37 passes for 303 yards and three touchdowns in win over Castle

Naliko Kea, Nanakuli - Caught two touchdown passes in loss to Pearl City

Drew Kobayashi, Saint Louis - Caught three touchdown passes in win over Damien

Ryder Kuhns, Saint Louis - Completed seven of eight pass attempts for 96 yards and four touchdowns in win over Damien

Donald Lambert, Moanalua - Caught a touchdown pass and scored on a 22-yard fumble return in win over Castle

Taleon Lele, Waialua - Rushed for 121 yards with two touchdowns and passed for 33 yards with another score in win over Kalaheo

Thomas Leong, Kaiser - Rushed for three touchdowns and scored on an 85-yard kickoff return in win over Roosevelt

Vavae Malepeai, Mililani - Rushed for 126 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries in win over Leilehua

Kai Mercado-Aiona, Waipahu - Rushed for 110 yards and a touchdown in loss to Campbell

McKenzie Milton, Mililani - Passed for 126 yards with a touchdown and rushed for 67 yards with another score in win over Damien

Huleia Naeole, Kahuku - Caught two touchdown passes in win over Kailua

Jonathan Nagaseu, Waipahu - Scored on a 6-yard fumble return in loss to Campbell

Ian Namu, Mililani - Intercepted two passes in win over Leilehua

Kahi Neves, Kaiser - Threw two touchdown passes in win over Roosevelt

Kanawai Noa, Punahou - Caught four passes for 100 yards and a touchdown in win over Iolani

Jimmy Nunuha, Saint Louis - Completed four of five passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns in win over Damien

Sonny Oana, Castle - Caught six passes for 144 yards and a touchdown in loss to Moanalua

Kelii Padello, Mililani - Recorded two sacks and forced a fumble in win over Leilehua

Tristan Pebria, Kapolei - Rushed for two touchdowns in loss to Waianae

Thomas Pule, Waialua - Caught a touchdown pass, kicked a 35-yard field goal and was 3-of-4 on extra points in win over Kalaheo

John Replogle, Konawaena - Made field goals of 47, 45 and 23 yards in win over Waiakea

Xavier Repollo, Waialua - Rushed for 103 yards on 11 carries in win over Kalaheo

Brandon Roberts, Kalani - Caught two touchdown passes and rushed for another score in win over Anuenue

Jason Sharsh, Moanalua - Caught 11 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown in win over Castle

Stanton Spencer, Waianae - Made field goals of 42 and 27 yards and was 3-of-3 on extra points in win over Kapolei

Wayne Taulapapa, Punahou - Rushed for 122 yards and four touchdowns on 18 carries in win over Iolani

Gabe Trevino, Konawaena - Scored on a 38-yard interception return in win over Waiakea

Chazz Troutman, Nanakuli - Passed for 123 yards and two touchdowns in loss to Pearl City

Logan Uyetake, Kamehameha-Hawaii - Made field goals of 27 and 38 yards and was 5-of-5 extra points in win over Honokaa

Dayson Watanabe, Punahou - Scored on a 24-yard fumble return in win over Iolani

Tuli Wily-Matagi, Kahuku - Passed for 155 yards with three touchdowns and rushed for another score in win over Kailua

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Kayla Afoa, Kamehameha - Had a match-high nine kills in win over Punahou

Adora Anae, Kahuku - Had a match-high eight kills in win over Moanalua

Tiyana Hallums, Kamehameha - Had seven kills in win over Punahou

Malia Luis-Mateo, Saint Francis - Had nine kills, three blocks and an ace in loss to University High

Jennifer Lum, Saint Francis - Had 10 kills and block blocks in loss to University High

Markayisha Masani, University High - Had eight kills in win over Saint Francis

Nohealani Ornellas, University High - Had eight kills in win over Saint Francis

Alyssa Panis, Saint Francis - Had a match-high 11 kills and three aces in loss to University High

Lacey Satele, Saint Francis - Had eight kills, two aces and a block in loss to University High