Iolani's Tyler Teruya caught a season-high 12 passes for 132 yards with a touchdown against Damien. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Iolani running back Tamatane Aga carried 19 times for 79 yards and two scores against Damien. Amber Popovich | Special to SL

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Co-Male Athletes of the Week: Tyler Teruya and Tamatane Aga, Iolani football
With two of its top offensive playmakers going down with injuries Friday, Iolani got a pair of standout performances by Tyler Teruya and Tamatane Aga in its 28-7 win over Damien at Aloha Stadium.

Teruya, a junior slotback, caught a season-high 12 passes for 132 yards with a touchdown and Aga, a sophomore running back, carried 19 times for 79 yards and two scores to lead the Raiders to their 10th consecutive Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division II championship.

"Tyler has been steady all year — he does all the little things that don't show up in the stats," Iolani coach Wendell Look said. "Tama started off as a defensive player this season, but showed the athleticism that you'd like to see in a running back, so he was the most logical choice when Jordan (Ross) got hurt (earlier in the season)."

Early in Friday's game, Iolani saw both its leading rusher, Ross, and leading receiving, Keoni-Kordell Makekau exit with injuries that kept them from returning.

Teruya, who is 5-feet, 5 inches tall and weights 152 pounds, caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from Austin Jim On midway through the second quarter.

"He's one of the smartest guys, in terms of football sense, on the team," Look said of Teruya. "He knows what each person is supposed to be doing, he directs the younger and inexperienced guys and he stepped in for Chad Hanaoka when he was hurt the last few games. For being one of the smallest guys on the team, he's shows a lot of heart and confidence."

Teruya had seven receptions for 58 yards in a week 2 loss to Leilehua and just a week ago had three touchdown grabs in a semifinal win over Saint Francis. His versatility also carries over to special teams, where he serves on several units.

"He's kind of an all-purpose guy," Look said. "He returns punt and kicks, he's our holder on field goals and extra points. He's just very dependable."

Aga, who is 5-feet, 9-inches tall and weighs 168 pounds, scored on a 2-yard run in the third quarter and a 15-yard run in the fourth.

"It's kind of been a crash course on how to play running back for him," Look said of Aga, who had a 25-carry, 145-yard game against Pac-Five three weeks ago. "Our offensive system is not easy and as a sophomore, he's done a tremendous job of keeping up with things and being very productive."

Look said he constantly reminds his players to be ready to step up if their time comes.

"I think we always to try to instill in these kids that if they have to work hard and be ready at any time because you're one play away from being a first-stringer," Look said. "It's kind of built into our program that regardless of who you are, if you're on the field, you are expected to perform and live up to the standards of a first-stringer."

Iolani, the six-time defending D2 state champion, will have a bye week before the state tournament gets underway next week.

"I think we played seven weeks without a bye during the season and that really took its' toll on us, so to win the game on Friday and to get this bye week is really crucial to us," Look said. "Not just the physical break, but mentally, too. The academic rigor these kids go through is second to none; I don't think there's a school out there that expects as much out of its students as Iolani, so to give them that kind of a break, I think, is very healthy for them."

Female Athlete of the Week: Dakota Grossman, Seabury Hall cross country
After making history Friday, Dakota Grossman returned home to a hero's welcome.

The Seabury Hall senior won her fourth consecutive individual title at the Honolulu Marathon/Hawaii High School Athletic Association Cross Country State Championships at Kauai's Island School last week, making her just the second person in state history to achieve the feat. Punahou's Eri McDonald won from 1995 to 1998.

"When I was coming in for the last 200 meters, it definitely was a little overwhelming," Grossman said. "I was trying to finish fast, but at the same time I wanted to slow down because I wanted to enjoy it a little bit. Finishing with last stretch, with the crowd was all over, it was a lot of fun."

Grossman blew away the field in the 3-mile race in a time of 18 minutes and 17.04 seconds, more than 35 seconds better than her nearest competitor, Iolani's Amanda Beaman, who finished in 18:52.55.

"I pretty much run the same way every race so I didn't really try anything new except for going out fast and trying to run one of my better times," said Grossman, who now has a Maui Interscholastic League-record nine gold medals between cross country and track. "It wasn't the first time I hit low 18's, but it was pretty good time for the season."

The win was the last of many in a decorated prep cross country career. Grossman's four state titles were claimed on four different islands. She won as a freshman at Central Oahu Regional Park in 19:25.50 in 2010 and followed that up with a 19:27.5 to win as a sophomore at Kapalua Village on Maui. Grossman captured her third gold at Hawaii Preparatory Academy on the Big Island last year in 20:21.85.

"I think it's set in by now," Grossman said. "It's been pretty exciting. I actually did the Xterra 5K on Maui the next day and the guy at the starting line announced that I was there, because I was the winner from last year and he said how I had just won my fourth year in a row, so I was able to relive everything these last couple of days."

As a team, Seabury Hall finished third overall behind Punahou and Hawaii Prep, but did claim the Division II championship.

"At school (Monday), our team presented our trophy in an assembly this morning and people cheered for us," Grossman said. "They announced our accomplishments at states and everyone was saying 'Good job' to me. It was nice to be recognized."

Grossman said the experience was all the more special because he entire family flew to Kauai to watch her run.

"My sister came up from Oahu, my mom and grandma flew out there, too," said Grossman, who is coached by her dad, Bobby. "It was pretty awesome to have people come out and support me considering that it's on a different island, so it's pretty difficult for them to watch."

The training doesn't stop, however, for Grossman. She will participate in the Foot Locker West Regionals on Dec. 7 in Walnut, Calif.

"I ran in that race my freshman and junior years, but I think I've improved a lot since last year and looking back on those times, 10 seconds off my time is 10 sports, so hopefully I can get in the top 20 there," Grossman said.


WEEK 11 TOP PERFORMERS
CROSS COUNTRY
Davis Kaahanui, Kamehameha — The senior won his second consecutive individual title in a time of 15 minutes, 47.51 seconds at the Honolulu Marathon/HHSAA State Championships

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Arianna Feleti, Radford — The senior outside hitter put down 17 kills with four digs and an assist in a four-set win over Kalaheo

Silerolia Gaogao, Moanalua — The junior outside hitter put down 13 kills and two blocks in a three-set loss to Mililani

McKenna Granato, Punahou — The senior outside hitter had 20 kills in a five-set loss to Kamehameha

Tiyana Hallums, Kamehameha — The junior outside hitter/opposite put down 19 kills in a five-set win over Punahou

Sarah Liva, Mililani — The senior middle blocker recorded 10 kills, three blocks and four aces in a three-set win over Moanalua

Riley Lynch, Kalaheo — The freshman outside hitter had 17 kills, three digs, three aces, one block and an ace in a four-set loss to Radford

Syenna Masaki, Kalaheo — The freshman outside hitter recorded 17 kills and a block in a three-set win over Radford

Ashlee Vaoifi, Mililani — The senior outside hitter had 11 kills and four aces in a three-set win over Moanalua

Breayna Webster, Radford — The senior middle blocker/outside hitter had 12 kills, two blocks and two aces in a five-set loss to Kalaheo

FOOTBALL
Jacob Afele, Mililani — The senior linebacker made a game-high 12 tackles, including one sack, in a win over Kahuku

Charles Apuna, King Kekaulike — The senior wide receiver/defensive back scored on a 91-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in a loss to Baldwin

Trevor Caspillo, Damien — The senior wide receiver/defensive back made a game-high 11 tackles in a loss to Iolani

Caleb Chow, Kamehameha — The sophomore defensive lineman recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown in a loss to Punahou

Makoa Filikitonga, Lahainaluna — The junior quarterback/defensive back threw two touchdown passes, ran in a score and returned an interception 51 yards for another touchdown in a win over Maui

Dusty Flores, Baldwin — The senior running back carried 18 times for 152 yards in a win over King Kekaulike

Isaiah Gibson, Campbell — The junior linebacker made a game-high seven tackles in a loss to Farrington

Motu Heimuli, Farrington — The senior defensive tackle made three tackles, including two sacks, in a win over Campbell

Austin Jim On, Iolani — The junior quarterback completed 28 of his 36 pass attempts for 255 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in a win over Damien

Dylan Kane, Kamehameha — The junior defensive back made a game-high 11 tackles in a loss to Punahou

Canton Kaumatule, Punahou — The junior defensive end made five tackles, including two for losses, in a win over Kamehameha

Aaron Kesi, Farrington — The senior linebacker made four tackles, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble in a win over Campbell

Ronley Lakalaka, Punahou — The junior linebacker made a team-high six tackles, including two sacks, in a win over Kamehameha

Sanele Lavatai, Farrington — The senior running back rushed 19 times for 80 yards and scored the game's only touchdown in a win over Campbell

PJ Liua, Kahuku — The senior running back carried 17 times for 132 yards with a touchdown in a loss to Mililani

Tristan Ludiazo, Campbell — The junior defensive lineman made five tackles, including a sack, and forced a fumble in a loss to Farrington

Vavae Malepeai, Mililani — The sophomore running back carried 29 times for 139 yards and three touchdowns in win over Kahuku

McKenzie Milton, Mililani — The sophomore quarterback completed 14 of his 25 pass attempts for 224 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in a win over Kahuku

Ian Namu, Mililani — The senior safety made eight tackles, intercepted a pass and forced a fumble in a win over Kahuku

Kanawai Noa, Punahou — The junior wide receiver caught 10 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown in a win over Kamehameha

Kenji Noguchi, Iolani — The junior defensive lineman made a team-high seven tackles in a win over Damien

Dayne Ortiz, Farrington — The senior defensive back made a team-high six tackles in a win over Campbell

Kelii Padello, Mililani — The senior defensive end made seven tackles, including four sacks, in a win over Kahuku

Micah Pagaduan, Baldwin — The senior running back rushed 10 times for 122 yards and two touchdowns in a win over King Kekaulike

Abiel Taito, Campbell — The junior linebacker made five tackles and recovered a pair of fumbles in a loss to Farrington

Wayne Taulapapa, Punahou — The sophomore running back caught two touchdown passes and rushed for another score in a win over Kamehameha

Larry Tuileta, Punahou — The senior quarterback completed 26 of 43 passes for 395 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in a win over Kamehameha

Salanoa Wily, Kahuku — The junior defensive lineman made a team-high seven tackles in a loss to Mililani