Male Athlete of the Week: Bishop Wickes, Baldwin football
Bishop Wickes may not be much for words, but his play on the gridiron has spoken for itself this football season.

The Baldwin senior running back turned in another prolific performance over the weekend. The 5-foot-9, 180-pound Wickes accounted for 162 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns to help the Bears to a pivotal 24-14 win over Maui at War Memorial Stadium Saturday night.

The victory kept over the first-round champion Sabers gave Baldwin the league's second-round crown and forced a playoff for the Maui Interscholastic League's overall Division I title and a spot in next month's First Hawaiian Bank State Championships.

"It was huge, especially in a must-win game like that for us," Bears coach Pohai Lee said of Wickes' 22-carry, 131-yard effort.

"He always delivers when he's in the game. He's a quiet leader, but pound-for-pound he's strong. I mean, he's always keeping his legs pumping. Once you think he's down, he's gaining you another three, four, five yards and most of the time he's just falling forward."

It was the fourth straight game over a hundred rushing yards for Wickes and his fifth overall this season. He was coming off a season-best 201 rushing yards and two TD game in a 30-27 win over King Kekaulike on Oct. 13.

"He's very instinctive and he's very explosive when he gets to the second level and out in the open field," Lee said. "We like to get him out in space and have him do his thing, but he's just dangerous with the ball in his hands. He's got good vision, great feed and he's able to make guys miss."

Lee said that Wickes, who also competes in soccer and track and field, has also contributed on the defensive side of the ball at an outside linebacker/strong safety position in addition to his numerous duties on special teams.

"He kicks field goals, does kickoffs — it helps that he's a soccer player — he also returns kicks for us, but running back is his top position. Even then though, we can use him out of the backfield, put him in the slot — he can play anywhere — even outside receiver," Lee said of the third-year starter.

In a season-opening loss to Bartlett (Alaska), Wickes lost a fumble early in the game, but redeemed himself with a pair of 91-yard kickoff returns for touchdowns later in the fourth quarter.

"He's just kind of patient with things," Lee said.

Against Maui High Saturday, that patience paid off for Wickes, whose 75-yard TD run midway through the second quarter gave Baldwin a 10-7 lead.

"Up until that point they were kind of holding us in check a little bit, we weren't getting any double-digit (yardage) runs, but we just went with an inside zone and he saw a crease and once he saw a crease he just went hard, the free safety came up went for his legs and he just kind of hurdles a little bit and once he hit the ground he was gone after that," Lee said.

It was the longest TD run of the season for Wickes.

"His demeanor never changes. He stays within himself and he kind of goes with the flow of things," Lee said. "He's not really big on yelling or being vocal, but just by what he does on the field he gains a lot of people's respect."

The Bears were clinging to a 17-14 lead in the fourth quarter when Wickes hauled in a short pass from quarterback Laa Asuega-Stark and turned it into a 15-yard scoring strike for an insurance score.

"(Maui) was in a little bit more of a man-to-man (defense) and (Asuega-Stark) just hit Bishop in the flat out of the backfield. The inside ‘backer put a good effort, but just by his alignment, he couldn't get to (Wickes) on the sideline and after that Bishop just made a couple people miss, jump cut and he got into the end zone," said Lee, who added that Wickes had another touchdown reception called back due to a holding penalty.

The biggest gains have come in the weight room for Wickes, who was first called up to the varsity late in his freshman year.

"Obviously the one thing about thing about him is he's gotten a lot stronger, not just his legs but his upper body," Lee said. "I know his dad trains him pretty good in the offseason and with track and soccer he's pretty much always on the go year-round, but he's self-motivated in wanting to do well when the game is on the line."

For the season, Wickes has posted 925 rushing yards and 10 total TDs. He's also converted three field goals and 10 extra points to give him a team-high 91 points.

The win over the Sabers marked the first time Baldwin was able to put together consecutive victories this season, which began with six losses in its first seven games.

"The guys played our best game collectively in all three phases — offense, defense and special teams — so they're deserving and our coaches did a great job with the game plan and the boys just executed. We had five penalties and no turnovers, so that's limiting mistakes and putting yourself in a position to the win the game," Lee said.
 
Wickes and the Bears (3-6 overall, 3-5 league) are idle this weekend. They can clinch their first MIL title since 2016 with a win over Maui on Nov. 2.

Female Athlete of the Week: Kaehu Keala, Mid-Pacific volleyball
When Kaehu Keala is in the middle, good things happen for the Mid-Pacific girls volleyball team.

The Owls have seen quite the increase in production from the 6-foot-3 senior since a move from outside hitter/opposite to middle blocker earlier this season.

"We have about three other middles that do a pretty good job and (Keala) played middle in the offseason, so I thought maybe we could try her at opposite because she can pass and be a big blocker, but she wasn't quite getting as many kills or people could defend her a little easier on that right side," Mid-Pacific coach Tommy Lake said.

A straight-set loss to Damien back on Sept. 11 — the Owls' second defeat in a span of three nights — spurred the move back inside for Keala.

"After that Damien match in the first round we said, ‘let's put her back in the middle, where we know she can be more productive and she's just gotten more comfortable there as the season has gone on. It's a position she played in the offseason (in club volleyball), but she just had to get back in the groove again," Lake said.

The lineup tweak has paid dividends for Keala, who is averaging 20 kills in Mid-Pacific's last four matches, including 40 kills in a couple of second-round victories over the Monarchs last week.

"In the middle she's just been so much more productive. She was hitting maybe .200 on the right side, in the middle she's over .500," Lake said. "That was a little tough that we could not get that kind of production from our other middles. Although they're good, they're weren't good enough to off-set a 300-point difference (in hitting percentage), so we put (Keala) back there and so far, so good, but she still hits sometimes from the right and sometimes from the left."

Keala, who transferred to Mid-Pacific from Kapaa prior to the start of her junior season, has grown by leaps and bounds in her volleyball journey.

"She's improved so much from last year. She wasn't much of a factor last year, but she's kind of young in volleyball years compared to the other girls on our team. She's only been playing a few years and so this past year has been the biggest jump for her," Lake said. "She made a huge leap in attacking the ball and getting into an offensive mind and she comes from a family of volleyball players. She kind of took it up late, but boy, she's coming into her own and I really think this team has embraced her and she's gotten really comfortable with this team."

And then there's the fact that Keala stands heads and shoulders above her teammates — and most of the Owls' opponents, for that matter.

"I think (Keala) has just been a great personality — very positive — and she stands above everyone. She's been a great role model for the girls and bringing everyone together," Lake said. "We have a couple other seniors who have been doing a good job, but she is the 6-3 girl that everyone notices so she carries a lot on her back for this year just because of her stature and so she's done a great job with that."

Keala's height, coupled with her ever-improving skill set and a competitive nature, has made her tough to defend for opposing teams.

"She gives us an offensive threat and she's got a really good connection with our setter (Emma Porter) now so because of her height and the fact that she has long arms and a good reach, it's just a threat on almost any pass that she can attack the middle," Lake said. "She's hard to defend because she hits the ball all over the place, she hits spots all over the court and she can hit from one antenna to the other and all the spots in between."

One area of Keala's game that might get overlooked is her passing ability.

"She's actually a very good ball handler. She can receive serve and she serves really well, she can attack out of the back row, but because we use her so much we try to give her a break in the back row and with three other serve-receivers, it's more of a luxury that she doesn't have to play the back row and she can get some rest because we do set her so much and she's been a huge factor for us," Lake said.

In a 25-19, 25-21, 25-21 sweep of Damien Tuesday, Keala recorded 15 kills with three solo blocks, three block assists, two digs and one ace. Two nights later she posted a season-high 25 kills to go with seven digs, two solo blocks and a block assist in a 21-25, 25-17, 25-22 and 25-23 win over the Monarchs.

Keala went toe-to-toe with Damien's senior standout Shelby Capllonch, who notched a double-double with 20 kills and 14 digs Thursday.

"One of the biggest things was (Keala) actually kind of allowed us to match Shelby's output because (Capllonch) is such an offensive powerhouse from the front row and the back row besides being a great digger," Lake said. "(Keala) also got in a couple key blocks on Shelby and those were definitely a lift for our team, while it almost discouraged Damien, but Shelby is such a tough competitor and I credit (Keala) for staying in it and attacking the ball."

After finishing third in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu's first round of play, Mid-Pacific surged to the second-round title with Tuesday's win over the Monarchs before claiming the school's first overall league championship with Thursday's victory.

"The kids are really stoked," Lake said. "We've made some changes over the season and so far it's played out. (Keala) has done her part as a big hitter, (but) hopefully we find a little more offense in other places because now teams have seen us and they know what we can do."

Keala and the Owls (13-2) drew the No. 1 seed in this week's New City Nissan Division II State Championships. They open their state tournament with a quarterfinal match against either Sacred Hearts or Konawaena at 7 p.m. Thursday at Saint Francis.

CROSS COUNTRY
Adam Harder, Hanalani — Won the ILH boys championship race in a time of 17 minutes, 6.4 seconds

Dallas Inouye, Moanalua — Won the OIA girls championship race in a time of 21 minutes, 17.93 seconds

Kacie Kwan, Hawaii Baptist — Won the ILH girls championship race in a time of 20 minutes, 19.68 seconds

Narayan Schneider, McKinley — Won the OIA boys championship race in a time of 17 minutes, 31.05 seconds

FOOTBALL
Dane Abarra, Kamehameha-Maui — Rushed 14 times for 236 yards and a touchdown in a win over King Kekaulike

Tiliti Adams, Kamehameha-Maui — Threw for 217 yards and seven touchdowns without an interception on 14-of-22 passing in a win over King Kekaulike

Tupu Alualu, Moanalua — Had 13 tackles in a loss to Castle

Naomas Asuega-Fualaau, Kaimuki — Rushed 28 times for 220 yards and a touchdown in a win over Kaiser

Laa Asuega-Stark, Baldwin — Threw for 218 yards and two touchdowns without an interception on 15-of-26 passing in a win over Maui

Kupono Blake, Kamehameha — Had two sacks in a loss to Punahou

Hugh Brady, Punahou — Threw for 159 yards and two touchdowns without an interception on 16-of-21 passing in a win over Kamehameha

Justice Ching, Castle — Intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble in a win over Moanalua

Lancen Dung — Had two sacks in a loss to Punahou

Koa Eldredge, Punahou — Caught seven passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Kamehameha

Alfred Failauga, Waipahu — Rushed 29 times for 187 yards and a touchdown in a win over Leilehua

Tevita Faleta, Kahuku — Intercepted two passes in a win over Kapolei

Elijah Finau, King Kekaulike — Scored on a 31-yard fumble return in a loss to Kamehameha-Maui

Duke Heffernan, Kahuku — Rushed for two touchdowns in a win over Kapolei

Trey Hunter, King Kekaulike — Rushed 28 times for 198 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Kamehameha-Maui

Krenston Kaipo, Campbell — Threw for 212 yards and three touchdowns without an interception on 11-of-18 passing in a win over Waianae

Deacon Kapea, Waipahu — Intercepted two passes, including a 12-yard pick-6, in a win over Leilehua

Keanu Kekawa, Moanalua — Had 14 tackles and one sack in a loss to Castle

Micah Kim, Moanalua — Had 18 tackles in a loss to Castle

Enzo Lucero, Kaimuki — Had two sacks in a win over Kaiser

Kili-Scott Madrid, Baldwin — Caught six passes for 123 yards and a touchdown in a win over Maui

Titus Mokiao-Atimalala, Campbell — Caught seven passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Waianae

Naia Nakamoto, Maui — Rushed 20 times for 126 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Baldwin

Sky Ogata, Roosevelt — Rushed nine times for 147 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Pearl City

Senituli Punivai, Castle — Rushed 37 times for 247 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Moanalua

Karsyn Pupunu, Kamehameha-Maui — Caught five passes for 95 yards and three touchdowns in a win over King Kekaulike

Branson Jay Reyes, Waipahu — Scored on a 99-yard kickoff return in a win over Waipahu

Trent Shiraki, Punahou — Scored on a 48-yard interception return in a win over Kamehameha

Makani Smith-Kemfort, Kamehameha-Maui — Caught five passes for 74 yards and two touchdowns in a win over King Kekaulike

Joseph Taufa, Kahuku — Scored on a 25-yard interception return in a win over Kapolei

Raiden Wong, Castle — Had six tackles, four sacks and a pass break-up in a win over Moanalua

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Keala Acol, Konawaena — Had 16 kills, six digs, two aces, two assists, two block assists and one solo block in a five-set win over Hawaii Prep

Keonilei Akana, Kamehameha — Had 20 kills and three block assists in a five-set win over Iolani

Lexis Akeo, Kamehameha — Had 47 assists, two block assists, one kill and an ace in a five-set win over Iolani

Faith Alejo, Leilehua — Had 24 digs, three assists and one ace in a four-set loss to Kaiser

Tiani Bello, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Had 24 digs, eight kills, one ace and an assist in a four-set loss to Hilo

Skyy Botelho, Kahuku — Had 15 digs and two assists in a five-set win over Kapolei

Erica Canon, Hilo — Had 17 assists and 11 digs in a four-set win over Kamehameha-Hawaii

Shelby Capllonch, Damien — Had 17 kills, 17 digs and one assist in a three-set loss to Mid-Pacific and had 20 kills, 14 digs, three block assists and an ace in a four-set loss to Mid-Pacific

Mikaela Chong, Hawaii Prep — Had 23 digs, nine kills and a block assist in a three-set win over Kau

Falanika Danielson, Mililani — Had 19 kills and 14 digs in a four-set win over Moanalua and had 17 kills, 11 digs and one block assist in a three-set win over Kahuku

Taylor Davis, Leilehua — Had 36 assists, 15 digs, one kill, one block assist and an ace in a four-set loss to Kaiser

Shania Fuentes, Kohala — Had 12 kills, 12 digs, two aces, one solo block and an assist in a three-set win over Kau and had 13 kills, 30 digs, three assists, two block assists and one ace in a four-set win over Konawaena

Madison Goodman, Mililani — Had 15 assists, 14 digs and two aces in a four-set win over Moanalua

Malie Grace, Konawaena — Had 23 kills, 14 digs, two block assists and one ace in a five-set win over Hawaii Prep and had 17 kills, 12 digs, two block assists and an assist in a four-set loss to Kohala

Jordan Hayashi, Kaiser — Had 16 digs, six kills, four assists and two block assists in a four-set win over Leilehua

Tayli Ikenaga, Moanalua — Had 20 kills, 23 digs and one assist in a four-set loss to Mililani

Cheylin Imai, Kohala — Had 32 assists, five digs and three kills in a three-set win over Kau and had 42 assists, nine digs, eight aces and a kill in a four-set win over Konawaena

Allexis Iramina, Moanalua — Had 22 assists, 14 digs and one kill in a four-set loss to Mililani

Kawena Kahana-Travis, Leilehua — Had 15 digs, five kills, two assists and one block assist in a four-set loss to Kaiser

Del Kalulu-Sugai, Damien — Had 11 kills, 15 digs, eight assists and an ace in a four-set loss to Damien

Keau Kamakeeaina, Kahuku — Had 29 assists, 12 digs, three kills, three block assists, two solo blocks and an ace in a five-set win over Kapolei

Kiana Kauka, Kohala — Had 11 kills, 16 digs, three assists and three aces in a four-set win over Konawaena

Pulelehua Keb, Kaiser — Had 13 kills, 17 digs, four aces, two block assists and one solo block in a four-set win over Leilehua

Mikayla Kekoa, Kohala — Had 13 kills, 10 digs, three aces, one solo block and an assist in a three-set win over Kau and had 19 kills, 15 digs, two aces, one solo block and a block assist in a four-set win over Konawaena

Reishalyn Kekoa-Jara, Kau — Had 16 digs, three aces, one kill and an assist in a three-set loss to Kohala

Kamalani Kekoolani, Mid-Pacific — Had 16 digs and four kills in a four-set win over Damien

Mahina Kenoi, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Had 26 digs and an ace in a four-set loss to Hilo

Alohilani Keola, Leilehua — Had 13 kills, 13 digs, one block assist and an ace in a four-set loss to Kaiser

Jaycie Kodama, Moanalua — Had 15 digs, one assist and an ace in a four-set loss to Mililani

Sariah Kuahala-Pabre, Konawaena — Had 13 assists, 12 digs, three kills and two aces in a four-set loss to Kohala

Taina Leao, Hilo — Had 14 kills, 20 digs, one block assist and an assist in a four-set win over Kamehameha-Hawaii

Kailee Llanes-Kelekolio, Konawaena — Had 29 assists, 25 digs, five kills and three aces in a five-set win over Hawaii Prep and had 20 digs, 12 assists, two kills and an ace in a four-set loss to Kohala

Kawehilani Lum Won-Spinola, Konawaena — Had 18 digs, four assists and three aces in a five-set win over Hawaii Prep and had 20 digs and three assists in a four-set loss to Kohala

Serenity Mamizuka, Kahuku — Had 17 digs and one assist in a five-set win over Kapolei

Malie McClure, Kamehameha — Had 16 kills, two block assists and an ace in a five-set win over Iolani

Kristen McDaniel, Iolani — Had 41 assists, 13 digs, two aces, one solo block, one block assist and a kill in a five-set win over Kamehameha and had 41 assists, four kills, two block assists and one ace in a five-set loss to Kamehameha

Kiani Medeiros-Danal, Kau — Had 13 kills, 11 digs, three block assists and one assist in a three-set loss to Kohala and had 16 digs, eight kills and one block assist in a three-set loss to Hawaii Prep

Aria Miller, Mililani — Had 12 kills, 16 digs and one block assist in a four-set win over Moanalua

Aysia Miller, Mililani — Had 38 assists, 10 digs, eight kills, three block assists and three aces in a four-set win over Moanalua and had 29 assists, seven digs, three block assists, two kills and one ace in a three-set win over Kahuku

Siena Mizuno, Hilo — Had 28 digs and two assists in a four-set win over Kamehameha-Hawaii

Tiffany Mook, Kapolei — Had 19 digs, four assists, two aces and a kill in a five-set loss to Kahuku

Angel Nahinu, Kapolei — Had 17 kills, one dig and a block assist in a five-set loss to Kahuku

Jaylynn Nihipali, Kaiser — Had 20 assists, 11 digs, seven kills, two aces, two block assists and one solo block in a four-set win over Leilehua

Elena Oglivie, Iolani — Had 31 kills, 13 digs, one solo block, one block assist and an ace in a five-set win over Kamehameha and had 21 kills, one block assist and an ace in a five-set loss to Kamehameha

Gemma Palleschi, Hawaii Prep — Had 11 kills, 27 digs, two aces and a block assist in a three-set win over Kau

Jenna Perry, Hawaii Prep — Had 19 digs in a three-set win over Kau

Emma Porter, Mid-Pacific — Had 33 assists, four kills, two digs, two block assists and two aces in a three-set win over Damien and had 41 assists, seven digs and an ace in a four-set win over Damien

Elsa Radovan, Damien — Had 28 assists, 10 digs and a kill in a four-set loss to Mid-Pacific

Becca Sakoda, Iolani — Had 16 digs, two aces and a kill in a five-set win over Kamehameha

Shyla Sato, Mid-Pacific — Had 15 digs, six kills and one ace in a three-set win over Damien

Sierra Scanlan, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Had 46 assists, 14 digs, one block assist, a kill and an ace in a four-set loss to Hilo

Alizaysha Sopi, Kapolei — Had 20 kills, three digs, one block assist and an ace in a five-set loss to Kahuku

Nani Spaar, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Had 35 kills, 16 digs, three block assists and one ace in a four-set loss to Hilo

Jeslyn Spencer, Moanalua — Had 14 kills, 16 digs, two block assists and one assist in a four-set loss to Mililani

Savannah Taosoga, Kahuku — Had 16 kills and three digs in a five-set win over Kapolei

Olivia Transfiguracion, Kapolei — Had 48 assists, 10 digs, three aces and two kills in a five-set loss to Kahuku

Chaunalisa Velez, Kau — Had 12 kills, 16 digs and one ace in a three-set loss to Kau and had 17 digs and six kills in a three-set loss to Hawaii Prep

Kaira Wengler, Damien — Had 17 digs and four assists in a four-set loss to Mid-Pacific