— December: Prep basketball standouts Nick Fisher (Pahoa) and Jacy Pagala (Keaau).
Tribune-Herald
Prep basketball standouts Nick Fisher of Pahoa and Jacy Pagala of Keaau have been named the Big Island Co-Athletes of the Month for December.
Both Fisher and Pagala played strong roles in their teams’ success in the preseason and will be counted on during the Big Island Interscholastic Federation seasons.
Fisher, a 6-foot junior forward, led the Division II Pahoa boys squad to an impressive preseason, winning the 15-team Waiakea-Keaau and eight-team Cardinal Classic tournament titles, and finishing fourth in the Hilo High Holiday Prep Classic, including a double-overtime loss to state D-I powerhouse Iolani.
The Daggers, under coach Marc Saito, edged D-I Kamehameha 51-49 in the Waiakea-Keaau final; then rallied to beat the host Vikings 55-53 in the Card Classic final.
The Daggers finished state D-II runner-up last year and also captured the BIIF’s D-II crown.
Pagala, a 5-foot-2 senior and a two-sport star, led the Cougars’ basketball and soccer teams to solid wins in the preseason. And during her sterling career at Keaau, she’s been a difference-maker for the school’s athletic program as well as in the class room.
Pagala, who carries a 3.9 grade point average, is one of the top returning BIIF point guards in basketball and one of the BIIF’s top scoring forwards in soccer. Last year, she was named All-BIIF first team in both sports.
The athlete of the month program is sponsored by Don’s Grill, under owner Don Hoota. The athlete of the month as well as athlete and sportsperson of the year programs were founded by the late Jack Matsui.
Members of the selection committee are Hugh Clark, Ramon Goya, Stan Costales and chairman Bill O’Rear.
Nominations
Nominations for the January athlete of the month may be sent to Don’s Grill, 485 Hinano St., Hilo, HI 96720, or to Bill O’Rear, Tribune-Herald Sports, P.O. Box 767, Hilo, HI 96721; or e-mail borear@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
The deadline to submit nominations is Feb. 1.
2011 Athletes of the Month
— January: Kevin Hayashi, Hilo golfer.
— February: Swim state champions Logan Borowski, Kaikea Nakachi, Kyle Katase and Ryan Ross of HPA and Waiakea’s Madisyn Uekawa; state wrestling champion Akoakoa Paleka-Kennedy of Kamehameha; and state soccer champion Dylan Shiraki of Honokaa.
— March: Amber Waracka, UH-Hilo softball pitcher.
— April: Blake Snyder, UH-Hilo golfer, and Keoni Manago, UHH baseball player.
— May: Shane Brostek, HPA’s state shot put, discus champ; Tyler Yonemori, state judo champ.
— June: Kolten Wong, Universary of Hawaii baseball star.
— July: Caleb Freitas-Fields, a Hilo youth baseball standout.
— August: Chayce Kaaua and Kean Wong of the Senior Baseball World Series champion Hilo All-Stars.
— September: Hillary Hurley, UH-Hilo volleyball standout.
— October: Kellie Iwasaki, state air riflery champ from Waiakea.
— November: Jamie Hall, UHH golfer.
— December: Prep basketball standouts Nick Fisher (Pahoa) and Jacy Pagala (Keaau).