To submit a collegiate athlete with Big Island ties for publication, email kjakahi@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
By KEVIN JAKAHI
Tribune-Herald sports writer
Kyle Hanagami knows it doesn’t take a giant to chop down the tallest tree in an NAIA forest.
The 2011 Waiakea graduate stands just 5 feet 6, but never played bigger than he did last Wednesday when Grand View upset No. 1 St. Ambrose in a five-set volleyball marathon at home in Des Moines, Iowa.
“That was a big win. We were super stoked. We went into that game having the mindset of just winning and playing our hardest, and having that chemistry and teamwork led to success,” Hanagami said. “Everything was flowing that night. Overall it was a great team win.”
How Hanagami, the 2011 Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division I player of the year, landed 3,870 miles away from home on scholarship is a connect-the-dot process.
Grand View is in its inaugural season for men’s volleyball. Vikings coach Donan Cruz is from Maui and his assistant, Chris Cantor, is a 2009 Konawaena graduate and like Hanagami a former BIIF player of the year.
Both were in Hilo last May at the Division I state tournament and watched Waiakea take a two-match exit, but not before walking away impressed with Hanagami.
The feeling wasn’t exactly mutual. Hanagami had planned to stay home and go to school somewhere. The thought of living in a place without beaches and year-round sunshine was far from enticing.
“I put the scholarship offer off, but my dad (Ken) and mom (Debbie) encouraged me to play,” he said. “It was good that I came out to play. It was a super last-minute decision. I came up Aug. 24, a couple of weeks before school started.
“Iowa is really different. It’s getting cold and there’s snow. The people are super nice and I’m excited to come home on April 27. We’re right in Des Moines, basically in the city, so we’re not in the boonies. There are malls around us and places to eat.”
There are three other Hawaii players, all from Oahu. Grand View signed a player from Maui for next season, and is currently recruiting three players from Oahu, adding to Hanagami’s comfort level.
The Vikings (8-5) are ranked fifth in the NAIA poll. St. Ambrose fell to second and third-ranked Missouri Baptist College is today’s road opponent, another challenge and tall tree to chop down.
Despite his size, Hanagami finds a way to get the job done.
“Kyle is defending players ranging from 6-2 to 6-8 on most nights,” Cruz said. “He does a great job getting touches on his block and we train a lot on positioning and timing with him. Kyle is touching 10 feet, 2 inches consistently so he has the ability to play above the net.
“Kyle’s athleticism is his greatest asset. He is fast and jumps well. He also has a great positive attitude and knows how to be a team player. His intangible skill sets also really help our team be successful.”
Hanagami, a liberal arts major who’s holding a 3.7 grade-point average, is also treasuring the biggest adjustment college on the mainland has to offer.
“The best part is experiencing college volleyball and being a first-year player and working hard, and trying to prove I can hang with these guys,” he said. “It’s good to start off fresh, building nothing into something. It’s pretty exciting and I’m enjoying it.
“I like the experience of college life, the freedom and being responsible for myself. It’s teaching me to take care of myself. It’s good being on my own, meeting new people and it’s a responsibility to get my schoolwork done before I do anything else.”
Both Cruz and Cantor spent the past several seasons as assistants with the women’s volleyball team. That roster is filled with players only from Iowa, and Cruz pointed out there are limited scholarship opportunities for men’s volleyball.
“There are very few places in the country that you can play volleyball and get a scholarship. I tell the guys that this is a very unique and rare opportunity to be able to earn a degree and play volleyball in the process,” Cruz said. “Kyle is a great student and an amazing athlete. One thing I told all our guys is that you are here to challenge yourself academically and athletically. Kyle is taking full advantage of this unique opportunity.”
To submit a collegiate athlete with Big Island ties for publication, email kjakahi@hawaiitribune-herald.com.