By KEVIN JAKAHI
By KEVIN JAKAHI
Tribune-Herald sports writer
When Keani Mello-Waiwaiole joined the Ka‘u football team as a sophomore in 2010, she was the only girl on the roster, determined to fit in despite the fact she dressed in a different locker room.
“My family has always been into football and I’ve mostly played boys sports,” she said. “I wanted to play football like them. I felt comfortable and I knew they were like my brothers. They wouldn’t let me get hurt on the field. They always had my back.”
She is part of an athletic family, which includes two younger brothers and three sisters. Her oldest brother, Kaleo, is in fifth grade and plays Pop Warner.
Her eldest sister, Elena (2011 Ka‘u graduate), wrestled and competed in judo, the two Big Island Interscholastic Federation sports that connect Keani and her two younger sisters: junior Leah, who’s running cross country, and sophomore Shavon, who’s a football team manager.
Keani is the only Mello-Waiwaiole to play football for the Trojans, who have three other girls on the roster, freshman Kayana Ka-Ne, and juniors Shylee Tamura and Ciera Kaopua.
“I love it that the girls want to be a part of a boys sport,” Ka‘u assistant coach Tammy Ke said. “The boys treat them like one of the guys. They’re all one team. That’s the most important thing we’re trying to accomplish. We’re one unit and we’ve got to work as a team.”
Last season, Keani had sporadic playing time. Her first year she saw the field more. Her first sport was T-ball, but found tackling someone was a bit more fun than hitting a baseball.
“I like hitting people and making a tackle and making plays,” she said. “My goal this season is to get a couple of sacks. I had one last year and that was fun. I just want to go out and play hard, and try to do my best for the team.”
Her favorite sport is wrestling. Keani captured the BIIF title in the 220-pound class as a freshman and sophomore. Last season, she placed second, a loss that still stings and serves as a gentle reminder.
“The other girl (Kamehameha’s Ciarra Lynn Parinas ) was more top shape than me,” she said. “It was a tough match for me. I learned that I need to be in better condition.”
Leah and Shavon also took home silver, losing to Waiakea’s Tanalei Louis at 125 pounds, and Kamehameha’s Welina Tong at 175, respectively.
Keani also has a collection of BIIF gold medals in judo. She’s the two-time defending league champ in the 220 division. Last season, going for gold, again, Leah lost to Louis and Shavon fell to Hilo’s Lia Nakamura.
The silvers for the sisters will definitely serve as motivation when wrestling kicks off in the winter and judo rolls around in the spring of next year.
“She has made me better in wrestling, by practicing with each other,” Shavon said of Keani. “I wanted to play football, but I came at the last minute. They did the same thing (wrestling and judo), so I used to go to their tourneys and I thought it would be fun, so I joined.
“Keani is the most athletic and the most determined. My sisters always tell me to do good in school, so I can participate in sports.”
The oldest of the competing Trojans speaks in the shadow of a champion’s glory. The only time she’s on a podium is when she’s accepting a medal. She answers questions but never mentions accolades — unless asked.
“She’s very humble,” Ke said. “She’s been a champion several times. But she’s a very humble girl. She’s a good girl and gets good grades. If anybody should be a champion, it should be her.
“She’s a role model for the other girls on the team. At one time she was the only girl on the team. She helps the other girls.”
Behind her football mask and inside a determined beating heart, Keani has a simple goal for the family sports of wrestling and judo.
“I want to come in first at states for wrestling. I want to work harder, judo the same thing,” said the Trojan football player, running to practice and already hard at work.
To nominate a Big Island athlete for “Spotlight on,” email kjakahi@hawaiitribune-herald.com.