By MATT GERHART
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
KEAAU — It’s the kind of praise most players don’t mind hearing, but only once or twice.
Kamehameha water polo coach Dan Lyons lauded his team’s potential during a recent practice, then he preceded to tell the Warriors how much he hated it when his coaches talked of his potential during his playing days.
“That’s kind of an insult to him,” sophomore Cassidy Farias said. “It’s saying you can do better if you try harder.”
For seven preseasons running, Lyons has had a familiar preseason sentiment, and he echoed it Wednesday on the eve of the BIIF season, which starts Saturday at Naeole Pool.
“I never know what we have,” he said. “We have the potential to be special by the end of the year, but it’s what we make of it.”
For the first time in a while, the Warriors are coming off a campaign in which they weren’t up to their dominant standards. Hawaii Prep entered the BIIF final undefeated, but the Warriors came back to win in double overtime to bag a seventh title in a row.
Kamehameha may have potential, but its two biggest proven commodities last season, Katelynn Kubo and Alyssa Pelanca, graduated and are on scholarship at Division I La Salle.
Because of how she ended the 2016 BIIF final, junior Lahela Rosario appears to be a prime candidate for a breakout season.
“I can’t swim as fast as Kubo, and I don’t have as strong an arm as Pelanca,” Rosario said. “But I think if we work as a team we can fill those holes. We don’t have to be faster or stronger, we just have to play smart.”
In 2OT of the BIIF final against Ka Makani, Rosario was either playing it smooth or safe. As her coach exhorted her to shoot, she held the ball over her head with the potential golden goal in her hand, waited a few seconds and finally deposited the ball in the next to secure the title.
“I was little tentative,” she said with a laugh. “Definitely tentative.”
“Confidence is one of my goals this year.”
That’s actually a team goal, and the Warriors appear well on their way.
Kamehameha didn’t make its usual trip to Oahu for a preseason tournament, but a number Warriors players went international last summer with Lyons, traveling to Hong Kong to take on more seasoned national teams.
To hear some Warriors talk, the experience — from fundraising to travel to competition — featured one life lesson after another.
“It was kind of a preview of being an adult and having responsibility,” junior Kaiao Shine said.
“I’m way closer to the team now,” Farias said. “The team is closer because of the experience.”
The benefits should be tangible as well.
“We learned new techniques that should translate to games,” junior Kukui Haumea said. “Last year, we had players that were much more advanced, but this year we should have more players with skill.”
“Last year, I didn’t know anything,” Farias said. “I didn’t know my position, but the weight training made me stronger and I’ve improved my shooting and my passing.”
The Warriors have just two seniors, starting goalkeeper Hopoe Sipinga and Kauahone Kane-Kalua, who is vying for a starting spot.
When the rubber meets the road, Lyons envisions as many as 13-14 players seeing prime playing time.
Sophomore Aubrey Carter is one of the team’s fastest swimmers and sophomore Emma Kanoa will share the 2-meter position with Rosario and is dripping, Lyons said, with potential.
There is that word again.
“That can change,” Shine said. “Potential turns into working toward success. You can overcome it, and work hard and when you get there, it’s a good feeling.”
