Kallen Mizuguchi • tennis
The first-year UH-Hilo interim men’s tennis coach very well could have been honored in this space in 2010, if the award existed, for being part of a state championship doubles team at Waiakea High.
Mizuguchi gets the nod nine years later with considerable help from Vaclav Slezak, Alessandro Giuliato, Martin Soukal, Chun En Wu, Arturo Dell’Eva, Luca Checchia and company.
Together, they advanced further in NCAA D-II competition than any Vuls team in school history, reaching the final four.
5 questions
Favorite food: Suisan poke
Favorite movie: Never Back Down (we watched it as a team for motivation)
Favorite thing about tennis: There’s always something new to learn
Favorite athlete: Rafael Nadal
Favorite spot on the Big Isle: On the water fishing