Yes, there is recruiting going on at public schools.
At Kohala High, it’s on the level.
Boys volleyball coach TJ Giel had been in O’shen Cazimero’s ear since his freshman season about branching out to a new sport. Giel succeeded where some of the school’s football coaches hadn’t, because the Cowboys’ basketball star is giving it a shot during his last hurrah in high school.
Leaping ability, which Cazimero has to spare, comes in handy at outside hitter.
“He’s so athletic, right, he can really adapt to the sport,” Giel said. “Going through the year and the way he’s progressed from the start of the season until now, you can see tremendous growth in him.”
“His leadership, too, on the court, that helps a lot of with his teammates.”
Cazimero brought Koby Agbayani along with him to the volleyball court, and each found a familiar face when they arrived: middle blocker La‘akea Kauka. Unlike Cazimero – “an athlete learning the game,” Giel said – Kauka, all-BIIF in basketball, has been with Giel since his freshman season and is the team’s No. 1 hitting option at middle blocker.
The Cowboys (2-5) swept Honokaa 26-24, 25-13, 25-15 on Friday night in Kapaau to bolster their playoff hopes. The Dragons (1-5) need a win Tuesday at Hawaii Prep to force a play-in match with Kohala. A loss gives the Cowboys the final spot in the six-team BIIF Division II playoffs.
And about that 2-5 mark – it’d look a lot better if Kohala wasn’t 0-3 in five-set matches, losing on the road at Pahoa (15-13 in Game 5), Christian Liberty (15-8) and HPA (15-10).
“Just haven’t been able to finish and push it through,” Giel said.
The 1991 Kohala alum was a man with a plan for the program three years ago, building for the future by moving Kona Ledward down to junior varsity in 2020 so he could work on being a setter. The work didn’t last long.
“Lo and behold, the pandemic happened, and all of these players are seniors,” Giel said. “I’m senior stacked. I have 10 seniors. (Next year), it’s going back to square one and rebuilding.”
First, Kohala hopes to make some noise this season.
Ledward is back at outside hitter and is team captain, senior Jace Hook is another experienced option on the outside and Agbayani’s soft hands allow Giel to run a two-setter system alongside Neighton Bell.
“We just want to keep this energy that we’ve got, because you can see the players are hungry and they want to make the playoffs,” Giel said. “It really shows on the court that they are determined. We just have to keep that energy moving into playoffs.”
Playoff race
Konawaena (6-0) clinched the outright regular season title and an automatic berth in the HHSAA tournament Friday night with a 25-21, 25-10, 25-19 home victory against Hawaii Prep. The senior trio of Tevita Lavaka, Aidan Allred and Exon Pimentero combined for 23 kills, paced by Lavaka’s 12.
Pahoa (5-2) also will receive a bye into the semifinals.
Christian Liberty (4-2) can claim the third seed with a win Wednesday at Konawaena, but a Canefire loss would bump Ka‘u (4-3) to No. 3 – which will host either Kohala or Honokaa in the first round. HPA (3-3) will be the fifth seed and open at either the Canefire or Trojans.
Division I
W-L
Kamehameha 7-0
Waiakea 5-2
Hilo 4-3
Keaau 2-6
Kealakehe 0-7
Division II
Konawaena 6-0
Pahoa 5-2
Christian Liberty 4-2
Ka’u 4-3
Hawaii Prep 3-3
Kohala 2-5
Honokaa 1-5
Kanu o ka Aina 1-6
