Kamehameha’s Elijah Dinkel puts in time as a student of the game by watching soccer every day. If not full matches, Dinkel watches highlights, from high school and college on up to the top pro leagues.
No amount of film study could’ve prepared him for the rejection that turned dejection after his penalty kick was blocked during the Warriors’ shootout at the HHSAA Division II championship match in March.
There was a moment of disbelief, then, head down, the strong-legged Dinkel walked back to his teammates, figuring he’d cost them the title.
“They impressed me,” Dinkel said. “Usually, I score at the end to help my team out, but they told me, “We got you, we got you.”
There is symmetry here, because Dinkel, a junior midfielder, had their backs every step of the way up to that point. The Warriors went on to beat Seabury Hall for their second state title, but even before they made the trip to Oahu, Dinkel impressed league coaches enough to be selected BIIF Division II players of the year.
“Very blessed,” he said. “I put in a lot of work and I feel like it paid off for the first time in a long time.
“I want thank God. I put everything on him.”
BIIF champion Hawaii Prep put seven players on first-team all-league list, led by senior Aidan Santos and his 23 goals. Santos was joined by teammates Mason Hunt, Kaisei Mochizuki, Tau Khabele, Jordon Hanano, Dominick DiDonato and Edoardo Greco. The Kamehameha contingent also included Lucas Kay Wong and Taylor Eckart. Kaelele Fernandez represented Makua Lani, Fatuaiga Fuga made the team from Parker and goalkeeper Timothy Huerta was honored from Konawaena.
Dinkel probably can’t take credit for his strong left leg, which also makes a him valuable member of Kamehameha’s football team as a place-kicker.
“My (younger) brother has a strong leg, too,” he said. “It might be genetic.”
Dinkel can take credit for his strong mental makeup. He’s just different, Gene Okamura, the league’s coach of the year, said.
“His mentality in training is fantastic,” the Kamehameha/UH-Hilo women’s soccer coach said. “He’s always training to his highest ability, which isn’t seen a lot of the time from players. During matches, he elevates it to another level.
“Especially big matches.”
Forget about that unsuccessful PK – Dinkel delivered time and again in crucial situations.
He scored 19 goals in 15 matches, and that doesn’t count his bending corner kick against Seabury that was recorded as a own goal, Kamehameha’s only score in regulation. Kamehameha avoided PKs in the state semifinal on Dinkel’s penalty kick in double overtime, and he scored for the Warriors on a PK in a 2-1 loss to HPA in the BIIF title game. In Kamehameha’s final regular season match, Dinkel tallied both his team’s goals as the Warriors earned home-field advantage in the BIIF semifinals. One of his most picturesque goals came early in the season at HPA. With the final seconds ticking down, Dinkel tracked a long direct kick and one-timed into the net to give his team a draw.
“I just like to take control of the ball, take control of the field and be a leader on the field,” he said. “I just like competition. Tough moments.”
He has a tough decision ahead, and that’s a good thing, because Dinkel has options.
He’s been playing soccer since he was 5, first with AYSO then with Rush and Okamura, who has no doubts Dinkel is capable of playing Division I college soccer if he so chooses.
“He’s one of the most complete players on the island and the state,” the coach said.
Dinkel also has aspirations on the football field. His career long field goal in a game is in the 45-yard range, but he said he’s hit from 60 in practice. He lined up for a 55-yarder in a game last season, but there was a problem with the snap.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do yet,” he said. “It’s sad, because soccer’s my complete passion, but I also like to lift and be healthy, and I feel like I can do that in football.”
He has time to make a decision and myriad big seniors kicks ahead of him. If he has to lobby his coaches to let him attempt 50-yarders, he will. He doesn’t have to be persuasive with his soccer coaches. One missed penalty kick doesn’t diminish that he’s a player Kamehameha can count on.
“I’m going to keep working,” he said. “I don’t think I’m going to slow down.”
All-BIIF soccer, Division II boys
Player of the Year: Elijah Dinkel, junior, Kamehameha
Coach of the Year: Gene Okamura, Kamehameha
First team
Mason Hunt HPA 12 Forward
Aidan Santos HPA 12 Forward
Lucas Kay Wong Kamehameha 10 Forward
Kaelele Fernandez Makua Lani 12 Forward
Kaisei Mochizuki HPA 12 Midfield
Tau Khabele HPA 11 Midfield
Elijah Dinkel Kamehameha 11 Midfield
Fatuaiga Fuga Parker 10 Midfield
Jordon Hanano HPA 12 Defender
Dominick DiDonato HPA 12 Defender
Edoardo Greco HPA 12 Defender
Taylor Eckart Kamehameha 12 Defender
Timothy Huerta Konawaena 12 Goalkeeper
Second team
Poikeao Roback Kamehameha 11 Forward
Everett Gordon Parker 12 Forward
Aukele Paikuli-Campbell Makua Lani 9 Forward
William Henderson Kamehameha 9 Midfield
Everton Kuamoo Kamehameha 9 Midfield
Kena Craven HPA 9 Midfield
Nuuhiwa Beatty Makua Lani 12 Midfield
Chase Lurbiecki Makua Lani 12 Midfield
Tim Costales CLA 12 Midfield
Havelu Haunga Kamehameha 12 Defender
Ben Kubo HPA 12 Defender
Kalae Mills Makua Lani 12 Defender
Kailele Paikuli-Campbell Makua Lani 12 Defender
Jerry Becker CLA 12 Defender
Ethan Seo-Sandoval Honokaa 12 Goalkeeper
Honorable mention
Christian Liberty: Seth Glenn, sophomore, forward; Makala Hyashida, sophomore, midfield
HPA: Nate Lawton, junior, forward
Honokaa: Keanakolu Case, sophomore, forward; Carolee Hanks, senior, midfield; Shevon Morell-Logaet, senior, midfield; Reece Gleason, senior, defender; Daniel Castaneda-Petrowski, junior, defender; Zachary Juan, senior, midfield
Kamehameha: Jacob Aiona, freshman, goalkeeper
Makua Lani: Ezekial Imai, freshman, defender
