Workhorse Warrior

By KEVIN JAKAHI

Tribune-Herald sports writer

Evan Enriques was Kamehameha’s backbone, carrying the offense on his shoulders, scoring 40 percent of his team’s points, and once again putting up spectacular numbers.

The Big Island Interscholastic Federation season finished a month ago, capping a junior year filled with accolades for Enriques, who was efficient on the volleyball court is so many ways.

The 6-foot-1 outside hitter averaged nearly seven kills per set, clobbering balls at a .341 percentage, a high rate of production despite constant double blocks. He was equally effective on defense, averaging three digs per set.

Enriques was named the BIIF Division I Player the Year, in a vote by the league’s coaches, repeating for the top honor, and landing on the first team for the third time.

“Getting player of the year is a pretty big accomplishment,” he said. “It tells me I’m on the right track where I want to be. It’s a reflection of our team. A lot of people say Kamehameha is a one-man team, but everybody plays their roles and contributes to the victory.

“It means a lot to me. Next year, I’ve got to keep pushing harder.”

Kamehameha senior middle blocker Kaipo Woolsey (2.1 kills per set, .333 hitting) also made the first team, along with Waiakea senior setter Mano Thomson and junior outside hitter Mamane Namahoe, who’s a repeat selection; he was on the second team as a freshman.

Kealakehe senior outside hitter Taylor Dorr and Hilo senior outside hitters Makoa Tandal and Kennison Rowe round out the first team.

Tandal and Rowe were the one-two punch powering Hilo’s upset bid against Waiakea in the BIIF semifinals, a marathon that lasted five sets. Tandal and Rowe finished with 20 and 17 kills, respectively, not quite enough offense to outlast Waiakea’s 15-12 output in the last game.

Enriques knows the feeling of falling short. But at least his team advanced to the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division I state tournament for the eighth straight season. Waiakea’s run stands at 17 years in a row.

His Warriors finished runner-up to Waiakea for the BIIF title. They also lost in three sets to Punahou in the state quarterfinals, despite a match-high 16 kills from Enriques. The Buffanblu’s better balance, depth and firepower won out, again.

Last year, Punahou used that same hammer and defeated Kamehameha in five sets for the state championship, despite a workhorse effort from Enriques, who pounded 42 kills and scrambled for 12 digs.

A year later, Kamehameha was in the fifth-place match. At least, its victory carried a lot of significance. It was against old rival Waiakea.

Enriques and Namahoe put on a back-and-forth highlight show. Enriques knocked down 17 kills, had five digs and a block. Namahoe drilled 18 kills, got eight digs and recorded two blocks. Enriques made the All-Tournament team. Namahoe missed out.

However, both were recognized last Sunday when they were voted to the Star-Advertiser’s Top 15 All-State team. The All-BIIF teams were released on Tuesday.

Kamehameha coach Guy Enriques doesn’t only take a father’s pride in his son’s second top honor, but also a big-picture perspective on the league and state recognition.

“It’s more than what he does during the season. It’s a long process. What happens during the season is a culmination of the months working during the offseason, summer camps, Hi-Performance clinics, the national championships he’s won,” the Kamehameha coach said. “He’s a five-time national champion, and he’s been selected to the USA Junior National team that’s going to Mexico for the World Championships this summer.

“The second point is a lot has to do with team numbers. The awards are only a reflection of the rest of the team. The team had a lot to do with it. We lost a lot of experience from last year (four starters). It’s probably the youngest team we’ve ever had. I thought we did pretty dang good for the youth we had.”

Evan Enriques not only had to carry youth, often displayed when the ball-control was wobbly leading to awkward swings, but he also dealt with nagging injuries. When the Warriors played at Kamehameha-Kapalama’s midseason tourney on Oahu, he sprained both wrists and injured his shoulder.

When opponents served, he couldn’t receive the ball with his hands, robbing the Warriors of their best passer, who couldn’t cover much ground. Enriques also couldn’t swing hard. Even worse, he couldn’t snap his wrist to hit his cut shot, eliminating half of his target area.

However, rest is the best remedy before he heads off to Colorado Springs to train with the junior national team, an experience that is part of the long process that will make him better.

In fact, the Kamehameha coach expects everyone will get better, including his sophomore son Emmett, who averaged 2 kills and 2 digs per set and received honorable mention. Also next season, the team’s ball-handling immediately improves with the addition of freshmen twin brothers Addison and Avery Enriques.

Emmett will be on a 16s junior national club team, featuring several Warriors his dad/coach is counting on, including outside hitter Isaiah Laeha and middle blocker Hanale Lee Loy. The twins will be on the 14s age-group team.

“This is where you win those titles, if you want it. It’s what you do in the offseason that makes your season,” Guy Enriques said.