HPU sweeps through weekend set with Chaminade, cruise into PacWest Tournament

HPU sweeps through weekend set with Chaminade, cruise into PacWest Tournament

Apr 29, 2024

HPU sweeps through weekend set with Chaminade, cruise into PacWest Tournament

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED APR 28, 2024

HONOLULU – Things went swimmingly for one team at the Les last weekend. 

Facing off with O’ahu-rival Chaminade (15-33) for a four-game series and the Swords’ senior celebration, the Hawai’i Pacific University Sharks needed four wins to surpass the 30-win mark – a threshold the program had not broken since the 2016 season. After a pair of wins on Saturday, Hawai’i Pacific had clinched a top-2 seed heading into the PacWest Tournament as the Sharks finally returned to postseason play for the first time since 2010. 

Still, Dane Fujinaka had his squad’s eyes on higher prizes with hopes at making the program a near shoe-in for a selection to the 2024 NCAA Tournament, regardless of a PacWest Championships title or not. A huge step towards making an NCAA Tournament-worthy resume: win 30-plus games. 

With victories of 7-6 and 9-3 over Chaminade on Sunday, the Sharks’ regular-season goal was reached as Fujinaka’s team pushed its record to 30-20 overall, going 17-15 during PacWest competition for the second-best finish among tournament-eligible programs. In a year that has been up-and-down to the max, HPU is back on the upswing at the perfect time. 

“We put it together for all four games [versus Chaminade],” said the Sharks’ head coach after his team’s 9-3 victory Sunday night. “I’m pleased with the way we’ve played, but it’s obviously great having [the momentum of a six-game win streak] going into the tournament that we’re going to play in. [There are] four really good teams where anybody can beat everybody, so we’ve got to be ready to go.” 

GAME 1: Hawai’i Pacific 7, Chaminade 6 

Xaiver Stoker got the start for the Silverswords as Shea Blanchard took the mound for the Sharks in Sunday’s first game. 

Stoker quickly became acquainted with a streaky HPU lineup as the Sharks pushed across a pair of runs in the 1st inning with a 2-out RBI ground-rule double from right fielder Noah Hata. The Swords scratched a run across in the bottom of the frame to cut the lead in half, 2-1. 

HPU worked quickly to reclaim the multi-run advantage as Haydon Huff led off the inning with a single, was pushed over to second on a sacrifice bunt and came around to score on a Nicholas Jio RBI single to left field. The Sharks extended their lead in the top of the 3rd as Hata and Huff scored on a base-hit up the middle by Elijah Igawa to make it 5-1 while Blanchard continued to spin a gem on the mound with three consecutive scoreless frames after his one-run opening inning. 

Chaminade began to get to Blanchard once again in the bottom of the 5th, putting the first two batters on with a walk and a well-struck single before Owen Schnaible came on in relief for the right-handed starter. The call to the bullpen didn’t help matters much as Schnaible hit the first batter he faced before a fielder’s choice, E-6 allowed a pair Swords to score and cut the HPU lead down in half after five innings of play, 5-3. 

CUH freshman Jackson Peper made it a whole new ballgame in the bottom of the 6th, drilling an RBI double to left field off of HPU’s Mac Leisher that allowed a pair of Silverswords to score to tie the game at 5-all after six innings. 

Again, Hawai’i Pacific calmly responded as shortstop TJ Smith led off the top of the 7th with a single before coming around to score the go-ahead run when a Chase Taylor single skipped by the Chaminade left fielder all the way to the fence, allowing Taylor to advance to third himself. He would come in to score moments later as Hata hit an RBI sacrifice fly to right field to give the Sharks a 7-5 lead. 

Chaminade would make one final push as freshman Joey DeCoeur blasted his first career homerun over the fence at Les Murakami Stadium to bring the Swords within a run in the 8th, but HPU closer Ryan Inouye slammed the door shut in the bottom of the 9th with his 13th save of the year, a new single-season program record for the Sharks. 

“Hats off to [Chaminade] and the coaching staff,” Fujinaka said of the Silverswords. “Chad [Konishi] has put together a really good team and a really good young core group. [I think] they’re going to be really competitive from here on out, they were this year even being their first year.” 

GAME 2: Hawai’i Pacific 9, Chaminade 3 

The night’s second contest started slower for the Sharks, being retired in order as Chaminade senior and Saint Louis alum JT Navyac struck out the side in his final appearance on a college mound. 

It would be the Silverswords striking first in the bottom of the 2nd as fellow Chaminade senior Haruki Kitazaki singled to center, moving Navyac to second base while scoring Ryan Ruch. Freshman Jaren Baris brought Navyac home a couple batters later with a single down the right field line, making it a 2-0 advantage for the Swords to open Senior Night. 

Hawai’i Pacific struck back in a big way in the top of the 3rd, tallying five runs while recording just one out take control of the game. Infielder Caleb Millikan batted twice in the inning, leading things off with a single before grounding out to shortstop for the final out. 

The lead ballooned to 9-2 in the 5th when the Sharks’ bats came alive again. Chase Taylor doubled home Skylar Agnew to re-start the scoring before coming around to score himself on a 2-out single from Frankie Peralez. After Peralez stole second, Millikan snuck a ball fair down the right field line for an RBI triple and scored HPU’s final run the very next batter as Jio delivered another RBI double. 

Shea Lake enjoyed a sparkling night on the bump in game two for the Sharks, spinning five strong innings with just four hits allowed, striking out three while only allowing a singular earned run and two runs total in the win. He gave way to Owen Schnaible, who gave up a run in just 0.1 innings pitched in the sixth as Chaminade’s Navyac had a run-scoring single poke through the middle of the infield. 

After Vicente Molina calmed things down for HPU in the bottom of the 6th to maintain a 9-3 lead, Jeremy Kahle locked it down to finish the Sharks’ 30th win of the year with a pair of strikeouts in the 7th to send Chaminade packing into the offseason. 

“It’s huge,” Fujinaka said of HPU clinching 30 wins on the year. “From Day 1 [this season], our goal was to win at least 30 games and we thought that would put us in a spot to make the tournament and have a chance at an at-large bid.” 

WHAT NEXT? 

Hawai’i Pacific now awaits the PacWest Championship tournament, which takes place this season at Azusa Pacific’s home field in California. The Sharks will face off against Concordia-Irvine in the opening round of the double-elimination, no-byes tournament. HPU fell in the first of four games against CUI back on April 12, dropping a one-run decision 4-3 before sweeping through the following three contests in Irvine, California with three wins by outscoring the Golden Eagles over those games, 31-11. 

“Offensively, [when] we put the ball in play, we play small ball, we run a lot of action,” Fujinaka said when asked about what a fully-clicking HPU team looks like. “[When we are] successful on the mound, we’re able to get ahead and throw our pitches … and on defense, we take care of the ball. I think when we’re doing those three things, it’s really hard to beat us.” 

CUI’s Jake Covey spun 7.2 innings of 2-run ball against the Sharks in that April 12 loss, striking out eight HPU batters while working around consistent traffic on the basepaths. According to Fujinaka, the Sharks are expecting to see Covey once again to open the tournament. For HPU, it’s a chance at redemption in the program’s first appearance in the two-year history of the conference tournament. 

The tournament’s top seed is three-time defending regular season PacWest champions Point Loma, who has spent a majority of the season in the national rankings. Tournament hosts Azusa Pacific round out the top four teams in the conference. 

With eyes on a potential postseason berth, Fujinaka and HPU have eyes on locking in a spot with the program’s first PacWest title in baseball since 2010. To do so, a gauntlet of talented teams awaits them. The Sharks went a combined 7-5 in the three respective series against the other tournament qualifiers, sweeping APU while being swept by PLNU. 

HPU bids “aloha” to Howard A. Okita Field, Ching in bittersweet day

HPU bids “aloha” to Howard A. Okita Field, Ching in bittersweet day

Apr 27, 2024

HPU softball poses together with various depictions of senior Hoku Ching after Senior Day & the final competition at Howard A. Okita Field was called off due to inclement weather. | Photo Credit: Ku’ulei Agbayani, HSRN

HPU bids “aloha” to Howard A. Okita Field, Ching in bittersweet day

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED APR 28, 2024

KĀNE’OHE — How can you possibly say goodbye to more than 30 years’ worth of history correctly? Is there a way? 

Saturday marked a poignant, emotional day for Hawai’i Pacific University’s softball team – the final day that the historic Howard A. Okita Field (which opened in 1993) would serve as the home diamond for the Sharks’ softball program as the team prepared to host Chaminade for Senior Day. 

“It’s a bittersweet moment to walk away from the place that we are all so very fortunate to have played on,” HPU head coach Jarnett “Shorty” Lono said after the games were called off due to inclement weather. “We would have loved to have seen competition here … to put the final nail in the coffin, turn the page and move on in the chapters I think, yeah, it’s a bittersweet moment for all of us.” 

Among the memories “Shorty” recollected were the fallen tree fiasco of 2023 and the “sponging” of the field that honored Coach Howard Okita in a sense that she said just provided another representation of the character of a team that has taken no excuse and worked through multiple years of poor circumstances out of their own control. 

The Silverswords were a perfect final opponent for HPU’s finale from the old Hawaii Loa campus field that served as the canvas for years of memories in Sharks’ lore. Chaminade used the field as a home base for two seasons as well, so Saturday gave both Oahu programs an opportunity to say goodbye. 

“Chaminade was fortunate enough to call this place home two years in a row as well, so it meant something to those girls as well,” Lono shared, continuing the emphasis on the field’s meaning to softball in the islands. 

The cancellation of the game did not stop the Sharks from honoring their lone senior in Hoku Ching, a four-year local product from the OIA’s Roosevelt Rough Riders, with a celebration for her impactful career in black, blue and white. 

“We want to see the public-school kids who are from Hawai’i excel and exceed at the next level,” Lono said of her fellow Roosevelt alum. “[Hoku] is a great story. Out of high school, she wasn’t a kid that any school was going to pick up, so she basically gave up on playing softball. We heard she was on campus, we invited her [to tryout], she came and four years later she walks away from having an amazing experience as an HPU Shark.” 

Ching became a mainstay in the HPU lineup since her arrival in 2021, appearing in 156 games across four seasons for the Sharks – including 137 starts in the 138 games HPU has played over the past three years – while tallying 81 hits and providing elite defense in center field. She is finishing a degree in biology. 

While the Sharks’ record was below par in results this season, the program’s culture and team identity never shattered through trying times.  

“To see what the record is on paper doesn’t fulfill what we have actually done. Yes, scholarships, budgets, all of those things continue to go on the decline but still, you’ve got to sport a team of athletes who are going to compete. These girls, they came in every day, they worked their butts off. They love the system, they love the culture, they love the program, and they gave it all they could. [There are] a few games here or there that I thought we should have won, but that’s neither here nor there now,” Lono genuinely expressed in support of her team’s efforts this year.  

Nine losses came by one run for HPU, who returns a majority of the roster looking to return the program to great heights. Led by Pearl City duo Tiari Hernandez and Jewel Larson, six juniors will step into the role of high place on the totem pole as seniors while various underclassmen will be looked upon for some rapid development. 

“We’ve got a great, solid core coming back next year. It’s going to be fun,” Lono shared. “Just the excitement of this junior class, they’re looking forward to get us back to the prominence of [being] the PacWest leader.”  

Just as always, Lono finished the day honoring those who came before in the softball community that continue to support to this day and helped pave the way. 

“We love you; we thank you,” the longtime Sharks’ figure said, voicing her appreciation. “Without you folks [and] your support all these years – the families, an ohana and all the things that we stand for, without ANY of you folks, [playing] wouldn’t be possible for this team and teams that are going to come out. It really is a family affair, we appreciate everybody… Mahalo.” 

HPU Baseball on the cusp of first postseason appearance since 2010 with series win over Concordia

HPU Baseball on the cusp of first postseason appearance since 2010 with series win over Concordia

Apr 16, 2024

HPU Baseball on the cusp of first postseason appearance since 2010 with series win over Concordia

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED APRIL 16, 2024

The tide is starting to turn for the Hawai’i Pacific baseball team.

The Sharks picked up a key series victory over Concordia University Irvine over the weekend to even their PacWest conference record at 14-14 with just four games left in league play before the postseason.

HPU dropped the first game against the Eagles, 4-3, before rattling off three decisive victories in a row to help move the Sharks into fourth place in the conference — a critical spot to be in as the top four teams will play in the PacWest postseason tournament, which uses a double-elimination format with no byes. 

The Sharks are trying for their first postseason appearance since 2010 and will have control of their own destiny with a road trip at Hawai’i Hilo this weekend and a crosstown matchup against Chaminade the following week.

“It was definitely a good weekend,” said HPU third-year coach Dane Fujinaka. “We needed to win that series, definitely a big series and I think it was really good to see different parts of our team click and be able to ride that momentum because historically we haven’t played good on the road. It seems like we’re getting the hang of it and starting to get some success on the road. Obviously going to Hilo we need to continue that and continue to play good baseball.”

The first win for HPU in the series came courtesy of the bat of sophomore outfielder Noah Hata, who hit a go-ahead grand slam in the top of the eighth in an 8-4 victory.

“Noah had a really good at bat and got a hold of one. That was the game right there. We definitely needed that,” said Fujinaka. “That was the turning point of our season, that hit because we were struggling to put together some runs.”

Hata’s game-winning blast also came after Concordia intentionally walked Skylar Agnew to get to him.

“I can’t believe they did that because statistically, Noah is as good as Agnew,” said Fujinaka. “It was a good matchup for him. He had a really good at bat, super clutch.”

For his efforts, Hata was named the PacWest Player of the Week.

“He’s the hardest worker on the field, plays hard all the time and just wants it,” Fujinaka said. “He’s a guy that everybody trusts because of the preparation that he does. He’s a great kid, a great teammate. Everybody loves him. I think everybody was super stoked when he pulled through there. He’s a guy that everybody wanted to see pull through and he deserved it.”

Game three was a dominant win in which HPU scored 14 runs on 20 hits in a 14-7 victory. The Sharks also got it done against Concordia’s Riley O’Sullivan, who was tabbed as the PacWest Preseason Pitcher of the Year. HPU got eight hits on Sullivan and chased him after 5 and 2/3 innings of work and scored 13 total runs in the final five innings of play.

“We knew he was their guy and we got to be ready to go,” said Fujinaka. “We actually hit him around pretty good, just couldn’t get that two-out knock. I just knew as long as we were good on the mound, we were going to get at him at some point so we did. Then finally we got a couple of big hits and then from there it took off. We built the momentum then we put them away. That was huge.”

Key contributors at the plate in the game three victory include Kota Suzuki, who batted 4-for-4 with three runs scored, TJ Smith with a team-high four RBIs and designated hitter Cooper Donlin with four hits in extended playing time.

While the bats came alive in game three, game No. 4 was the Shea Lake show.

The sophomore pitcher pitched a complete game in a 9-0 shutout performance to close out the series. Lake (4-2) tallied eight strikeouts in the win and was also selected as the PacWest Pitcher of the Week for his efforts. 

Officially Lake’s performance went down as a three-hitter, but Fujinaka thought those hits should have gone in the books as errors.

“That’s the best pitching performance we had all year, it should have been a no-hitter,” said Fujinaka. “It was three infield hits that they gave that were clear errors. That’s how the show goes when you’re the away team.”

The Sharks also backed Lake’s gem up with runs scored in five of seven innings played.

“We were kind of able to use our entire offense to score,” Fujinaka said. “Not just hitting, we ran, we bunted, we hit-and-run, all that type of stuff I think really attributed to the total runs scored.”

The three consecutive victories also came with two-time All-PacWest selection Nicholas Jio back in his usual leadoff spot. HPU was using power hitter Chase Taylor in the leadoff spot for a number of games previously before making the switch before game two.

Fujinaka said Jio has probably been the Sharks’ “hottest hitter the past couple of weeks.

“He’s back to his old self and in this past weekend, he’s back to the old All-Conference Jio.”

While in-state foes UH-Hilo (10-20) and Chaminade (8-20) are at the bottom of the conference standings, Fujinaka is not looking past the Sharks’ upcoming opponents.

“Chaminade is competitive, I don’t care what anybody says, they know how to play the game,” said Fujinaka. “(Coach) Chad (Konishi) is a really good coach. They’re coached well and they know how to play their game. It’s college baseball. You don’t show up and play your game, you don’t bring your ‘A’ game, you’re going to lose. By no means are they auto wins cause they’re not.

“Going to Hilo is a whole different ball game. That’s a tough place to win. I think I got one win there in three years. We’re certainly not out of the woods yet, we got to take care of business.”

Because conference leader Westmont (20-3-1) is not eligible for postseason play in its first year of NCAA membership, HPU just needs to finish among the top five teams in terms of winning percentage to reach the postseason. Point Loma has essentially clinched its spot with a 18-5-1 conference record, so the Sharks are trying to fend off the likes of Azusa Pacific (13-10), Concordia (11-13) and Fresno Pacific (10-14) for their spot.

“I’m excited,” said Fujinaka. “The guys are excited for the last few weeks of the season. The biggest thing for them that I’m going to tell them is to take care of one game at a time and build off of it. I don’t think we can look too far ahead about it right now. We just have to take care of what’s in front of us.”

Sharks softball secures first PacWest series victory of the season

Sharks softball secures first PacWest series victory of the season

Apr 4, 2024

Sharks softball secures first PacWest series victory of the season

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED APRIL 4, 2024

KANEOHE — Thing are starting to turn around for the Hawai’i Pacific softball team.

After recording back-to-back wins over Academy of Art on a Tuesday double-header, the Sharks secured their first PacWest series victory of the year when they defeated the Urban Knights by a score of 8-2 in the first game at Howard A. Okita Field Wednesday afternoon.

The six-run win was the largest margin of victory of the season by HPU (7-17 overall, 3-9 conference).

The Sharks broke open the game with a five-run rally in the bottom of the third that was highlighted by Tiari Hernandez’s first home run of the year. Her blast to left field went 200 yards and bounced off the top of the fence to give HPU a commanding 7-2 lead.

Pitcher Gianna Kerschbaum (2-5) picked up the complete game victory while throwing three strikeouts and scattering four hits across seven innings.

The Urban Knights (8-28, 4-18) snapped a 22-game losing streak in game two with a 5-3 win over the Sharks, but the home team gave the visitors everything they could handle in an extra-inning game that went nine frames.

HPU faced a two-run deficit for majority of the game until the sixth inning when Kerschbaum drove in Hoku Ching and Jewel Larson to tie the game at 3.

The Sharks will now go on the road in a 14-game road trip with stops in California and Hilo before wrapping regular season play against Chaminade on April 27 in the program’s final games in Kaneohe.

GAME ONE

GAME TWO

Hawai’i baseball a step ahead of HPU in 10-1 non-conference bounce back victory

Hawai’i baseball a step ahead of HPU in 10-1 non-conference bounce back victory

Apr 3, 2024

Hawai’i baseball a step ahead of HPU in 10-1 non-conference bounce back victory

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED APRIL 2, 2024

HONOLULU — One team got back in the win column.

The other gained an invaluable experience that should pay dividends in the long run.

The University of Hawai’i baseball team bested visiting Hawai’i Pacific, 10-1, in a non-conference matchup at Les Murakami Stadium on a windy and wet Tuesday night.

The Rainbow Warriors got a much-needed win after getting swept by UC-Irvine last weekend to improve to 16-10 before a seven-game road trip over the next two weeks.

“We never lost confidence in our guys, we just knew that our time was coming,” said Jake Tsukada, who hit a solo home run to give the ‘Bows a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth.

Hawai’i tallied 15 total hits in the win and used nine different pitchers to fuel its victory. Leadoff hitter Jordan Donahue and Tsukada had three hits apiece in the victory. Tsukada was also solid all-around as the designated hitter with three RBIs and three runs scored.

The Sharks (19-16) — who plays collegiately on the Division II level — had their opportunities to limit the ‘Bows, but Hawai’i was a step ahead on the base paths.

Donahue led off the bottom of the first inning with a single after beating the throw to first by HPU starting pitcher Jordan Otjen. After Tsukada’s first hit of the night, Matthew Miura loaded the bases on a bunt single after getting confirmation that he beat the throw by the replay officials. This led to a 2-0 Hawai’i lead after the first inning.

Later in the sixth inning the Sharks tried to get a runner out at home after Tsukada grounded into a fielder’s choice at second base, but Elijah Ickes was able to beat the throw to make it a 6-1 game. Hawai’i scored another run in the inning after HPU could not turn the double play in time to negate the score.

“Speed kills. It comes to the ballpark everyday,” said Hawai’i coach Rich Hill.

The Hawai’i pitching staff also combined for eight strikeouts as the ‘Bows stranded 12 HPU runners on the base paths.

“I thought we came ready to go. Couple of hits in the first inning didn’t go our way, just bang bang plays that ultimately their speed kinda took over there,” said HPU coach Dane Fujinaka.

“Our pitchers did a good job of keeping us in the game. Offensively we left a lot of guys on base but had really good at bats with two outs early in the game, just couldn’t get those hits to fall. I think those hits fall, it’s a little bit different ball game in the middle of that game there, but I’m proud of our guys. I thought we competed well today.”

The Sharks’ lone run came on a squeeze bunt by Noah Hata to score Skylar Agnew in the top of the fourth to make the score 4-1. Agnew reached in the inning with a double, the only HPU hit of the game that went for extra bases.

Even though his squad took the loss, Fujinaka knows that playing an opponent on a higher tier will help his team get better.

“They forced us to make quality pitches with two strikes, faced us to make quality pitches with guys on base. Ultimately, that’s the difference. They were able to capitalize on those moments,” said Fujinaka.

“We obviously need to be better at that and I truly think that we got better all around as a baseball club tonight. You’re going to do that playing good teams like the University of Hawai’i. They’re solid all around defensively, pitching, offensively. They’re going to make you earn everything. I love the way we competed tonight and I think we definitely got better.”

It was the first of three games against the Division II squads in the state for the ‘Bows. They will take on Chaminade on April 16 and Hawai’i-Hilo on April 30. Hill said the game against the Sharks was also beneficial for his squad before its road series against conference foe UC-Davis.

“These teams are very scary. They’ve got some athleticism,” said Hill. “I really like their lineup, one through nine. You never know about the pitching mid week, who’s doing what, who they’re saving, etc., but it’s a very well-coached team. This is super beneficiary for us to play a quality team before an important Big West series.”

Harrison Bodendorf, one of six left-handed pitchers that saw mound time for Hawai’i, was credited for his first win of the season. Otjen (2-3) took the loss for the Sharks.

Cory Ronan was the most effective pitcher for the ‘Bows with a scintillating second inning when he retired the side with just eight pitches.

“I like what Cory Ronen did,” said Hill. “He’s really been biding his time and working extremely hard.”

Hawai’i also needed to reshuffle the lineup a bit with designated hitter Austin Machado out with an illness. This saw Tsukada take the DH role while the rest of the order moved up a notch with Machado out. Ben Ziegler-Namoa was the cleanup hitter against HPU and drove in the first run of the game.

Kyson Donahue was also solid with two hits and an RBI in the heart of the order while Jake Quandt made the most of his opportunities starting in right field with a triple and a double in his first two at bats.

“I like Ben in that four-hole incase he leads off. He’s gotten so many walks, his on base percentage is so good, you know he’s going to put his bat on the ball,” said Hill.

“Kyson has really started to emerge as well so you want him in that RBI situation. Quandt was an emergency guy. We called that hit-and-run early in the game. I just wanted him to swing the bat. When he’s aggressive he’s much better.”

Mac Leisher logged the most innings pitched for the Sharks with three.

Chase Taylor and Kota Suzuki each had two hits to lead HPU in the loss.

The Sharks will return back to the Les Murakami on Sunday against UH-Hilo for a PacWest double-header. The first matchup is slated for 3:00 p.m.

“Honestly this was huge, being able to play here and get used to the park before conference play starts up again on Sunday against Hilo,” said Fujinaka.

“As you can see, the wind was crazy today. That was wild. I don’t remember the wind ever being like that, but it’s huge for our guys to be able to get comfortable at this park, playing on turf with this wind, it was huge. I think our guys got a little bit more comfortable today. Excited to get back after it on Sunday.” 

HPU visits Special Education Center of Hawai’i for March Madness Event

HPU visits Special Education Center of Hawai’i for March Madness Event

Apr 2, 2024

HPU men’s basketball visited the Special Education Center of Hawai’i’s Diamond Head location on Tuesday morning for SECOH’s March Madness event. | Photo Credit: HPU men’s basketball

HPU visits Special Education Center of Hawai’i for March Madness Event

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED APR 2, 2024

HONOLULU – They call it the “Big Dance” for a reason. 

Hawai’i Pacific’s men’s basketball team continued an emphasis on giving back to the local community on Tuesday, visiting the Diamond Head location for the Special Education Center of Hawai’i (SECOH) to help prepare the clients for their “March Madness” event. 

SECOH’s mission, as stated on their website, is to provide personalized services to people with disabilities in the spirit of enriching lives. Working with clients of all ages, HPU had 12 representatives (three coaches, nine players) in attendance for a day full of fun. In honor of the NCAA Tournament for both men and women, SECOH and HPU’s men’s basketball team combined forces for an hour-and-a-half practice session for clients to go through basic basketball skills drills with the team – with some breaks for bonding on the side. 

It was something that clients had been looking forward to ahead of time, says HPU athletic director Debbie Snell – who has a son named Dillon that attends SECOH. Dillon, an avid Sharks fan that could be seen at numerous games inside the Shark Tank this past season, was just one of MANY people excited to work with HPU. 

The team arrived around 9:40 a.m. for the 10 a.m. session, excitedly anxious to get to work giving back to those in local communities in just another way. Despite having offseason workout sessions later in the day around noon, nine players (who didn’t have academic responsibilities as a time conflict) from last year’s squad piled into the Diamond Head location to help prepare those at SECOH for Wednesday’s modified and non-modified scrimmages. Along with head coach Jesse Nakanishi, associate head coach Patrick Frost and assistant coach and lead recruiter Cam Flabel, even soon-to-be graduate Tyrease Terell joined the Sharks in the fray despite his eligibility being used up. 

“The team is amazing and so good with folks from all different backgrounds and levels of ability,” athletic director Debbie Snell said about the men’s basketball program at HPU. “The way they jump right in and make the experience memorable for the participants is truly heart-warming.” 

It wasn’t all hoops, there were times for dance breaks and bonding between SECOH’s clients and the Sharks’ hoopers. 

“Today was an awesome, new experience for our team visiting SECOH and helping their clients with their March Madness event,” Flabel said in a phone interview with HSRN. “It was a great event filled with lots of smiles, laughter and dance moves! We were happy to help come together and make an impact and help make their day. It’s all about perspective and that is something we are reminded about daily.” 

The fun day is just another example of the continuous work that Nakanishi and his program do in the community. During the 2023-24 regular season, Hawai’i Pacific men’s basketball received the runner-up title for the 2024 Division II Award of Excellence while being the winner for the honor from the PacWest conference. Among the events the team participated, planned and put together were Maui Food Drives, basketball clinics to support the rebuild of the island after the Maui wildfires and the first annual “Field Trip Game” in conjunction with the Shark Bite Mentorship programs the team participates in with Noelani Elementary School and Mānoa Elementary School. 

*Note: Photos provided by HPU Men’s Basketball*