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• GIRLS ALL-STATE SOCCER •

KAISER’S
COMEBACK KID

STEVEN ERLER / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER

Kaile Halvorsen completes her journey after a knee injury and a transfer to become the player of the year
By Nick Abramo the Division I state semifi- so when she breaks free down, the best defender in first team for the third
nabramo@staradvertiser.com nal that ended in a 2-1 PK from the defender, there’s the state,” said ‘Iolani straight year, and she

K
loss to Pearl City. She no stopping her.” coach Kristin Masunaga, joins goalkeeper Naomi
aile Halvorsen’s path scored Kaiser’s only goal in In 2015 as a ninth-grader, who was named as coach Takata as Pearl City’s two
to the top of the that one. Halvorsen was chosen to of the year for the second first-team selections. The
heap was circuitous, “Kaile meant a great deal the Star-Advertiser’s sec- straight time. “Under her Chargers’ Sunshine Fon-
but highly reward- to the team,” Cougars first- ond team. She barely leadership, she shut down tes, a junior who was the
ing. year coach Noe Bio said. missed making the second (some of the best for- player of the year in 2016
A senior striker, Hal- “She led by example and al- team as a sophomore and wards). She’s a very smart and made the first team in
vorsen was a tremendous ways rose to the occasion. did not get any votes as a and composed player with 2017, dropped to honor-
talent when she broke in as Her teammates relied on junior. exceptional leadership able mention. She missed
a freshman with Punahou. her leadership and instruc- State Division I cham- qualities. She’s very hum- half the season due to a
A knee injury and a trans- tion when the going got Kristin pion ‘Iolani and runner-up ble and respected by ev- national team commit-
fer later, she settled in to tough in the playoffs. She’s Masunaga: Pearl City are well repre- eryone.” ment, according to coach
become the leading goal the coach on the field, so ‘Iolani sented on the All-State first Sophomore ‘Iolani mid- Frank Baumholtz III.
scorer in her second sea- when she saw that some- Coach of the Year team. Two Raiders sopho- fielders Kelsey Takahashi A goal-scoring and
son with Kaiser this year, thing wasn’t working — mores — forward Mia and Sierra Wheeler also play-making force for ILH
and coaches from around whether it be a bad pass or Watanabe and defender earned top-team honors. champion Kamehameha,
the state have voted her as a poor decision-making sit- the coach) assists. Kelsey Wong — got more “They are both very junior D’Awncey Jones-
the 2018 Honolulu Star-Ad- uation — she would always “She has a genuine love than one vote for player of skilled, have great in- Black easily made it on to
vertiser’s Player of the be the one to speak up and for scoring goals, I mean the year and made the first stincts, and control the the first team, joining soph-
Year. try to get the others to who doesn’t,” the coach team. Watanabe, a repeat middle of the field for us,” omore teammate Tausani
Using her speed and make the adjustment. added, “but when she’s on first-team selection, scored Masunaga said. “Both suf- Tavale, a shut-down full-
nose for scoring, Hal- Without her leadership, we the pitch, she has the natu- four goals in three games fered injuries and we strug- back. Two senior defend-
vorsen was a major force would not have made it as ral ability to always find the in the state tourney, includ- gled when they were ers from OIA champion
in leading the Cougars to far as we did.” back of the net. Her separa- ing the game-winner in a unable to suit up.” Mililani round out the first
new heights, including a Halvorsen finished with tion speed is what makes 1-0 victory over the Char- Daelenn Tokunaga, a team — Karlin Wurlitzer, a
spot in the OIA champion- 31 goals and added 10 (ap- her unique. She’s not only gers in the final. high-scoring forward, was repeat selection, and Jodi
ship game and a climb to proximate, according to quick, but she’s strong too, “Kelsey Wong is, hands chosen to the All-State Lillie.

FIRST TEAM HONORABLE

FORWARDS
Kaile Halvorsen, Kaiser, Sr. MENTION
Daelenn Tokunaga, Pearl City, Sr. Aiea: Phoenix Miranda,
FB, Fr.
D’Awncey Jones-Black, Castle: Ciana Rivera, F, Sr.
Kamehameha, Jr. Hawaii Prep:
Jenna Perry, MF, So.
Mia Watanabe, ‘Iolani, So. Hilo: Miya Clarke, F, Jr.
MIDFIELDERS ‘Iolani: Taylor Arakaki, FB,
Jr.; Musuai Isaia, GK, Jr.
Kelsey Takahashi, ‘Iolani, So. Kailua:
Sierra Wheeler, ‘Iolani, So. Kylee Smith, MF, So.
Kaiser: Shaley Mercado, F,
FULLBACKS Jr.; Taylin Park, MF, Sr.
Karlin Wurlitzer, Mililani, Sr. Kamehameha:
Daelenn D’Awncey Mia Kelsey Sierra Kendal Stovall, GK, Sr.
Jodi Lillie, Mililani, Sr. Tokunaga: Jones-Black: Watanabe: Takahashi: Wheeler: Kamehameha-Maui:
Ilihia Keawekane, F, Sr.
Tausani Tavale, Kamehameha, So. Pearl City Kamehameha ‘Iolani ‘Iolani ‘Iolani
Kelsey Wong, ‘Iolani, So. Forward Forward Forward Midfielder Midfielder Kapaa: Brianna Binder, F,
Sr.; Kaylee Overmyer, MF, Sr.;
GOALKEEPER Senior Junior Sophomore Sophomore Sophomore Talia Washington, MF, So.
Konawaena:
Naomi Takata, Pearl City, Jr. Nalani Wall, MF, Sr.
Le Jardin:
Cheyann Yamashiro, MF, So.

SECOND TEAM Mililani: Gabrielle Hack-

barth, MF, Sr.; Meagan
Tamashiro, MF, So.
FORWARDS Moanalua:
Hevani Haunga, KS-Hawaii, Sr. Kelcie Sumida, MF, Jr.
Pearl City: Piper Collado,
Amber Tadeo-Gilbert, Mililani, So. FB, Sr.; Sunshine Fontes, F,
Emi Higgins, Hawaii Prep, Jr. Jr.; Bree Fuller, FB, Jr.;
Brittny Ihara, MF, Sr.
April Barnes, Kapaa, Sr. Punahou: Emma Gusman,
FB, Sr.; Lauren Mukaigawa,
MIDFIELDERS F, Jr.; Layla Santos, F, Sr.
Jordan Zarate, Hawaii Prep, Sr. Sacred Hearts:
Hunter Malaki, Pearl City, Sr. Christiann Arakawa, MF, Jr.;
Eden Arthur, MF, Jr.;
FULLBACKS Kiley Pazcoguin, FB, Sr.;
Karlee Manding, Waipahu, Sr. Alexis Schmidt, GK, Jr.
Seabury Hall:
Taylor Venenciano, ‘Iolani, Jr. Karlin Jodi Tausani Kelsey Naomi Bella Lallo, F, Jr.;
Alyssa Gabriel, Kaiser, Jr. Wurlitzer: Lillie: Tavale: Wong: Takata: Maile Dougherty F, Jr.;
Kalena Pfaeltzer, MF, Jr.;
Megumi Takushi, Pearl City, Sr. Mililani Mililani Kamehameha ‘Iolani Pearl City Kyra Cambra, MF, Jr.
GOALKEEPER Fullback Fullback Fullback Fullback Goalkeeper Waipahu:
Kaycee Manding, MF, So.
Hailey Asato, Punahou, Sr. Senior Senior Sophomore Sophomore Junior