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By Camille Haluber
TEAMS
VISITOR: COVID-19│HOME: MAUI HIGH SENIOR ATHLETES
COVID-19 has impacted many high school students, especially senior athletes having their last year in high school sports. There have been cancellations for all fall and winter sports due to the precautions needed to be taken for the safety of student athletes. However, Maui High senior athletes managed to get their head in the game even though there may not be established practices.
Kami Echiverri has a passion for soccer and has dedicated three years of playing for Maui High’s Girls Varsity Soccer team. Echiverri has been going to club practices along with working out on the side. Although staying motivated is a challenge for her, she’s excited about being part of a league called HYSA because she gets to play a total of four games. So far, she has played two games that resulted in a win and a tie. Echiverri will be attending Linfield University in McMinnville, Oregon, where she will continue to pursue her goals in her soccer career and life.
Hunter Abilay has dedicated two years of playing for Maui High’s football team as a wide receiver. He also played four years individually for Pop Warner, NFL FLAG, and Maui County PYLON 7on7. Abilay is on the grind every day, having home practices a top priority and pushing through obstacles, like memorizing new playbooks or game plans every week for upcoming games in Pop Warner, NFL FLAG, and Maui County PYLON 7on7. At home, Abilay does 3-cones drills, receiver route runnings, and post workouts, such as lifting weights and cardio. He will be attending the University of Hawaii Maui College and plans to start a high brand business and stock marketing.
Kamalu Reyes has played football for eight years and for Maui High’s football team for four years as a cornerback/DB. He stays in shape by playing for an outside school league on Mondays and Wednesdays. Some challenges he faces are his footwork and trying to improve his route running. His career goal is to enter the Navy as a PACT FN and come out to become a firefighter.
Michael Cruz has been playing football for 8-9 years. Without a team to practice with, he perseveres by working out at home to keep himself in shape. He hopes to attend the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Jordan Kaimana Lapuebla has been spreading Saber Pride through Maui High’s cheerleading team for three years, from freshman to junior year. He goes on daily 2-hour morning runs from 5:30 am to 7:30 am. Lapuebla feels proud to have applied to Johnson & Wales University. He states, “I’m glad to be proud of the Saber Legacy.”
Marcus Handley works hard in maintaining his soccer skills. He faces challenges of not being motivated to stay in shape, hoping for a senior year of soccer. Handley states, “Although not having a soccer season was a bummer, I still stayed in shape by playing pickup games at night at Kalama Park.” Handley has played on Maui High’s Boys soccer for three years and 11 years outside of school. He plans on attending the University of Hawaii Maui College.
Azure Quitevis never quits. She started wrestling around ten years old for the Kihei Maulers and throughout middle school. When she attended high school, however, soccer and wrestling were in the same season. Alternating sports, she played soccer her freshman and sophomore year, then went back to wrestling her junior year. She has mentioned that not having practice is tough, but she continued to stay active by running and even doing warm-ups that she used to do at practice to get her blood pumping. She has discovered consistency is vital while being independent in trying to maintain her skills. “I found it hard to get back in the groove after taking such a long break during quarantine. Now that I have to maintain my shape by myself, without practices or games, I try to dedicate 30 minutes to an hour every day to exercise in some way,” stated Quitevis. Her future goals for post-graduation will be to attend college and find a career that she will grow, love, and be passionate about. She will be attending the University of Hawaii Maui College in the Fall of 2021 and majoring in Business Administration.
Last but not least, Joseph Koch has played baseball for three years for Maui High, and plays shortstop and center field. He does multiple activities to stay in shape, such as going to the gym six days a week, doing Cross Fit three days a week, and practicing three days a week by meeting with one of his good teammates, Bode Woodard. Koch is eager to travel out of the islands to attend Shoreline Community College and move to Seattle, Washington after graduation to start working with the baseball team. Additionally, he mentions that he will do anything it takes to enter the big leagues.
RESULTS
FINAL SCORE: 20 - 21
SABERS WON!
Overall, senior athletes have been through tough times of not experiencing their high school sports’ last moments due to COVID-19. Despite these trying times, Maui High seniors have courage and determination in reaching the aspirations of their pursuits. With appreciation for the high school seniors’ commitment to what they are doing in sports, clubs, and life, wishing them the best of luck in their college journey and future endeavors.
Senior Athlete Quote: “For our younger and current Saber athletes: play strong, play fair, and remember to always strive hard.” - Hunter Abilay
UPCOMING:
GAMES FOR SPRING SPORTS WAIT FOR GREEN LIGHT
Includes Baseball, Softball, Tennis Boys, Golf Girls, Golf Boys, Volleyball, Surfing, Boys Track and Field, Girls Track and Field, Water Polo, and Judo. Practices were scheduled to begin on March 29th, but based upon the Hawaii Department of Health Learning Model Matrix to restart high school athletics, COVID-19 cases in the community have not remained low enough for Spring Sports to receive a green light. As of April 8th, Spring Sports remain on hold.