Red Conference Champs Working Hard At Spring Football

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Knights slotback Kaleo Silva, a
senior at Castle, leaps for the
ball during practice. Photo by
Nathalie Walker, staff
photographer.

If his team had any thoughts of becoming complacent in the weight room this off-season (in light of an impressive 11-1 regular-season record the past two years), Castle football coach Nelson Maeda had all the ammunition needed to get past that feeling.

Maeda has been quick to remind his team of its season-ending (52-31) loss to Aiea in the Oahu Interscholastic Association playoffs last October.

“You’re only as good as your last game,” laughed Maeda, who is entering his 10th season at the school. “It was a disappointing finish to a great season, and we’ve used that to motivate us. Our focus wasn’t where it needed to be, and we ran into a team that played very well.”

The post-season aside, Castle’s 2006 campaign was a rousing success as the Knights rolled through the OIA East-Red conference with a perfect 6-0 record, including a 23-6 win over eventual state champion Kahuku - the program’s first win over the Red Raiders in 17 years. The Knights’ 11-1 mark in league play over the past two seasons is made even more impressive given that Castle’s stadium has been under renovation for better than two years, forcing them to play all of their home games elsewhere during that span.

The next chapter in Castle football began on Monday when the Knights began spring practice

in preparation for the upcoming season. Under OIA guidelines, Castle is allotted 14 days to conduct 10 practices. Followers of the program can get a sneak preview of the team at 4:30 p.m. June 5 when Castle will hold its annual spring game. (Admission is free.) It will also mark the first football game to be played in the stadium since the renovation.

The Knights enter spring ball after completing 14 intense weeks of off-season weight training and conditioning.

“We’ve stressed commitment since January,” said Maeda, who is expecting 60 varsity players to take part in the spring program. “We saw them four times a week for 10 weeks and all five days for the last four (weeks), so we’re asking a lot of our players. It’s a progression, and we demand that they be there. We’re looking at player evaluation (in the spring). We’ll re-introduce them to our schemes and select a summer team.”

The Knights, who can officially begin fall practice on July 31, will open their 2006 season Aug. 18 at home against Campbell. The following week, on Aug. 26, they host Kalaheo in its regular-season opener.

A number of veterans are back in the fold for the Knights in 2006, highlighted by wide receiver/defensive back Scott Keiter-Charles, outside line-backer/wide receiver Corey Paredes, and quarterback Bryson Ukauka. All three are seniors with Keiter-Charles having been a starter since his sophomore year.

“Scott’s an asset to us,” Maeda said. “He’s a great athlete and a good person, who’s very productive. He never comes off the field. He’ll be an integral part of our defense. He missed the Aiea game with an injury, and we had some breakdowns in the secondary that night. (If he could have played) I think he would have had an impact.”

Paredes is the “prototypical line-backer,” according to Maeda. “He’s athletic enough to cover (a wide-out) like a defensive back. He’s one of the fastest guys on our team, and he’s coming off of an exceptional junior year.

Ukauka appeared in every game for the Knights last season and started three in place of the injured Bryce Kalauokaaea, who has since completed his eligibility.

“He brings a wealth of experience to the position,” Maeda said of Ukauka. “He’s comfortable with our package, and we’re looking at his leadership (as an asset) at that position.”

Ukauka’s receiving core figures to have some fresh faces, meanwhile, after the graduation of stand-outs Blaine Kobashigawa and Lihikai Domingo.

Maeda is expecting a number of seniors - defensive end Blake Soares, lineman Clayton Sagapolu, running back/defensive back Damian Spotkaeff and running back/lineman Andrew Fakatoka, slotback/defensive back Kaleo Silva and slotback/defensive back Seth Estioka - to have a big impact on the Knights’ fortunes in the fall.

Castle’s junior class is led by wide-out/defensive back Thomas Ilae and lineman Solomon Koelher, who packs 315 pounds into a 6-foot-3 inch frame.

“We have big hopes for both of them,” Maeda said. “Solomon’s a solid 315 (pounds) and one of the biggest kids we’ve had, while Thomas is a multi-versatile athlete.”

While the Knights’ spread offense has always been among the more innovative on the Island, Castle’s defense has been the difference-maker in recent years. Maeda’s defensive staff of Harry Paaga, Tony PangKee, David Mahelona and Rodney Kaanoi has remained largely intact.

“We’ve been solid there,” Maeda said of the defense. “There’s a lot of continuity there on the staff, and they work well together.”

Castle’s spring practices, which will run from 4 to 6 p.m., are open to the public.