Windward Oahu Standouts Make OIA All-Star Teams
By Jack Danilewicz
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Breakthrough seasons in football require big-time leadership from veteran players. In Bruce Andrews, Cody von Appen and Kao Malama-Custer, Kalaheo coach Chris Mellor was always assured of three “coaches on the field.”
“Those three were super important parts of our team,“said Mellor, whose team finished 5-4 for its best season in years.“It’s still a little early in (the college) recruiting (process), but I think they can all play in college.”
As high school seniors, the trio played as if trying to make up for lost time. Andrews was recently named the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red East’s Offensive Player of the Year, while von Appen and Malama-Custer were selected as First and Second Team All-Stars, respectively. Selections are made by the league coaches.
A 6-foot, 185-pound wide receiver,Andrews caught 26 passes for 362 yards (13.9 yards per catch) and a score for one of the OIA’s more productive offenses. He was also named to the league’s Second Team as a defensive back.
“He was huge for us,“Mellor said. “He could have been First Team on defense, too. He was a shut-down corner. The thing that stands out about him is how much he loves the game. It’s all he wants to do. He watches film, he’s a student of the game, and he has fun with it.
“Cody (von Appen), too,“he said of the quarterback who started the better part of three years for the Mustangs.“He’s a good,tough,football player who steps up to the challenge.”
Like Andrews, Malama-Custer was also a favorite target of von Appen. “He’s a guy who didn’t get much attention, but he was a goto guy for us. He can take a hit and still focus on the ball.”
* Red East regular-season champion Kahuku led the way with seven First Team selections,including OIA Defensive Player of the Year in safety Shiloah Teo.
“He’s a guy who is going to make plays,“Mellor said of Teo,whose Red Raiders defeated Kalaheo 33-26 Sept. 8.“He deserves the award.You keep him in your radar when you play against them, and maybe you stay away from (throwing near) him.”
Junior Mataafa (running back), Benji Kemoeatu (offensive lineman), Daniel Kinikini (OL), Anthony Siilata (OL), Jerome Acoba (defensive lineman), Clayson Asuni (DL) and linebacker Paipai Falemalu were all First Team selections for the Red Raiders, while St. John Lessary (RB), Willie Ching (WR), Samiu Tonga (OL), Alema Tachibana (DL), Kulia Pickard (LB), Jack Damuni (DB) and Jede Malufau (DB) were named to the Second Team. Kahuku coach Reggie Torres was selected as the Red East’s Coach of the Year.
* Castle’s Solomon Koehler, the state’s most sought-after college prospect, according to the recruiting service Rivals.Com, was named to both the First Team offense and defense as a lineman. The Knights also placed Bronson Kekahuna (Utility), Kawehi Sablan (LB) and Thomas Ilae (DB) on the First Team, while defensive back Kaua Olds earned Second Team honors.
* Kailua had six players - Keoni Funtanilla (OL), Jared KaimanaAbejon (OL),
Jonathan Asosaoletoetu (DL),Manako Tuifua (DL), Billy Oden (LB) and Kaimi Sarkissian (LB) - make the league’s Second Team.
The following players earned Honorable Mention:
Castle: Kevin Aipia Jr., Alika Kekoanui Jr., Taouli Ma’ae
Kahuku: Jerrik Akina,Jray Galeai, Jordan Kamae, Matt Mata’u,Aulola Tonga
Kailua: Dustyn Naki, Penisoni Tuifua
Kalaheo: Riley Atanoa,DJ Chang, Dillan Hanawahine, Nathan Johnson,Shawn Reed and Giovanni Wozniak.
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