Kahuku’s Schwenke Is In Demand

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Dennis Maier, Brent Cowan, Jeff Lyford and Elijah Chung shoot hoops once a week at Lanikai Park. Photo by Byron Lee, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Countdown to Camp. One in a series of prep football reports.

Champions may be crowned in December, as the Kahuku football team knows as well as anyone, but the Red Raiders still tried to bring the same effort normally associated with the post-season to their spring practices in May, according to defensive lineman Kona Schwenke.

“We tried to bring as much intensity as possible,” said Schwenke,who packs 215 solid pounds in a 6-foot-5-inch frame. “Usually before every spring practice,(head Kahuku) coach Reggie (Torres) reminded us of how we felt after losing to Leilehua last year (in overtime in the semifinals of the First Hawaiian Bank Division I State Football Championships). If you want to beat the Leilehuas and the Punahous, you have to work harder than them.We should have one of the top teams in the state.”

On that note, Schwenke is involved in two seasons at present, it would seem. There are preparations for Kahuku’s upcoming season, which begins July 28.And there is the recruiting season, which is in full swing - at least for Schwenke, who has swiftly risen to be one of the most sought-after prospects among Division I college coaches from Hawaii’s class of 2010. His performance at the Nike Training Camp in Palo Alto, Calif., earlier in the summer made him even more in-demand afterward,and he currently holds scholarship offers from BYU, Colorado, Oregon State, San Diego State, UNLV, Utah,Hawaii and Washington.

Where he will play is part of the future, of course, but his decision on where he will play will be unveiled soon, he said.“I’m trying to narrow it down right now, and by the end of summer, I should be able to make a decision,“said Schwenke, who is rated as a four-star prospect by the recruiting service Rivals.com. “I’ll be able to focus on Kahuku and our team’s season,and then and I won’t have to worry about college.”

Schwenke is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and would like to go on a mission at some point after he completes high school.

While he is being recruited as a defensive end only by colleges, he’s been getting reps this summer at both outside linebacker and tight end on the offensive side of the ball. His line play up front was one of the big reasons why the Red Raiders were among the state’s top defensive teams last year.

“We have a good defensive line and, in the 3-4, they’d like me to move to outside line-backer in some places,“he said. “When I move there, it’s mainly to rush (the quarterback). I have to keep working at it. I’m coming out of a two-point stance instead of a three-point stance. But I’ll probably get it down by the time the season starts.

“I’ll do whatever I need to help the team,“he added.“Our team is really close. Everybody connects with each other.”

As for learning the tight end position,“I can catch the ball,” he said. “I still have to learn the routes, through.”

Football has always come natural to Schwenke. He also plays Rugby- his father Mac coaches the sport - and basketball for the Red Raiders, who were the Oahu Interscholastic Association champions in Division I last winter.

“Some have told me I should quit football and play Rugby,but I’d rather play football,” he said.

Kahuku finished 10-2 overall last season.The Red Raiders will open their season on Aug. 22 at Aloha Stadium, where they meet defending state champion Punahou in an inter-league game.