Keiter-Charles Likes Testing Himself
By Jack Danilewicz
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Castle High safety and wide
receiver Scott Keiter-
Charles carries on the
family sports tradition.
Photo by Nathalie Walker,
staff photographer.
For all his commitment to the team, Castle High’s Scott Keiter-Charles relishes the individual battles that enable him to do his part.
“I like the competition between me and the other guy,” said Keiter-Charles, a safety and wide receiver. “I look forward to competing against that guy across from me and testing my abilities.”
But before Keiter-Charles could become a standout on both sides of the football for the Knights, he had to win another battle - the ongoing argument with his mother, Barbara, who was dead-set against her second son playing football at all.
“We didn’t allow my oldest son (Kimo) to play, so we weren’t going to let him,” she said, “but he was literally running through people on the soccer field, instead of going around them like most kids do.”
“I begged her, and she finally let me,” Scott said.“I was getting a little too physical in soccer. I like the aggressiveness and the impact (that goes with football). I got used to it real quick.”
Castle fans have gotten used to Keiter-Charles’ assertive style of play. An impact player with the Knights since his sophomore year, he and senior linebacker Corey Paredes set the pace for the relentless Castle defense. As one of several two-way players for the Knights, Keiter-Charles likes being on the field every play.
“I’ve gotten used to playing both,” he said. “I just want to do what I can to help the team. I love it (football) and, hopefully, it will take me to the next (collegiate) level.”
This week, the Knights have an open date on their schedule. Castle was to play archrival Kailua last Friday night, and returns to action Oct. 6, when they travel to Kahuku for what figures to be the “Game of the Year” in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red East Conference’s 2006 season. The Knights beat Kahuku last September for their first win over the Red Raiders in 17 years en route to winning the East Red regular-season crown. Kahuku rebounded to win its 10th OIA title in 13 years as well as its fourth state championship in the past six years.
“We’ll have to be focused on our assignments,” Keiter-Charles said. “It will be a whole new environment there.”
The Keiter-Charles family welcomes the challenge, having long been a family rich in sports history within the local community. Scott’s mother Barbara played basketball for the University of Hawaii, while her father is Les Keiter, the legendary sportscaster who was the voice of the Brooklyn Dodgers and other memorable sports teams before relocating to the Islands in the mid-70s. Here he embarked on what was akin to a second career behind the microphone.
Scott’s older brother Kimo played basketball for the University of Hawaii-Hilo and helped lead Hilo High to a state title in 2000. He was a member of the UHManoa team for the 2001-2002 season before transferring to Hilo. The brothers are especially close. After graduating from Hilo, Kimo moved to Oahu to join Scott and his mother.
“He’s been giving me tips since I was growing up,” Scott said of Kimo. “We talk every day. I’ve always looked up to him.”
Added Barbara: “Both have speed, which has been a blessing. We came here (from the Big Island) for more competition, and he’s certainly found that. The staff has been wonderful at Castle. They’ve changed his life.”
For his part, Scott has become like a coach on the field for the Knights. After a disappointing loss to McKinley Sept. 15, his leadership skills were put to the test. He and his teammates were still regrouping last week as they prepared for the much-anticipated Kailua match-up.
An ongoing concern for Castle head coach Nelson Maeda this season has been his team’s struggles to “transfer what they’ve done in practice to the game.”
“It is still a mystery to us,“Keiter-Charles said last week of Castle’s inconsistency.“Against McKinley, we didn’t play the way we can - we let an opportunity slip away. We watched the film on Monday and had a chance to see our mistakes. Our mind-set (on game-day) has to be all there. We have to get the mind-set that the way we practice is the way we’ll play in the game. We have the best coaches in the state ...They know the game so well - I love playing for them.”
Keiter-Charles’ time in the Castle program has been mainly one for the highlight reel. The Knights had won 13 of their last 15 Red East encounters heading into last Friday’s game with Kailua. His contribution to that success could pave the way for a college football scholarship, but he hasn’t given up on basketball yet.
“It will be a tough choice when I go to college,” he said.
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