FOURTH IN A SERIES
Next: Farrington Governors
DAMIEN MONARCHS
>> 2015 record and finish: 6-2 (3-1 ILH D-II); won ILH D-II championship, lost 42-33 to Konawaena in first round of D-II state tourney
>> Number of returning starters: 15 (7 offense, 8 defense)
>> Number of returning seniors: 15
>> Number of starters lost to graduation: 6
>> Number of seniors lost to graduation: 13
>> Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State selections lost to graduation: None
>> Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State selections returning: None
>> ILH D-II All-Stars lost to graduation: Austin Ballesteros (first-team REC), Kepono Kawaakoa (first-team RB), Courtney Paaga (first-team DL), Jarin Manuel (first-team DB), Cody Labanon (first-team P).
>> ILH D-II All-Stars returning: Marcus Faufata-Pedrina (first-team QB), Rush Asing (first-team OL), Soane Tuihalafatai (first-team OL), Shawn Borges (first-team LB), Scott Lam (first-team DB), Justice White (first-team AP), Kaimana Cameron (first-team PK).
>> Among 2016 key offensive returnees: Marcus Faufata-Pedrina (QB, Jr.), Justice White (RB, Sr.), Rush Asing (OL, Sr.), Soane Tuihalafatai (OL, Sr.), Shaun Apiki (TE, Sr.)
>> Among 2016 key defensive returnees: Shawn Borges (LB/SS, Sr.), Shiloh Kaeo (LB, Jr.), Scott Lam (DB, Sr.), Kaimana Cameron (DB, Jr.), Akila Arrechi (AP, Jr.)
>> Monarchs with Division I FBS college offers: Julius Buelow (OL, So.)
>> All-time state championships: None
>> All-time Prep Bowl era (1973-1998) championships: None
>> All-time ILH championships: 2 (2003, D-II; 2015, D-II)
>> 2016 conference: ILH D-II
Head coach EDDIE KLANESKI on the Monarchs’ outlook for 2016:
“I think we’re heading in the right direction and getting better each year. I hope that we can do better this year and we should do better this year. But we can’t overlook other teams in our division because they are getting better too. Both teams, Pac-Five and St. Francis, have lots of players coming back, so it won’t be an easy road. We’ve got to get prepared for what will be a tough season.
“We’ve been in spring ball for a couple of weeks. The attitude (after winning the D-II championship last year) has changed, and you can tell, compared to years prior to this, as far as getting the kids motivated and knowing how things need to be. We’ve set the foundation. The kids who are now seniors have been through the program and the expectation of winning is there. They’re pretty good leaders and our training is on championship level. We as coaches don’t need to push as much because of the success of last year. We still are out there trying to inspire them every day, but it’s a given for them about the work ethic they need to show in order to repeat.
“We have quite a few kids — 30 return from last year. It was a good experience to play in that state game and we came from behind after being down by four touchdowns at halftime. We climbed back and had it within one score with five minutes left before things happened that we couldn’t control and we lost it at the end. Going through that and how close we were, the players want to be better than that. The ILH title is the goal and another is to be state champions at some point. Losing in the first round wasn’t good enough for them. They’re hungry to show that we can be better than we were last year.”
2016 Damien preseason football schedule
Check here for the latest schedule updates: http://bit.ly/2958rWe
>> July 28: vs. Waianae and Nanakuli (scrimmage only, at Nanakuli)
>> July 30: at Kalani (scrimmage only)
>> Aug. 5: at Moanalua
>> Aug. 12: at Maui
>> Aug. 20: Kealakehe (at Aiea High field)
>> Aug. 26/27: Bye
>> Sept. 2: vs. St. Francis, at Aloha Stadium
>> Sept. 9: vs. Pac-Five, at Aloha Stadium
>> Sept. 16/17: Bye
>> Sept. 23: vs. St. Francis, at Aloha Stadium
>> Sept. 30: vs. Pac-Five, at Aloha Stadium
>> Oct. 7/8: Bye
2016 Damien varsity football staff
>> Head coach and defensive coordinator: Eddie Klaneski: (sixth season, 17-28)
>> Offensive coordinator: Jason Kauanui
>> Quarterbacks: Lefa Lauti
>> Running backs: Josh Asuncion
>> Wide receivers: Anthony Tuitele
>> Offensive line: Eddie Williams
>> Linebackers: David Tuiasosopo
>> Defensive line: Mike Andres
>> Defensive backs: Makou Meyer
looks like a new FB Staff, what happened to last year’s OC; Chris Mellor? It’s pretty tough having to play each twice in a 3 team division.
I’m taking the intuitive leap that the OIA-ILH merge is not going to happen in 2017. So, Damien could very realistically win the ILH again this year …. for the second year in a row. Which triggers the ILH mandate that if a D-II team wins consecutive championships they have to move up to D-I (for at least a year). Ok, now Damien and ‘Iolani will be in D-I with the Big Three. Great for the Big Three, since Damien and ‘Iolani have a combined total of one win vs. the Big Three the past six years. Not so great for St. Francis and Pac-5, as wouldn’t this mean they would need to play each other four times in a row during the regular season …. you know, since there would only be two teams in the ILH D-II? I’m sure the think tank at the ILH are really hoping either St. Francis or Pac-5 takes it this year to avoid that train wreck. Of course, this is all “what if” until it happens. But, if Damien does win the ILH this year the muffled explosion you hear in Honolulu won’t be the HART expansion, it will the ILH think tank’s minds imploding. I guess there is always the option, “Hey fellas, I think we might have to change the rules again”. 🙂
I’m not 100 percent sure, but I think Damien is classified a D-II school, so it would not have to move up like ‘Iolani if it wins two titles in a row. Hawaii Baptist, a D-II classified school, does not have to move up in boys volleyball after winning multiple titles. The rule is for a D-I classified school, like ‘Iolani, which was playing down in D-II due to an exemption. In one sport in one academic year, every D-I classified school can choose to move down to D-II.
Nick, thank you for the information; I didn’t think about the one sport/one academic year aspect. Unless there is a complete OIA-ILH paradigm shift, the “Merge” on Oahu is going to continue to be as elusive as “Nessie” in that Scottish Loch.