Three high school junior varsity football teams have canceled games for the first week of the OIA-ILH interleague schedule on the weekend of Aug. 9-10.
According to OIA football coordinator Harold Tanaka, Waialua and Kalaheo have opted to not play JV games that weekend. In addition, Kaimuki varsity head coach David Tautofi confirmed the Bulldogs will not play a JV game that weekend.
The reason in all three cases is not enough players to safely field a team.
On Aug. 9, Kalaheo’s JV team was originally scheduled to play Kalani at the Kailua High field. And on Aug. 10, Kaimuki’s JV team was originally slated to go against Moanalua, while Waialua’s JV team was supposed to host Nanakuli.
In two instances, due to the JV cancellations, the varsity start time has been changed. On the varsity side, instead of following the JV starts, Aug. 9’s Kalaheo vs. Kalani game at Kailua’s field as well as Aug. 10’s Nanakuli at Waialua game will start at 6 p.m.
In the other instance, the varsity game time will not change. Kaimuki’s varsity is still on tap to play Pac-Five at Farrington’s Skippa Diaz Stadium at 5 p.m. on Aug. 9.
Kalaheo, Waialua and Kaimuki are all still trying to fill their JV teams for the rest of the season.
Tautofi believes Kaimuki’s JV team will have enough players the following week — against Kalaheo (if the Mustangs have enough to field a team by that time) at Skippa Diaz Stadium on Aug. 16.
None of the three schools — Kalaheo, Waialua and Kaimuki — have nonleague varsity or JV games scheduled for this week’s season-opening games on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 2-3.
Terrible…. i hope that there isn’t a shortage in the first few weeks because of the kids being academically ineligible.
I believe the DOE needs to crackdown on the kids who try to game the system. Meaning… they only do satisfactorily academically or attendance during their sport season. After that, their grades or attendance fall below par. The consequence needs to stiffen up. Maybe if the consequence would be for one calendar year… that would encourage them to do better or attend class more regularly.
Right now… the kids are playing the schools for fools.
We need to emphasize that school comes before sports…. and no better way to emphasize this through the consequences. The consequence needs to match the importance of the philosophy.
Just a thought….
Stand firm for academics, you need to get your facts and information straight before making on of your ignorant spoiled little private school boy comments. These schools lack numbers and their enrollment is 800 or less. Kaimuki has well below 650 students. They aren’t keeping their Jv from playing because of academics, it’s because kids don’t come out until school starts, if that’s even luck. Check your government system not the kids you idiot. The system itself is the biggest player in the whole game.