In a way, Hawaii Prep boys soccer coach Rich Braithwaite had too many reasons to be thankful.
Ka Makani’s program is trending these days — if it was a stock it’d be labeled a “buy” — and it showed at the start of the preseason when Braithwaite had to literally turn players away.
“I had to cut about five or six guys that last year would have been contributors,” Braithwaite said.
HPA is coming off a second consecutive third-place finish at the HHSAA Division II tournament, but what makes this year’s team special, Braithwaite and senior standout striker Justin Perry said, is how deep it is.
“The depth is crazy,” Perry said. “We have 26 on the roster, and everyone is starter-caliber.
“When we scrimmage it’s 11 on 11 and everybody plays like a starter.”
A byproduct of depth is ultra-competitive practice conditions. Take the case of Noah Wise, a junior fullback who is in a battle to keep his starting position.
“He played all year for us in the back, but this year it’s a lot tougher,” Braithwaite said. “I’ve got six to seven really talented players, but the difference this year is this is the best we’ve had from eight to 20.”
Ka Makani’s timing is impeccable.
Not only does HPA, which lost to Kamehameha 1-0 in the 2015 BIIF final, return nearly all of its players, but there is a sizable void left in Division II after two-time defending state champion Mid-Pacific made the leap to Division I. The past two D-II final fours at states have consisted of three BIIF teams and the overpowering Owls of the ILH.
“They were on a different level,” Braithwaite said. “It’s opened up the field for everybody.”
Championships aren’t won in November, of course, but on paper, at least, HPA is at the top of that field.
Perry scored 23 goals last season and teamed with junior Austin Schneider to form the most prolific striker duo on the island, but why have depth if you’re not going to tinker and mix and match?
Perry will likely play up top this season with fleet-footed junior Kevin Durkin or senior Zen Simone, who helped solidify the defense last season. The move allows the play-making Schneider to man the midfield with junior Braden Kojima and senior Alex Brost to help HPA produce more balanced scoring.
“It’s about taking advantage of our skill sets,” Perry said. “I think we definitely have a number of players who can create goals.”
Perry, Kojima, Brost and Simone made first-team all-BIIF last season, while Schneider, junior Ghar Pautz and senior goalkeeper Trent Wise made the second-team.
With Brost patrolling the midfield, Braithwaite said, “not too many teams are going to win the ball against us.”
Senior Kyle Hollister and Wise, a junior, will help stabilize the backline, and Braithwaite loves the maturity he’s seen from freshman Sihkea Jim.
“He plays and acts like he’s 19,” Braithwaite said. “He’s someone you can rely on for 80-90 minutes a game. I can’t believe he’s 14.”
The coach talked about a recent 3-0 preseason loss to Kealakehe as if the Waveriders did him a favor. Braithwaite also hopes his team gets “knocked around a bit” at the 44th annual Ka Makani Soccer Classic, which begins Friday.
After opening with MIL champion Seabury Hall, HPA either will match up with Kalani, last season’s HHSAA Division I runner-up, or Kapaa, the team Ka Makani beat in the state quarters last season. Kealakehe, Mid-Pacific, rival Honokaa and Pearl City are on the other side of the bracket.
It’s a state-caliber field for a team that is expected to fare well once states roll around.
“We have high expectations for ourselves,” Perry said. “We’re not looking at the end of the road.”
44th annual Ka Makani Soccer Classic
At Waimea
GIRLS
Friday
Punahou vs. Hilo, 11 a.m.
Kealakehe vs. Kapaa, 1 p.m.
Maui vs. Hawaii Prep, 1 p.m.
King Kekaulike vs. Mid-Pacific, 1:45 p.m.
Saturday
Semifinals
Maui/Hawaii Prep winner vs. King Kekaulike/Mid-Pacific winner, 9:30 a.m.
Punahou/Hilo winner vs. Kealakehe/Kapaa winner, 1:30 p.m.
Consolation
Maui/Hawaii Prep loser vs. King Kekaulike/Mid-Pacific loser, 9:30 a.m.
Punahou/Hilo loser vs. Kealakehe/Kapaa loser, 1:30 p.m.
Sunday
Championship
Semifinal winners, 9:45 a.m.
Third place
Semifinal loser, 9:45 a.m.
Fifth place
Consolation winners, 8 a.m.
Seventh place
Consolation losers, 10:45 a.m.
BOYS
Friday
Kealakehe vs. Pearl City, noon
Honokaa vs. Mid-Pacific, 3 p.m.
Seabury Hall vs. Hawaii Prep, 3 p.m.
Kalani vs. Kapaa, 3:30 p.m.
Saturday
Semifinals
Seabury Hall/Hawaii Prep winner vs. Kalani/Kapaa winner, 11:30 a.m.
Kealakehe/Pearl City winner vs. Honokaa/Mid-Pacific winner, 3 p.m.
Consolation
Seabury Hall/Hawaii Prep loser vs. Kalani/Kapaa loser, 11:30 a.m.
Kealakehe/Pearl City loser vs. Honokaa/Mid-Pacific loser, 3 p.m.
Sunday
Championship
Semifinal winners, 11:30 a.m.
Third place
Semifinal losers, 11:30 a.m.
Fifth place
Consolation winners, 8 a.m.
Seventh place
Consolation losers, 9 a.m.
