When Hilo’s own BJ Penn was inducted into the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s Hall of Fame on July 11, he said: “It feels like winning the belt, again.”
As the former two-time, two-division (welterweight, lightweight) UFC world champion knows, belts can be lost with a defeat.
However, Penn has a permanent place among the best of the best in the mixed martial arts world. Any fighter could win a belt. Not everyone will land in the Hall of Fame.
UFC fighters come and go, but the greatest ones are remembered forever in the Hall of Fame, a place “The Prodigy” seemed destined to enter.
Penn finished his 13-year career with a professional MMA record of 16-10-2 and headlined 11 main events for the UFC.
UFC president Dana White best summed up Penn’s impact, not only his accomplishments in the octagon but also his role as a trailblazing brand name.
“He was one of those stars who helped build the UFC. When we bought this company, we were told no one cared about lightweights (155 pounds),” White said in an induction statement. “BJ Penn not only made people care, he was one of the biggest draws in UFC history.
“And what he accomplished inside the octagon speaks for itself: He is one of only two people to win two UFC titles in two different divisions, and he beat a who’s who of his era. He is a legend and a no-brainer for the UFC Hall of Fame.”
Penn was also a slam dunk for the Tribune-Herald’s No. 1 sports story of 2015.
2.) Konawaena, Honokaa state hoops double scoop
The Wildcats won the HHSAA Division I state championship in February and are a heavy favorite to repeat in 2016.
Kona senior standouts Chanelle Molina and Ihi Victor have a chance to duplicate the feat of Lia Galdeira and Dawnyelle Awa, who were key cogs on the 2011 and ’12 state title teams.
Galdeira, a 5-foot-9 guard, is playing pro ball in Bulgaria and is averaging 20.7 ppg.
The Dragons repeated at the Division II state tournament, and cemented the league’s reputation as the best at the small-school level.
In the 12-year history of statewide classification for girls basketball, the BIIF has won six championships.
With its jump to Division I, Honokaa won’t get a chance to three-peat but added intrigue in the dogfight for the league’s second state spot, especially with three-time BIIF runner-up Hilo.
3.) Hilo High football overcomes obstacle
The season started off on the wrong foot for the Vikings, who saw head coach David Baldwin suspended before any preseason games were played.
Still, Hilo drubbed Kealakehe 41-20 for the BIIF Division I championship for the third consecutive time in October over in Kailua-Kona.
If the Vikings need any reason to hit a tackling dummy harder and bulletin-board material for next season, they got it when the All-BIIF teams were released.
The Waveriders had more first-team picks, 14-12, and claimed offensive, defensive and coach of the year honors.
4.) Wong’s influence in his hometown
In his first full season (last year he played in 113 games), the St. Louis second baseman batted .262 with 11 homers and 61 RBIs in 150 games.
The 2008 Kamehameha graduate had a .707 on-base plus slugging percentage and a WAR (wins above replacement) of 2.2, slightly lower than NL All-Star backup second baseman Colorado’s DJ LeMahieu’s 2.3.
Wong didn’t make the All-Star Game or reach the World Series, but he remains an inspiration and role model for his hometown, where he produces his biggest hits.
“I go home and everyone welcomes me with open arms, and they’re so proud of everything that I’ve done,” Wong said in a September story. “It’s such a big thing to have when you go home to that. Having all these kids looking up to you and all these parents are looking at you like you’re the reason my kid is staying on the right track. It’s a big thing for me because I was a kid who didn’t have a role model.”
5.) UHH puts AD’s job on display
In an unusual step, UHH had its two athletic director candidates, Pat Guillen and Joshua Doody, give presentations to the public and field questions.
Guillen, who has a background of fundraising, was hired in July, after the school went nearly two years without a permanent AD.
On Nov. 22, 2014, UHH chancellor Donald Straney wrote in a guest column to the Tribune-Herald that he was “looking forward to hiring someone who can work effectively with athletes, coaches and the community.”
Straney also made a plea to the community asking for help with sponsorships, raising scholarship funds or attending games.
Guillen has major work to do because UHH’s sports are far from a level NCAA Division II playing field with underfunded programs.
Following are Division II limits and UHH’s scholarship amounts: Basketball men (10, 6.48), women (10, 6.94); baseball (9, 4.06); golf men (3.6, 1.62), women (5.4, 1.82); soccer men (9, 5.114), women (9.9, 5.36); tennis men (4.5, 1.57), women (6, 1.82); cross country women (12.6, 1.026), softball (7.2, 5.03), volleyball (8, 6.1).
6.) Puna’s day at the beach
Head coach Afa Tuaolo’s Puna club pocketed the Division AAA (13-20 events) at the Hawaii Canoe Racing Association state championships in August at Hilo Bay.
Even better, the Big Island or Moku O Hawaii clubs swept the Division AAA honors. Keauhou was second and Kai Ehitu took bronze.
Puna’s men 50, men open four, and mixed men and women took home gold. Tuaolo was on the men 50 crew that finished with a perfect record.
7.) Hawaii Prep repeats at state soccer
HPA blitzed old rival Mid-Pacific 5-1 for its second straight HHSAA Division II state championship in February.
From the All-Tournament team, HPA returns Marlie Mandaquit, who scored two goals against the Owls, Kaui Taylor, Jordan Grainger, and goalie Taimane Kamaka.
The six-time defending BIIF champion Ka Makani will likely meet the Owls again. Mid-Pac has advanced to the last six title games.
8.) BIIF has field day at states
HPA’s Emma Taylor seized her third gold in the 100 meter hurdles at the HHSAA track and field championship in May. She also won the 300 hurdles.
Her cousin Kaui Taylor won the high jump. Hilo’s Mehana Sabado-Halpern took the triple jump, Kamehameha’s Megan Kualii the long jump, and Waiakea’s Louie Ondo won the 1,500 run.
9.) Konawaena football
The Wildcats toppled Kamehameha 44-21 to claim a fourth BIIF Division II championship in five years in October at Julian Yates Field.
Sophomore quarterback Austin Ewing threw for three touchdowns and 291 yards. He then fired three scoring strikes in a 42-33 win over Damien in the first round of the state championship a week later.
10.) Max the Saint
A year ago, Max Unger, a 2005 HPA graduate, became the first NFL player from the Big Island to win the Lombardi Trophy with the Seattle Seahawks, who plastered the Denver Broncos 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII or 48.
In February, Unger became part of a trivia question: Who was the center when Russell Wilson threw an interception in Super Bowl 49 against the New England Patriots?
After New England escaped with a 28-24 win to hand quarterback Tom Brady his fourth Super Bowl title, Unger was traded to the New Orleans Saints in March.
It hasn’t been a super year for Unger, whose Saints sit in last place in the NFC’s South Division, home to the Carolina Panthers and dab QB Cam Newton.
