IRVINE, Calif.—A record number of Vulcans have earned Pacific West Conference Scholar Athlete honors, announced today by the conference office.
117 UH Hilo student-athletes qualified for the list. The 2018-19 Vulcan scholar-athlete group of 90 was the previous largest number to be announced.
"This is a great accomplishment by our student-athletes during a very challenging year due to COVID-19," said Vulcan athletic director Patrick Guillen. "UH Hilo is fortunate to have world class faculty who care and who had to make significant adjustments during the spring semester that really aided our students in their academic endeavors."
To qualify, the student-athlete must have a 3.0 accumulative grade point average or better, have completed at least two semesters at the school, and have competed in at least one game, match or meet this past year.
The Vulcans had a total of 171 student-athletes compete this year, meaning that 68 percent of UH Hilo Vulcans had 3.0 GPA's or better.
Eleven of the twelve Vulcan teams had as many or more scholar-athletes than they had a year ago. Men's Soccer showed the biggest improvement, jumping from 10 honorees to 18.
The UH Hilo women's soccer team had the most honorees with 19. The team with the highest percentage of student-athletes to qualify was women's basketball, with eight of the nine players making the grade(s). All Vulcan teams had at least half of their players post a 3.0 accumulative grade point average or better, including men's golf (7 of 8), women's tennis (7 of 8), men's tennis (6 of 7), women's soccer (19 of 23), women's cross country (7 of 9), men's soccer (18 of 25), softball (10 of 17), women's golf (5 of 8), volleyball (9 of 16), baseball (15 of 29), and men's basketball (6 of 12).
"These academic accomplishments highlight the commitment and dedication of our student-athletes and also our coaches and staff in providing the support and resources necessary to make such an improvement," Guillen added. "I am extremely proud of our programs and student-athletes. Congratulations on a great academic year."
The list of Hawai`i Hilo PacWest Scholar Athlete list is next, by sport, in alphabetical order. At the end of the list is a link to the Pacific West Conference release.
BASEBALL (Name, Year, GPA, Major)
Chris Aubort, Jr., 3.19, General Business
Mason Campbell, Jr., 3.71, General Business
Christian Casados, Jr., 3.28, Communications
Ryan Cho, Fr., 3.37, Biology
Lawson Faria, Jr., 3.32 Communications
Teppei Fukuda, Jr., 3.24, Psychology
Dylan Gordon, Jr., 3.42, Communications
Jamieson Hirayama, So., 3.79, Administration of Justice
Jacob Igawa, So., 3.94, Kinesiology
Jacob Liberta, Fr., 3.44, Communications
Gaven Palagonia, Jr., 3.36, Business
Rysen Ross, Fr., 3.18, Agriculture
Lucas Sakay, Jr., 3.36, General Business
Casey Yamauchi, So, 3.73, Kinesiology
Bradyn Yoshida, Fr.-RS, 3.21, Kinesiology
MEN'S BASKETBALL (Name, Year, GPA, Major)
Isaiah Duplechan, So., 3.17, General Business
Kupaa Harrison, Jr., 3.54, Psychology
Steven Hubbell, Jr., 3.53, General Business
Dante Lewis, Sr., 3.00, Kinesiology
Sasa Vuksanovic, Jr., 3.54, Kinesiology
Damani Whitlock, Fr.-RS, 3.10, Mathematics
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL (Name, Year, GPA, Major)
Jessica Goodluck, Jr., 4.00, Psychology
Mandi Kawaha, So, 3.56, Kinesiology
Malia Lee, Jr., 3.25, Kinesiology
Allie Navarette, Jr., 3.63, Psychology
Kim Schmelz, Sr., 3.67, Psychology
Sara Shimizu, Jr., 3.76, Kinesiology
Mikayla Tablit, Fr.-RS, 3.42, General Business
Jenna Waki, Fr., 3.43, Kinesiology
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY (Name, Year, GPA, Major)
Lily Gavagan, So., 3.95, Marine Science
Emma Heidelmeier, Fr., 3.01, Environmental Studies
Olivia Jarvis, So., 3.98, Environmental Science
Caitlin Kawaiaea, So., 3.41, Environmental Science
Makena Morris, So., 3.08, Communications
Sabina Boo Rivera, Fr., 3.74, Psychology
Shaelee West, So., 3.20, Kinesiology
MEN'S GOLF (Name, Year, GPA, Major)
Adam Chiya, Jr., 3.17, Kinesiology
Nicholas Gomez, Fr., 3.61, General Studies
Noah Lau, So., 3.48, General Business
Evan Merrier, Jr., 3.81, General Business
Warren Miller, Sr., 3.30, Communications
Andrew Otani, So., 3.31, Accounting
Taylor Patrick, Sr., 3.62, History
WOMEN'S GOLF (Name, Year, GPA, Major)
Keely Kitamura, Sr., 3.68, Psychology
Tia Kualii, Fr., 3.42, Pre-Engineering
Taryn Taguma, Fr., 3.32, Biology
Carli Shimokihara, So., 3.01, General Business
Kaelyn Uchida, So., 3.76, Psychology
MEN'S SOCCER (Name, Year, GPA, Major)
Bo Antonissen, Fr., 3.10, Kinesiology
Julius Becker, Fr., 3.62, Psychology
MarcAnthony Cabrera, Fr., 3.77, Administration of Justice
Henrique Castilho, Jr., 3.64, General Business
Thomas Chandler, Fr., 3.39, General Business
Bennet Chergosky, So., 3.10, Kinesiology
Gabriel Contreras, So., 3.19, General Business
Robert George, Sr., 3.75, Communications
Michael Harre, Jr., 3.85, Psychology
Caesar Hjerten, Jr., 3.47, General Business
Israel Kalili, Fr., 3.00, Kinesiology
Kealaula Keliikoa, Jr., 3.45, General Business
Jacob Prothero, Fr., 3.07, Chemistry
Andrew Rehedul, Fr., 3.67, Kinesiology
Tommy Seaver, Fr., 3.32, Computer Science
Kaleihalia Tolentino-Perry, Jr., 3.41, Agriculture
Pedro Werneck, Sr., 3.19, General Business
Cameron Zamudio, Fr., 3.63, Political Science
WOMEN'S SOCCER (Name, Year, GPA, Major)
Ysabela Gabrielle-Barin, Sr., 3.14, Kinesiology
Hedda Bjerklund, Sr., 3.87, Psychology
Annie Brejc, Jr., 3.94, Psychology
Bailey Cahill, Sr., 3.28, Psychology
Piper Collado, So., 3.58, Kinesiology
Dina Draguicevich, Jr., 3.14, General Business
Taylor Hornburg, So., 3.60, Agriculture
Christina Kanellou, Jr., 3.47, Communications
Kayla Kunihisa, So., 3.62, General Business
Jodi Lillie, So., 3.77, General Business
Jada Macairan, Jr., 3.47, Kinesiology
Maisie Paulson, So., 3.87, Psychology
Brenna Rill, So., 3.36, Kinesiology
Crystal Sanchez, Jr., 3.24, Kinesiology
Janelle Schwartz, Sr., 3.34, Communications
Camille Strazzo, Jr., 3.90, Kinesiology
Brianna Valencia, Sr., 3.42, Kinesiology
Nanea Wall, Fr., 3.56, Agriculture
Brende Yoshizumi, So., 3.70, Kinesiology
SOFTBALL (Name, Year, GPA, Major)
Brandee Chinen, So., 3.43, Biology
Billi Derleth, Sr., 3.81, Communications/Kinesiology
Chloe Domingo, So., 3.28, Mathematics
Kenzie Fox, Fr., 3.07, Exercise Science
Megan Johnson, Fr., 3.37, Exercise Science
Brinell Kaleikini, Sr., 3.30, Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kiarra Lincoln, Jr., 3.36, General Business
Darian Obara, So., 3.61, Agriculture
Markie Okamoto, Jr., 3.62, Biology
Malia Risdale, Fr., 3.51, Kinesiology
MEN'S TENNIS (Name, Year, GPA, Major)
Luca Checchia, So., 4.00, General Business
Alan Cincunegui, So., 3.76, General Business
Arturo Dell`Eva, Sr., 3.74, General Business
Santiago Di Loreto, Jr., 3.37, General Business
Martin Soukal, So., 3.03, General Business
Chun En Wu, Jr., 3.20, Accounting
WOMEN'S TENNIS (Name, Year, GPA, Major)
Marina Colvee, Sr., 3.28, Marine Science
Sandra Dafincescu, Jr., 3.81, General Business
Shelby Graber, Fr., 3.39, Marine Science
Carmelle Joyner, Jr., 3.00, Marine Science
Irena Le, Jr., 3.58, Kinesiology
Mia Rosa, Fr., 3.77, Communications/Political Science
Anouk Van Hoek, So., 3.71, Kinesiology
VOLLEYBALL (Name, Year, GPA, Major)
Bria Beale, Jr., 3.85, Communications
Lucee Fitzgerald, Sr., 3.77, Kinesiology
Ashton Jessee, Jr., 3.71, General Business
Taira Kaawaloa, Jr., 3.52, Kinesiology
Kendall Kott, Fr., 3.65, International Business
Kaila Lizama, Sr., 3.32, Psychology
Alexandria Parisian, So., 3.32, Communications
Amber Tai, Jr., 3.06, Kinesiology
Mia Takai, Fr., 3.18, Aeronautical Science
For a complete list of all the PacWest Scholar Athletes from each school, by sports, click here.
