Spencer Honda / Hawai‘i Hilo Sports Information

FRONT (L to R): T. Favela, C. Domingo, K. Ili, M. Saneishi, M. Risdall, B. Chinen; SECOND: A. van Hoek, S. Boo-Rivera, E. Heidelmeier, N. Wall, Z. Nogales, M. Loera, J. Liu, R. Sowa; THIRD: S. Cavaletto, M. Kawaha, J. Waki, C. Bolte, M. Goss, K. Kott, B. O'Neill, J. Garcia; TOP: D. Williams, A. Hobgood, C. Yamauchi, K. Russell, R. Cho, T. Honda, C. DeJesus, E. Peterson, M. Yamamoto

General 5/14/2023 3:00:00 PM Hawai‘i Hilo Sports Information

Ho‘omaika‘i Class of 2023 Student-Athletes

Congratulations to 43 student-athletes who worked toward completion of a degree or subject certificate.

HILO, Hawai'i – The University of Hawai'i at Hilo held its Spring 2023 Commencement Ceremony Saturday morning at the Edith Kanaka'ole Multi-Purpose Stadium as 44 Vulcans student-athletes were among the hundreds of soon-to-be graduates who worked toward completion of earning a degree or subject certificate.

Included among the 44 graduating student-athletes were 19 local Hawai'i products, 12 from California, five from each of Washington/Oregon/Colorado/New Mexico/Arizona and eight internationals (Canada, Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands).

A Senior Sash Ceremony was held Friday evening in the Vulcan Gymnasium for the graduating student-athletes and their families.

Last December, nine student-athletes along with five former Vulcans participated in the Fall 2022 Commencement Ceremony and a Special Alumni Ceremony for graduates from the previous two years who did not get to experience graduation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many of Saturday's graduates made use of an extra season of athletic eligibility granted from the cancelation or abbreviation of sports season during the COVID-19 pandemic. A handful of Vulcans have also planned to return to Hilo next year to use their additional season of play.

BASEBALL
» Ryan Cho (San Diego, California) — Biology; Pre-Pharmacy Certificate
» Christian DeJesus (Mililani, Hawai'i) — Kinesiology & Exercise Sciences – Applied KES
» Alex Hobgood (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) — Administration of Justice + Political Science; Public Policy Certificate
» Ty Honda (Hilo, Hawai'i) — Biology
» Jarod Kaneshiro (Kaimuki, Hawai'i) — Kinesiology & Exercise Sciences – Allied Health
» Eric Peterson (Puyallup, Washington) — Business Administration – Management
» Kobie Russell (Waipahu, Hawai'i) — Communication
» Casey Yamauchi (Hilo, Hawai'i) — Communication + Kinesiology & Exercise Sciences – Allied Health
» Mathis Yamamoto (Honolulu, Hawai'i) — Kinesiology & Exercise Sciences – Applied KES + Allied Health
» Bradyn Yoshida (Makakilo, Hawai'i) — Kinesiology & Exercise Sciences – Allied Health

BASKETBALL (MEN'S)
» Darren Williams (Rancho Cucamonga, California) — Business Administration – Management

BASKETBALL (WOMEN'S)
» Sierra Cavaletto (Goleta, California) — Communication + Psychology
» Mandi Kawaha (Hilo, Hawai'i) — Communication + Kinesiology & Exercise Sciences – Allied Health
» Bree Olson (Tucson, Arizona) — Administration of Justice
» Jenna Waki (Sacramento, California) — Kinesiology & Exercise Sciences – Allied Health

CROSS COUNTRY (WOMEN'S)
» Sabina Boo-Rivera (Kea'au, Hawai'i) — Psychology
» Emma Heidelmeier (Pagosa Springs, Colorado) — Geography – Environmental Studies; Agriculture Minor
» Kathy Perez (Astoria, Oregon) — Biology

GOLF (MEN'S)
» Dustin Franko (Delta, British Columbia, Canada) — Business Administration – Management
» Noah Lau (Honolulu, Hawai'i) — Business Administration – Marketing
» Keith Ng (Richmond, British Columbia, Canada) — Psychology
» Andrew Otani (Honolulu, Hawai'i) — Accounting + Business Administration – Applied Economics

GOLF (WOMEN'S)
» Tori Hironaga (Hilo, Hawai'i) — Mathematics; Educational Studies Certificate

SOCCER (MEN'S)
» Julian Garcia (Albuquerque, New Mexico) — Business Administration – Management
» Wataru Muto (Chiba, Japan) — Business Administration – Marketing
» Brady O'Neill (Murrieta, California) — Business Administration – Marketing
» Marcus Plataniotis (Drummoyne, New South Wales, Australia) — Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Certificate

SOCCER (WOMEN'S)
» Zariah Nogales (Placentia, California) — Political Science; Pre-Law Certificate
» Viviana Poli (Ontario, California) — Psychology
» Nanea Wall (Kealakekua, Hawai'i) — Agriculture: Animal Health and Management Specialty; Equine Science Certificate

SOFTBALL
» Lauren Avalos * (Moreno Valley, California — Communication
» Brandee Chinen (Hilo, Hawai'i) — Biology – Cell, Molecular & Biomedical Sciences; Communication Minor
» Chloe Domingo ('Ewa Beach, Hawai'i) — Mathematics
» Trinity Favela ('Ewa Beach, Hawai'i) — Environmental Science
» Kuulei Ili (Hilo, Hawai'i) — Communication
» Malia Risdall (Santa Clarita, California) — Kinesiology & Exercise Sciences – Applied KES
» Maya Lee Saneishi (Mililani, Hawai'i) — Business Administration – Marketing

TENNIS (MEN'S)
» Joshua Liu (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) — Communication + Political Science
» Manuel Loera (Barstow, California) — Kinesiology & Exercise Sciences
» Ryosuke Sowa (Takarazuka, Hyogo, Japan) — Business Administration – Management

TENNIS (WOMEN'S)
» Anouk van Hoek (Zaltbommel, Gelderland, Netherlands) — Educational Studies Certificate + Business Administration Certificate

VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN'S)
» Cara Bolte (Honolulu, Hawai'i) — Business Administration – Management; Economics Minor
» Maile Goss (San Diego, California) — Marine Science
» Kendall Kott (Shingle Springs, California) — Political Science

* Summer 2023 graduate

Gallery: 2022-23 End of Year

2022-23 End of Year

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Student-Athlete Academic Honors Reception. April 24, 2023.

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#STUDENT Athlete

Players Mentioned

#9 Julian Garcia: F; 5' 11"; Senior (Redshirt)

#25 Wataru Muto: MF/D; 5' 8"; Senior

#13 Brady O'Neill: D; 6' 2"; Senior (Fifth Year)

#19 Marcus Plataniotis: D; 6' 3"; Senior (Redshirt)

Emma Heidelmeier: Senior

Sabina Boo-Rivera: Senior

Kathy Perez: Senior (Fifth Year)

#11 Cara Bolte: OPP; 6' 1"; Senior

#17 Maile Goss: DS/L; 5' 7"; Senior

#8 Kendall Kott: S; 6' 0"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#9 Julian Garcia
: 5' 11"; Senior (Redshirt)
: F

#25 Wataru Muto
: 5' 8"; Senior
: MF/D

#13 Brady O'Neill
: 6' 2"; Senior (Fifth Year)
: D

#19 Marcus Plataniotis
: 6' 3"; Senior (Redshirt)
: D

Emma Heidelmeier
: Senior

Sabina Boo-Rivera
: Senior

Kathy Perez
: Senior (Fifth Year)

#11 Cara Bolte
: 6' 1"; Senior
: OPP

#17 Maile Goss
: 5' 7"; Senior
: DS/L

#8 Kendall Kott
: 6' 0"; Senior
: S