April 25, 2013 Ke Alaka'i

April 25, 2013

Ke Alaka i Volume 103: Issue 1

THE LEADER

New Student Orientation 4&5 BYUH welcomes new students with open arms

Graduation 10&11 Class of Winter 2013 says final goodbyes

Beach Cleanup 12 &13 Students participate in island-wide beach cleanup

Ke Alaka i

Photo of the Week

April 25, 2013 • Volume 103: Issue 1 Editor-in-chief

Advisor

M av i s Ta g u ba

L e e an n L amb e r t

Head Photographer

Art Director

M ei Yi n

Make n z ie H e ad

COPY EDITORs

ART & GRAPHICS

Jef f McLe o d M a ke n z i e H e a d

Kyo ko H as e gawa

PHOTOGRAPHERs M a t t M cD o n a l d E m i ly Wa d d e l l Kyoko H a s e gawa

MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISTS Jeff McLeod, Clover Cheng, Dylan-Sage Wilcox, Robinia Tan, Jennifer Herrera, Matt Bledsoe, Tucker Grimshaw, Austin Meldrum, Homer Wolman

Volunteers sort through goods donated for victims of last week’s fertilizer plant explosion on Monday, April 22, 2013, in Texas. A total of 14 people were killed and more than 160 were injured. Photo by AP INTERNS M ei Yi n M a V i s Ta g u ba

AD MANAGER Matth ew Ble ds o e

[page 4 & 5]

CONTACT

New Student Or ientation

E-mail: ke a l a k a i @ byuh .e du Ad Information: ke a l ak aiads @ gmail.c o m Phone: ( 8 0 8 ) 6 7 5 - 3 6 9 4 Fax: ( 8 0 8 ) 6 7 5 - 3 4 9 1 Office: C a mp u s , A l o ha C e n te r 134 NEWS CENTER Box 1920 BYUH Laie, HI 96762

Publisher P r in t Se r vic e s

E d i t o r i a l , p h o to s u bmis s io n s & dis tr ibut i on i n qu i r i e s : ke a l ak ai@ byuh .e du. To subs cr i be t o th e R S S FEED o r to view a d d i t i o n a l a r ti cl e s , go to ke alak ai.byuh . ed u .

ON THE COVER

Graduates of the Class of 2013 celebrate after the April 13 graduation ceremony.

More than 600 degrees were awarded in April. Photo by Mei Yin

2

Ke Alaka‘i

Table of Contents

[page 10& 11] Graduation: T he Class of Winter 2013

[page 15] NBA Playof fs Review

[page 16] Tennis Update

Share with us your photo of the week and we may feature it in our next issue. e-mail us at kealakai@byuh.edu

CALENDAR

26

APRIL

27

APRIL

30

BYUHSA Summer A Opening Social. Theme: “Splash Into Summer” at the BYUH Pool from 8 to 10:30 p.m. (Please ALL swimsuits must be modest one piece) and the Banyan Tree BBQ Pit area 8 to 11 p.m. (next to the Cafeteria.) Look for the blue canvas tents over the brown picnic tables. Plenty of food, fun and games. Standards will be enforced.

Mormon Helping Hands Service Project. Meet at BYUH Little Circle for 8:15 or 9 a.m. bus to Pounders Beach (5th and 3rd wards) and Kakela/Koklolio Beach Park (6, 7, 8, 10, 16th wards) done by 11 a.m.

Busses return at 11:30 or noon.

Refreshments offered.

‘‘

APRIL

Are you returning for Fall 2013?

Then you MUST be endorsed by your BYUH Bishop before leaving; not your home bishop.

‘‘

the week in

QUOTES

“Rescuers were running toward the wounded on Boylston Street in acts of true heroism -- running toward the sound of the screams. In the end, the terrorists will fail because Bostonians did not turn from their fellow men -they turned toward them. And that is the real music of mankind.”

- Howard Fineman, editorial director of The Huffington Post

“If you catch the wave with faith and enthusiasm, others will also. This wave of truth and righteousness is wondrous.

This wave is empowered by a divine announcement made long ago. ‘This is my beloved Son, hear him’.”

-Russell M. Nelson

NOTE WORTHY news headlines

Two explosions went off at the Boston Marathon finish line on April 15 sending authorities out on the course to carry off the injured while the stragglers were rerouted away from the smoking site of the blasts. Photo by AP

Boston bombing investigation is ongoing Events from last week have culminated into an ongoing investigation as FBI and other government officials pieced together why 19-year-old Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and his deceased brother allegedly set off two pressure cooker bombs at the Boston Marathon that injured 260 people on April 15.

A manhunt to search for the Tsarnaev brothers underwent in Watertown, Mass.

Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, died in a gun battle against police. The area was under lockdown until Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was captured hiding out in a boat in a backyard in the Boston suburb of Watertown, authorities said.

“As we watched the story unfold in Boston and Watertown the day of the manhunt, we knew exactly where the scenes were and where the police were searching, and our hearts went out to all of the people impacted by this horrible experience,” BYU-Hawaii First Lady Margret Wheelwright said. The Wheelwrights lived in Boston for roughly 25 years.

“Our friends and ward members in Belmont (a neighboring town next to Watertown) were on lockdown the entire day of the manhunt.”

The improvised explosive utilized a pressure cooker that was packed with nails.

Shrapnel from the cooker and nails caused spec-

tators to receive traumatic injuries. According to the Associated Press, “Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was charged with using and conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction: setting off the shrapnel-packed pressure-cooker bombs.”

“A federal law enforcement official told CNN that while investigators have seen nothing yet to indicate the suspects were working with anyone else, a lot of work remains before they can say confidently that no others were involved,” CNN’s Jake Tapper and Matt Smith wrote in an article.

Although medicated, according to Magistrate Judge Marianne Bowler, Tsarnaev was found “alert, mentally competent and lucid” at a short bedside court appearance.

The decision to give Tsarnaev status as an enemy combatant was dropped in civilian court, a label used to classify known terrorists.

According to White House spokesman, Jay Carney, Tsarnaev is a naturalized U.S. citizen and cannot be tried by a military commission.

The investigation is ongoing as officials continue to question Dzhokhar. AP reported Tsarnaev could face the death penalty.

His condition was upgraded from serious to fair on Tuesday.

- d ylan - sage wilcox & ap April 25, 2013

3

NSO 4

Ke Alaka‘i

Left page: LaDon Reyes (right) and Effie Dela Cruz (left) lead students on a tour of BYU-Hawaii campus.

Photo by Kyoko Hasegawa Right Page: Students participate in NSO activities.

Photos by Kyoko Hasegawa

NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION BYU-Hawaii welcomes new students with open arms

A

s the new semester begins at BYU-Hawaii, a variety of events from tours to talent shows help students adjust to life as a Seasider. The weeklong frenzy of instruction and activities oriented the newcomers before the beginning of summer term.

“I had no idea that [BYUH] had so much to offer,” Amy Wilson, a freshman from California, said about the diversity of clubs and services presented at the new student orientation. “I was nervous about getting involved. I mean, I wanted to, but I wasn’t sure where or how to start.” She plans to get involved with the culture clubs on campus, specifically the Hawaiian Club.

New student orientation offered students a sample of the various clubs, jobs, and services found at BYUH, while providing them with all the necessary information to help the new students get settled. At one booth, representatives from the Mail Center assisted students in signing up for their own mailboxes on campus. Other booths advertised campus facilities like the Game Center and the Bookstore. BYUHSA and the Career Center also had information booths.

Tabitha Leiataua, an employee in the Mail Center, commented, “Orientation is the perfect time to help the students start their college experiences the right way by getting mail boxes. Now they have a place to send all of the stuff they purchase online.”

Leiataua explained how it is best to be organized from the start. “I remember when I was a new student. I was nervous and confused but going to orientation helped me feel a little more comfortable.”

During orientation week, other activities like the ‘Circle Island Tour’ gave new students a brief introduction to the island of Oahu. The tour stopped at Walmart, Pearl Harbor, and other destinations providing a glimpse of the island that some students wouldn’t be able to see otherwise.

Orientation week capped off the week’s festivities with a chance for students to make friends and show off their skills while performing at the talent show.

- Austin me ldru m

april 25, 2013

5

Top: April 2013 BYU-Hawaii graduates sing “Aloha Oe” one last time in front of their parents and BYUH ohana. Bottom: Former BYUHSA President Mustapha El Akkari gives his remarks. Students and parents enjoy the dishes served at the banquet. Students perfomed cultural dances entertaining the graduates and their families. Photos by Mei Yin

Senior Banquet Graduating seniors dine in style with friends and family

G

raduating seniors celebrated the accomplishment of finishing their undergraduate degrees with their families and friends on April 12 in the Cannon Activities Center. The night kicked off with some words from former BYUHSA President Mustapha El Akkari and performances by the Samoan and Korean clubs.

Over 1,000 people filled the floor of the CAC. Emily Smithson, a graduate from San Diego, Calif., who studied history, shared her thoughts and emotions of the night’s activities. “I am just so happy that my mom could be here with me, along with all of my friends who I have made here at BYUH. It has been such a blessing to come to this school and finish my education. It has been a great three years, and I am looking forward to the future.”

Food was served to all in abundant amounts. Some feared there would not be enough food for all the guests because there were not even enough chairs. But the BYUH Catering Services came through in fine style

6

Ke Alaka‘i

with a great assortment of appetizers and deserts.

Kassie McGonegal, a graduating senior from Eden, Utah who studied exercise sports science, happily smiled as she sat next to her mother and father and said, “I feel so blessed. BYUH has been amazing and I’m so happy that I was here during this stage of my life.”

Jessica Brown, a graduate from Arizona, commented, “All around it was good. It was nice to have the chapters to perform, and it was nice to have a celebration.” According to her, BYUH would be as “… a good growing experience to get out on your own and find out who you’ll be.”

At the end of the evening, the seniors took center stage to sing “Aloha Oe” one last time. After the last line, a loud “Chee-hoo” was heard followed by an eruption of cheers and tears of joy as the seniors said goodbye.

- Mat t h ew Bled so e

New multi-purpose building to be named

T

Heber J. Grant Building

he new multipurpose building located next to the stake center will be named the Heber J. Grant building. According to a letter from President Steven C. Wheelwright, “The building will be dedicated in September 2013, and more information on that event will be announced at a later date.” It was announced last week that Elder Russell M. Nelson will be on campus on Sept. 8 to dedicate the building and also broadcast a Single Adult CES fireside from the Cannon Activities Center on the same day.

Elder Holland stated at the groundbreaking of the building, “How wonderful that [this building] will have a multi-purpose

use that will be able to integrate, literally and figuratively, our intellectual pursuits and our spiritual devotions.”

Wheelwright commented in his letter that, “Heber J. Grant was the seventh president of the Church, serving from 1918 to 1945. Many of you know that President Grant dedicated the Laie Hawaii Temple on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1919, marking the first operating temple outside of the continental United States.”

President Grant developed many institutions for the church. According to LDS.org, “By the time [Heber J. Grant] was 15, he had begun a successful business

HJG Building under construction. Photos by Monique Saenz

career and had been ordained to the office of Seventy. Ten years later, he was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, where he served for 37 years. His business experience enabled him to modernize Church organizations and procedures.”

The name of the building will bring cohesiveness to this campus. Aubrey Rasmussen, a senior in graphic design said, “The name Heber J. Grant is fitting for campus.”

In the end of the letter announcing the name, President Wheelwright said, “My hope is that as you watch construction of the new Heber J. Grant Building as it is completed in the coming months, and as you enter it and other facilities on our beautiful campus, that you will constantly be reminded of our mission to ‘integrate both spiritual and secular learning’ in all we do.”

President Wheelwright continued, “The Heber J. Grant Building is a physical embodiment of this integration, and it is appropriate that the prophet of God who originally dedicated the Holy Temple in Laie should have his name affixed to this sacred edifice.”

- Tu cke r Grimshaw April 25, 2012

7

Taylor Rippy is a BYU-Hawaii ICS Communications major who is starting a blog this summer for LDS women around the world to share who they are with other sisters in the gospel.

S e n io r ICS m a jor Rippy star t s a b lo g to p ro vid e LDS s i s t er s a place t o lear n m ore a b o u t e a c h o th e r

I

8

n an effort to unite LDS women from a variety of backgrounds in a discussion of finding oneself in the faith, BYU-Hawaii student Taylor Rippy will launch a blog entitled “A New Testament” this summer. Taylor is a senior in the ICS program from San Diego, Calif.

During an interview, Rippy spoke of her own experience as a young woman feeling alienated from her perception of “the perfect Mormon woman.” She expressed concern for youth growing up today who feel like outsiders in a church that is intended to welcome everyone. The insecurities and doubts that plague youth also affect adult women, she said.

Rippy explained that “The blog is meant to help righteous, faithful LDS women who are from all backgrounds know their value.” It will be made up of posts contributed to Rippy by women in the LDS Church.

“The common thread among the posts will be that we are all active LDS women. The blog is meant to expand the perceived identities of LDS women.”

Rippy explained that “As a church, we have millions of women and each of us has a testimony and an identity. The testiKe Alaka‘i

mony may be common, but the identity is different. I am not going to target, or avoid, a specific group for posts. The emphasis will be on the individual’s value, life, and experiences. This will not become a hot bed of controversy. That’s not what I want. There’s enough of that already.”

When asked about her opinion on the idea of the blog, Dr. AnnaMarie Christiansen, of the English Department, said, “It’s a great idea. Anytime when a diversity of women and their voices get featured it won’t be a bad thing. What we learn in IDS 310, multicultural women’s studies, is that when we look at the world through a woman’s eyes or from a female perspective, what we see may be different than what we have noticed before. That holds true for men and for women. I look forward to reading it.

In particular I think many of the women on our campus have fascinating stories in terms of how they got here and what inspires them now.”

As in the LDS Church, women from around the world are represented on campus at BYUH. Rippy expressed that, “With the global church, we need to understand that the majority of female members

are coming from outside the western United States. We need to broaden our view and understand diversity among church members in 2013.”

According to Dr. Phillip McArthur, the Dean of the College of Language, Culture, and Arts, “Blogs democratize information and knowledge. With Mormon women, this broadens the dialogue. More settings and backgrounds can join the conversation.”

BYUH Associate Academic Vice President Dr. Chad Compton, said, “As a result of living in a telestial world, it’s easy to lose track of who we are as sons or daughters of God. It is useful for us as faithful Latterday Saints with testimonies of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, to tell our stories and talk about how we became the individuals we are in relation to the organizations we are a part of.”

Women interested in sharing their story of finding themselves in the LDS faith can send submissions to the email address: anewtestament@gmail.com.

- Makara Fitzge rald

Laie Cinema receives a facelift Top: The Laie Palms Cinema undergoes significant changes. Bottom, from left to right. The Cinema replaces its 1960’s style projectors to a digital and modern ones. BYUH Alumnus Brian Ray explains the new process involved in showing movies in the theater. Photos by Emily Waddell.

Local theater goes digital, gives up film

The old process of showing movies involved huge 40-to-80 pound, 4-foot-wide reels of 35 mm film the crew had to piece together and change out and monitor confter several weeks with closed doors, the Laie Palms Cinema re-opened with stantly through out the presentation of movan entirely new and high-tech movie experi- ies. These reels would be set on spinners and the film stretched across the projection room ence.

The change that the movie theater in a very intricate and at times, problematic way. underwent was changing from 1960’s style

Ray commented, “They [the reels] projectors to a modern and digital format. got really heavy at times, and we had a lot of The change represents a significant investment from Laie Palms with hopes of growing problems where the film would unwind itself from the middle of the reel and it would the audience that will patron its theaters. snag up on something and explode all over Bree Lundquist, a sophomore in graphic design from California, said, “I’m stoked that the projection room. It would be a terrible Laie Palms is slowly changing. It’s starting to mess. This would happen during movies and we would have to stop it until we had the feel like a rocking college town.”

The change makes both the quality problem fixed. The new way is much easier.

It’s all automated and controlled by computof the movies and the process of showing them much easier. Brian Ray, a BYU-Hawaii ers.”

The new system allows the crew to alumnus, who has been working at Laie Palm download films from servers on the Internet for almost two years, explained the old and and control every aspect of the movie presennew process by which Laie Palms has been tation with a simple touch of a screen. The showing movies to the Laie community.

A

movies can be set on timers and avoid any user interference other than programming.

The studios now send a small hard drive that has the movie in digital format which only needs to be plugged in and the operator can simply press play.

The new system is not without its own set of troubles and kinks to work out.

“The first week was just miserable,” Ray said.

“We started playing movies and half way through the movie it just froze and there was nothing that we could do. For the first week we were just using one projector because one of the projectors kept failing on us.”

When asked about the change, Ray said, “I am a fan of the film, I am a little old fashioned, but I was excited about the change because it is really high tech and really fun to work with.”

It appeared that all the glitches had been worked out and the change to Laie Palms Cinema will pay off dividends as they are ready to entertain its viewers with the highest quality movies that can be offered.

- Matthe w Ble dsoe

April 25, 2012

9

Class of

2013 Becoming an Influence for Good

10

Ke Alaka‘i

T

Graduating students and their supporters gather in Cannon Activities Center for the graduation ceremony.

Photo by Mei Yin

he largest graduating class in the history of BYUH goes forth to fulfill President David O. McKay’s prophecy. President Mckay stated, “From this school will go men and women whose influence will be felt for good towards the establishment of peace internationally.”

According to Ariel Chaffin of University Relations, “Approximately 550 students representing 46 different countries” participated in the commencement ceremony.

Elder Richard J. Maynes, a member of the Presidency of the Seventy addressed the students. Maintaining character was the clear theme of Elder Maynes address. Elder Maynes counseled, “It may be easy to cut corners on credentials. It is very difficult to cut corners on character.” Elder Maynes encouraged graduates to “continually strive to justify credentials” through “character”.

Brooke Skousen, a graduate in elementary education from Arizona, said, “I was really excited to be a part of this graduating class because some of my closest friends that I’ve had since attending BYUH were also apart of it. It was fun being able to graduate with a bunch of friends.”

President Steven C. Wheelwright also addressed the graduates. Wheelwright provided the students with three points of ad-

Lindsey Bancroft (left) and Reagan Billings are (right) part of the class of 2013. Photos

by Mei Yin and Kyoko Hasegawa

vice: “1. Don’t take sabbatical from learning, especially spiritual learning. 2. Maintain your standards of honesty and integrity. 3. Invest in eternal relationships.” President Wheelwright emphasized “Building eternal family relationships” in the end of his talk.

Roger C. Christensen, an assistant to the commissioner of the Church Education System and secretary to the Board of Trustees for BYU-Hawaii, encouraged graduates to look towards the Savior. Christensen shared some examples of Jesus Christ that graduates could emulate. He said, “Jesus knew who He was and why He was here.” Christensen encouraged students to “become more like the perfect leader.”

Krystelle Dimaya, a graduate in social work from the Philippines, said she “loved [the speakers’ messages.] The speakers were great and it actually made me feel proud of myself. It felt so good to finally be done with school. I hate the fact that I’m leaving Laie.”

Skousen agreed with Dimaya’s comment and said, “I’m so excited to be graduated and done with school, but I also feel sad that the last four years flew by so fast and I have to say goodbye. I am looking forward to new adventures and new opportunities.”

- TUCKER GRIMSHAW April 25, 2012

11

12

Ke Alaka‘i

Students help cleanup Kalama Beach near Sea Life Park, on Saturday, April 20. It was a project for the Enactus group on campus and BYUHSA working with the Kokua Foundation and the Sustainable Coastlines organizations. Photos by Emily Waddell.

- Jeff m c leo d

Plastic-free Hawaii

senior in biology, was lucky enough to find one of the bottles in a secluded area. He said, “The first bottle I saw I picked up and when I saw the dolphins on it, I thought, ‘God has smiled upon me today.’ I couldn’t be happier to have contributed and the water bottle they gave me was stellar.”

The large turnout of students has put BYUH on the map as a service oriented university. Jordan Berardy, the head of the Service Center, was pleased with the participation from BYUH. He said, “We were the only university on the island that participated in this island wide beach cleanup. Sustainable Coastlines was extremely grateful for our strong showing.”

Toby Redd, an assistant manager at the Service Center, helped people get the 36 volunteers from BYUH involved in the project. He said, “We definitely got the word out that BYUH is here to serve the community.”

After the beach cleanup, volunteers headed to the Sea Life Park for the afternoon.

Eco-friendly foundations and organizations set up booths at the Sea Life Park to educate and gain support for their environmental causes.

Bands played as part of the Cleanup Music Festival from 12-4:30 p.m. Students listened and learned about the environment as they roamed the park enjoying the featured animal life.

Nichel Warwick, a senior in marketing, said, “I have always wanted to go to Sea Life Park because dolphins are my favorite animal. Getting that opportunity for five dollars was great, but the service was even better.”

BYUH students help with beach cleanup

3

6 students from BYU-Hawaii helped clean Kalama Beach Park in Kailua as part of Hawaii’s largest beach cleanup in history.

The students were among the 100 volunteers at Kalama who came together as part of the ‘Plastic Free Hawai’i Beach Cleanup’ to clear waste from the shoreline spanning from Pyramid Rock to Sandy Beach.

Nathan Cunningham, who helped plan the event as an Enactus representative, said, “Overall, the beach cleanup was awesome. We had a lot of help from students to organize and participate. Everyone had a lot of fun and we all felt like we made a difference in making our beaches a beautiful place.”

Cunningham and John Fisihetau of BYUH’s Enactus group, worked closely with the Kokua Foundation and Sustainable Coastlines to coordinate transportation and the running of the event. Enactus teamed up with the BYUH Service Center to recruit volunteers for the event.

The students in attendance gathered over 15,000 microplastic pieces, 311 fishing nets and rope, and 291 cigarette butts in the beach cleanup. Students spent the day from 9-11:30 a.m. picking up trash that had washed up onto the beach or been left behind by beachgoers.

The students broke into small groups and filtered out the sand with sifters to find the little pieces of plastic embedded in the sand. Ben Johnson, a junior in accounting from California, said, “It was hot weather, but a fun time with friends at the beach.

It felt good to clean the beaches. It was kind of like giving back to mother nature.”

To keep things fun, special prizes were awarded to those who found special marked glass bottles that were hidden throughout the beach. Tim McDonald, a

April 25, 2012

13

HAMSTER RISES from the

GRAVE O

ver the Easter holiday, two caretakers were surprised when the hamster they had thought was dead dug its way out after being buried for 24 hours, reports The Inquisitr. BYU-Hawaii students said they admire the hamster for her strength to dig her way out.

The Inquisitr reports that Lisa Kilbourne-Smith and her boyfriend, James Davis from Gloucestershire, England, found the hamster, Tink, not moving in the cage when they were asked to look after their friend’s pets. Thinking that the creature was dead, they rolled her up in paper towels and buried her in the earth. Later, they called the pet’s owners, Nicki Gamble and Jamie Wynn, to inform them about Tink’s death.

However, the next day, Kilbourne-Smith’s father, Les, went outside to flatten an empty cardboard box when he noticed the hamster’s head popping out. Even after 24 hours underground, Tink still had the strength to dig her way out from her grave. After coming out from her grave she also escaped being eaten by the family’s cat, Milo.

As a result of this miracle, she was renamed Jesus.

Lucas de Oliveira, a sophomore majoring in exercise science from Brazil, said he probably would have named the hamster “Miracle” if this kind of situation happened to him. He explained, “[The hamster] was in hibernation and buried into the ground, which would have probably killed [her], but [she] was able to survive. It’s kind of like a miracle.”

Davis said in The Iniquisitr article, “I came home and thought she was dead because she’s two and a half years old, which is quite old for a hamster. When Les found her safe and well in the recycling, I had the embarrassing job of ringing Jamie to tell him, ‘She’s not dead. She crawled out of her grave last night’.”

Boonie Berry, a junior majoring in HTM from California, said the caretakers should be more responsible in caring for a life. She continued, “They should take responsibility for their actions if they’re going to take care of a life like the hamster.”

Casey Rindlisbach, a junior majoring in elementary education from Ohio, said that what she likes the most about this story is the will of the hamster. She added, “If you have a will, things can happen. Just like that hamster dug [itself] out.”

14

-ROBINIA TAN

Ke Alaka‘i

NBA

WEST

With the matchups set, here is what to look for this year in the NBA playoffs.

OKC Thunder vs. Houston Rockets

This series will be a breeze for the Thunder as most ESPN experts have them as favorites in the West. Doug Bush, a junior in business from California, said, “I put [the Heat] against Oklahoma City in the finals.”

San Antonio Spurs vs. L.A. Lakers

San Antonio took game one decisively and look to dominate the Kobe-less Lakers.

Denver Nuggets vs. Golden State Warriors

EAST

What was shaping up as one of the best opening series in the West has now taken a turn for the worst for the Warrior’s as All-Star David Lee suffered a hip flexor tear in the game one loss to the Nuggets. Without Lee, the Warriors will have to make some major adjustments to stand a chance in this best of seven series.

vs.

L.A. Clippers vs. Memphes Grizzlies

The big three are back and Lebron James had another MVP caliber season as he looks to lead his team to the finals for the third straight year. Jeremiah Thee, a sophomore in computer science from Laie, said, “This year, it looks like the NBA playoffs are going to be a race for second place. The Miami Heat have been so dominant this year.

Personally, I am a Lebron James fan and can’t wait for him to repeat previous performance.”

KJ Elledge, a graduate in EXS from Mililani, pulls for the Clippers this postseason and said, “I am surprised on how well the Clippers did this year and how bad the Lakers have done. It will be interesting to see how the Lakers respond without Kobe Bryant. I have always seen the L.A. Lakers as the best team in L.A. but I want to see the Clippers go far in the playoffs and establish themselves as the best in L.A.”

Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks

New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics The Celtics seem to be surprising a lot of people in the playoffs with their veteran team, but the Knicks might have too much firepower for the Celtics this year. Carmelo Anthony of the Knicks will continue to score as he did in the regular season when he led the league in scoring this year, averaging 36.0 points per game.

Indiana Pacers vs. Atlanta Hawks

This series shapes up to be a battle. James Herbert of the Hardwood Paroxysm blog, says, “Pacers in 6. Indiana has been elite on defense all season, and Atlanta is going to have tons of problems figuring out ways to score.”

Chicago Bulls vs. Brooklyn Nets

Top Right: Lebron James of the Heat looks to win back to back championships. Bottom Left: Stephen Curry of the Warriors fires up his team as they take on the Nuggets. Photos courtesy of AP.

In the final of the Eastern Conference matchups, the Chicago Bulls are still without Derek Rose and may struggle against the Brooklyn Nets as point guard Deron Williams and Brooke Lopez have something to prove with the big contracts they signed in the off-season.

Look for a slugfest in this series.

- J EFF MCLEOD

April 25, 2013

15

Lady Seasiders bring home PacWest Title The fourth-ranked BYU-Hawaii’s women’s tennis team won the Pacific West Conference championship and extracted a measure of revenge today by defeating third-ranked Hawaii Pacific 5-0 in the championship match on April 20.

The Seasiders swept the three doubles matches and won at each of the top two singles slots to improve to 27-1 for the season and avenge their only loss of the year.

In doubles play, Annie Hwang and Sherry Liu combined for an 8-2 win at number one doubles while Marietta Tuionetoa and Marika Kobayashi were winning 8-3 at number two doubles and Sasha Ulbrichtova

After winning the PacWest championship against Hawaii Pacific, the BYUH women’s team wait to be seeded and officially invited to the NCAA II National Tournament.

Photo courtesy of BYUH Athletics.

and Jade Griffin were claiming an 8-6 win at the third position. In singles play, Hwang took a 6-1, 6-1 decision at the top spot and Liu claimed a 6-2, 6-3 victory at number two singles. Hwang was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

Wei-Feng Lee crushes a forehand in a match. Photo by Mei Yin

Men finish in 5th place The 41st-ranked BYU-Hawaii men’s tennis team defeated Point Loma Nazarene 5-2 in the fifth-place match of the Pacific West Conference Tournament on April 20.

The Seasiders picked up wins at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles and at second, third, and sixth singles to improve to 12-7 for the season. Yevhen Zakharov and Martin Chojnacki picked up an 8-4 win at No. 1 doubles while Wei-Feng Lee and Dai Peng won by an 8-4 score at No. 2 doubles to give the Seasiders a 2-1 lead heading into singles play.

In singles play, Peng earned a win for the Seasiders with a 6-4, 6-4 victory at No. 6 singles while Lee was winning 6-4, 6-0 at the third singles spot. Chojnacki worked three sets for his victory at number two singles, coming away with a 6-0, 2-6, 6-4 win for the Seasiders.

-B YUH s p ort s in fo

16

Ke Alaka‘i

BYUH will now await an official invitation and seeding for the NCAA II National Tournament, which is scheduled to be played May 8 to 12 in Surprise, Ariz.

- BYUH sp orts info