September 6, 2012

September 6, 2012

Ke Alaka i Volume 101: Issue 1

THE LEADER

Volleyball starts strong: Seniors hope to make their last season their best 4

Racing forward: How the women’s cross country team plans to have a strong season 15

High Hopes for Soccer: New coaching pair provides men’s team with a fresh start 18

Ke Alaka i

Table of Contents

September 6, 2012 • Volume 101: Issue 1 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ADVISOR

M a r i ssa E l d e r

L e e an n L amb e r t

HEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

M ei Y i n

COPY EDITOR

VIDEO PRODUCTION

Na t ha ni e l Wa s d e n

P h illip A n dr us

PHOTOGRAPHERS

ART & GRAPHICS

M ei Y i n

Mic h ae l Gulde n Ke n t C aro llo

Andie Martin runs oceanside in Laie. Photo by Mei Yin

MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISTS G i sel l e R a mi re z , A bi gay le B utle r, Mo rgan B ouwhu i s , M a . V i s Ta g u ba. Matt B le ds o e.

Amy Ku n i h i ro.

[page 4] INTERNS M ei Y i n Phi l l i p A n d r u s

AD MANAGER Matt B le ds o e

[page 9]

E-mail: kealakai@byuh.edu Ad Information: kealakaiads@gmail. com Phone: (808) 675-3694 Fax: (808) 675-3491 Office: Campus, Aloha Center 134 NEWS CENTER

PUBLISHER

BOX 1920 BYUH LAIE, HI 96762

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 ibu t i on i n qu i r i e s : ke a l a k ai@ byuh .e du. To sub scr 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

This issue of Ke Alaka’i has five different covers photographed by Mei Yin or Michael Gulden. They are: Kassie Mcgonegal, women’s cross country; Spencer Deavila, men’s cross country; Courtney Skaggs, women’s volleyball; Will Barber, men’s soccer; and Kami Straight, women’s soccer.

KE ALAKA‘I

Men’s soccer prev i ew

[page 16]

N ah o ’o lewas say soccer st rengt hens t hei r mar r iage

CONTACT

2

[page 7]

Wo me n ’s vol l ey bal l seni or s di scu ss f i nal s e as o n

Women’s cross cou nt r y prev i ew

Robert R. Holland D.C., L.M.T.

CHIROPRACTIC & MASSAGE THERAPY

Specializing in Medical Massage and Soft Tissue

Rehabilitation for Whiplash Injury, Neck Pain and Back Pain No Fault Insurance Accepted KAHUKU-NORTHSHORE 56-119 Pualalea Street TEL:293-0122

SEPT

CALENDAR

Student Orientation, 08 AstherepartwillofbeNewa Circle Island tour

SEPT

08

news headlines

The BYUH women’s volleyball team will play Western Oregon University on Sept. 8 in the CAC at 7:30 p.m.

The snack bar will be open on the second floor and plenty of free parking will be available. Admission is free with a student I.D.

will be an Information Expo in 10 There the Aloha Center Mall from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be representatives from Costco, Sam’s Club, and other local businesses. There will be plenty of free giveaways.

‘‘

‘‘

SEPT

from 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Stops will be made at Walmart and Pearl Harbor.

The cost is $10 for students.

NOTE WORTHY

the week in

QUOTES

“I f Mi t t was Santa Clau s , h e ’d f ire the rei n deer and outso u rce t h e el ves,” -declared f ormer O hio Gov. Ted Str ickland in o n e bit ing speech at the D emocrat ic Na t io n a l C onvention.

“A st or ybook mar r iage ? No, n o t a t a l l . What Mitt R omney a nd I have i s a rea l mar r iage.”

-sa i d An n R omney at th e R e p u bli ca n Na tional Conventio n , a ccord i ng t o Time magazine “Nobody need cr y f or m e. I ’m goi ng t o be great.”

-sa i d La nce Armstrong a ft er t he U. S. Ant i- D oping Agency s t r ip p e d hi m of h is seven Tour de F ra n ce, a cc ordi ng to Time maga z ine “We mu st examine our lives , re pent a s necessar y, pled ge t o ke e p the L ord’s commandme n t s , a nd f ol l ow His ser vants.”

-Presi dent Henr y B. Eyr ing s a id conc er ning the sustain ing o f ou r l ea der s, according to l d s .o rg

Above: Nathan James uses a leg press machine in school-approved shorts at the Fitness Center. Photo by Bart Jolley

Fitness Center to enforce stricter Honor Code dress code standards The Fitness Center has begun to reinforce its standards concerning the length of athletic shorts, something that may come to the dismay of students. The Fitness Center has reevaluated what is to be considered appropriate attire for exercise and will begin enforcing stricter rules as of now.

Casey Hoyt, a sophomore majoring in EXS from California, is an employee at the gym. He said, “There were bad reactions from the girls because they can’t wear running shorts. The guys don’t like to shave, and people usually have issues with covering their tattoos. I don’t know what this has to do with anything. Covering tattoos and some other rules don’t make a lot of sense to me.

But you do it because you have to.”

He continues, “I do think modesty can be an issue here. We want the guys to stay mentally clean, and it’s hard when the girls are running in little shorts.”

His co-worker Danna-Lynn Hooper, a junior majoring in EXS from Hawaii, said, “Modesty in the gym is important.

You don’t work out so you can wear new fashions. You work out for exercise. What you wear shouldn’t matter. That is why we uphold standards.” Hoyt added, “It’s not fun to turn people away but we’ve had to do it

a lot more now that these rules are put back into affect.”

Sister Lee, an advisor at the Office of Honor feels strongly that, “Showing skin is showing skin. Our bodies are temples of God and that applies everywhere.” Brother Meli Lesuma, head advisor at the Honor Code Office, added to Sister Lee’s remark with, “The rules are in place because we’re trying to maintain a higher standard given to us by the Lord through his leaders.”

He continued, “We lay out the broad framework and let the department make the specifics. That’s why dancers, actors, athletes, etc. are sometimes dressed differently. But once their activity is finished, we expect them to be back in standards.”

Some students feel that the purpose of clothing is more important than the letter of the law. Concerning having to cover his tattoos, Morgan Leung, a senior studying EXS, said, “Why cover it? They don’t mean I’m a bad person.”

Another dilemma students face is the unavailability of modest shorts at the cage without purchasing a locker. According to the issue room, students must first purchase a locker for $15 before being able to borrow a uniform.

To learn more about the policies being enforced concerning clothing, visit the Fitness Center.

- AB IGAYLE BU TLE R SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

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Women’s Volleyball

VOLLEYBALL

GIRLS WHO KNOW HOW TO JUMP

Three Seasider seniors, left to right, Courtney Skaggs, Michelle Tuli Peters Tevaga and Lauren Hagemeyer, are preparing for the Fall 2012 season. Skaggs walked on the team; Tevaga, who played at Kahuku High School, returns to her hometown; and Hagemeyer is a decorated volleyball veteran. Photos by Mei Yin

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Volleyball It’s worth the sacrifice

“This volleyball experience was not expected, but it happened and it has been a huge blessing...”

-Courtney Skaggs

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ourtney Skaggs came onto BYU-Hawaii women’s volleyball team unexpectedly and tells of what it did for her: “It has been such a blessing for me and my family. I was able to get scholarships that help me with college and I have had experiences with my teammates and my coaches that I will remember forever.”

Skaggs sums up her overall BYUH volleyball experience with one word: blessing. “I never would have expected to be playing.

I hoped. But I never thought it was going to happen. It has been a huge blessing on my life and on my family’s life.”

Skaggs began playing women’s volleyball for the BYUH team after participating in Coach Will Navalta’s volleyball class and was asked to try out for the team. She played volleyball in high school and said she always had a desire to play volleyball in college but never got recruited. She tried out and walked on to the BYUH volleyball team her sophomore year of college.

“I thought about trying out my freshman year, but I needed to work and save money,” she said. “This volleyball experience was not expected, but it happened and it has been a huge blessing.”

Skaggs explained some of the difficulties of playing volleyball competitively: “The hardest part is balancing everything with work, school and church responsibilities. It is hard, but it teaches you a lot about time management and how to prioritize things. It’s a good learning experience.” Time and energy are the biggest sacrifices for Skaggs as a college athlete. “I always say the life of a college athlete is

‘You are always tired and always hungry.’ It’s a sacrifice to put your body out there everyday, but it’s all worth it.”

Being on volleyball teams has created memorable experiences for her. “Riding in the car with your roommates for hours, watching each other sleep and messing with each other – those are the best times.”

Much like her teammate Lauren Hagemeyer, Skaggs’ expectations for this upcoming volleyball season are hopeful and optimistic.

“I think we will have a really successful season,” she said. “If we better ourselves from last year, we have a really good shot at nationals.

We have a really good team. We just need to execute and perform to our best abilities.”

When Skaggs was asked to explain how her athletic build works to her advantage on the court, she explained, “Naturally, I don’t jump very high, but for me it is about outsmarting the other person. When the time is there to take advantage of their mistake, I can take it. I am not tall compared to some girls, but I try to be smart.” If Skaggs could be any athlete, she would be Junior Seau, her childhood hero. He was a linebacker for the San Diego Chargers.

Skaggs described, “His passion for the game was insane. He played the game with so much love and he played like a little kid. He had so much fun, so I always try to have as much fun as I can.”

-GISE LLE RAMIRE Z SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

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ANATOMY OF A SPIKE •MAKE CONTACT with the ball with the palm of your hand and follow through.

•KEEP YOUR BACK ARCHED to maximize the Full range of motion in your Body.

•SNAP THE WRIST down after spiking the ball. The wrist action drives the volleyball straight down with power

•VISION Turn toward the setters when the spike is being set up.

Keep your eyes on the volleyball and track it from the setter’s hands to the front of the net

•MOVE TOWARD THE BALL with the first step while building some speed. Step next with the right foot and you should be positioned behind the volleyball and ready to spike.

•PROPER EQUIPMENT such as ankle guards and court shoes improve performance.

Hagemeyer’s height

6’1’’

S

tanding at 6 feet 1 inch, Lauren Hagemeyer is an asset to BYUHawaii’s women’s volleyball team. When asked to describe how her athlete build works to her advantage, she said, “I am really tall and I am left handed. The block is set up for a right-handed person.

When they think you are going to block with your right hand, you actually hit with your left hand, so you have more angles to hit.”

Hagemeyer was influenced to play volleyball by her father who played competitively in college. She was recruited by BYUH after playing for Snow College. She wanted to move up a level and was hooked by the beach and the church school environment. She added, “I wanted a change and wanted to see what it was like being around LDS people.”

She shared what the hardest part was about playing volleyball competitively for her. She explained that it is “…the fact that I hate to lose and the fact that at some point it’s all going to end. You only get four years of eligibility and you have to make the best of it.

But we have really good team chemistry and it will help us win this year.” She added, “Realistically, this year will be the best year. We have the best talent and we really want to win. I am really hopeful.”

Hagemeyer has been making good progress on her recovery from a bicep impingement that would not allow her full range of motion when lifting her arms. She said, “I was really worried, this being 6

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my senior year, but its been getting better and I am getting stronger.

My goal is to play my best with no regrets. I think we can go to nationals and get All American. I just want to win.”

Expecting her mission call in the upcoming week, Hagemeyer tells of her experience about some of her teammates having been baptized through the years, “I went to missionary discussions with them and, by being around the sister missionaries and seeing how happy they were and seeing the joy they got from serving others, it made me want to be like them.”

Hagemeyer’s best volleyball memory at BYUH is, “When I 6-packed a girl.” She explained, “6-packing is when a volleyball player spikes the ball and the digger is ready to pass, but instead of hitting their arms, the ball hits their chest and makes a bumping noise.”

The BYUH volleyball experience has been a memorable one for Hagemeyer. She tells of a funny experience she had while trying to impress a guy while playing volleyball. “One time, during a game, I saw a guy I knew and he was watching me play. At one point, the setter and I collided while trying to get the ball and my shoe came off. They set the ball to me right after I got my shoe on and I hit it straight into the net.” With a smile on her face, she added, “I can’t look into the stands anymore. I get too nervous.”

- GISE LLE RAMIRE Z

Former BYUH basketball standout Jet Chang playing in NBA summer league

C

hang Tsung-Hsien, or “Jet” Chang, is a former BYU-Hawaii Seasider basketball player pursuing his dreams of playing for the NBA.

“The main thing that immediately caught our eye about Chang was his ability to shoot the NBA 3,” said Rodger Bohn of SLAM magazine about his NBA tryout. “Throughout the workout, he was right there with Ross (maybe even better) with his accuracy from deep. Not just a shooter from beyond the arc, Jet showed off great form and similar results from mid-range, both spotting up or shooting off the dribble. Chang also surprised onlookers with his athleticism when he threw down some powerful dunks in the drill session.”

Chang graduated from BYUH in 2012 and was even named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-Region First Team for the West Region of NCAA II and to Basketball Times AllAmerican First Team for NCAA II. He says he has plans to become a business manager or coach but his ultimate goal is to play for the NBA. He is currently playing with the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA Summer League. Chang is somewhat of a celebrity in Taiwan and at BYUH. His sports hero is Kobe Bryant. He likes to listen to R&B and rap, and he loves watching movies. His favorite is the film “Coach Carter.”

-MOR G A N BO UW H UIS

Pictured above: Jet Chang playing for BYU-Hawaii. Photo by Dewey Keithly. Pictured lower left: Shayla Washington goes for a shot during last season. Photo by Mei Yin

Washington brings excitement to BYUH women’s basketball The Lady Seasiders basketball team is excited for its upcoming season and the return of its All-American Player, Shayla Washington. The team ended its last season with a record of 5-13 in conference and 6-20 overall.

Concerning his goals for the upcoming season, Coach Hiram Akina said, “As a coach, you want to win every game, but realistically I want to get the girls to play together and be competitive. Ultimately, we want to win the conference. We’ve got good team speed and talent. I think we will be exciting to watch.”

Akina is most excited to see how All-American returner, Washington, will perform this season. Of Washington, Akina said, “Shayla changes the game because of her athleticism. We feel like around the league people have to respect her because of her abilities and what she does on the court. She will command a lot of attention.”

The Lady Seasiders will not start their next season until the end of the fall, but the excitement has begun to build for this new team.

-MARISSA E LDE R

SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

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Married to more than the team:

Naho’olewas say soccer is an anchor in their marriage

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K

asha and Damon Naho‘olewa, newlyweds of six months, met playing soccer at BYU-Hawaii and have used soccer as an anchor in their marriage. Kasha described its influence on her marriage saying, “There’s a lot of support at the games. He trains me and we help each other. We’d go running, he’d do two a days with me, and just always pushes me to go harder.”

Damon added, “We’ll do drills and take turns. She’ll give me tips and critiques, which are helpful. It’s not a competition.”

Damon is not actually playing this semester, but makes it clear that, “It’s more fun to see her progress and do well then it is for me to play in general.”

Kasha says it started when, “Our friends mentioned that we’d make a good couple. They pointed him out and I thought he was cute so I secretly stalked him until he asked me out on a date. Then we got married.” She continued, “The best part of marriage is always having your better half with you. You can’t both be down at the same time; you need someone to bring you up.

Relying on the other one and communicating is important.”

Damon chimed in, “It’s been so fun to be married to Kasha. You never really know who you’re marrying technically. No matter how well you really know them. The key is praying and working towards perfection. If you have similar likes and a compatible level of cleanliness, then you can make it work. I would say it’s very weird how well we fit together, but we didn’t know it at the

ing, said, “I’ve been best friends with my brother my whole life. I see that he’s never been happier. Kasha is lucky because he’s a dang good personal trainer and he’s free of charge.” Chad encouraged BYUH to support men’s and women’s soccer.

Kasha and Damon are excited for their future and their future children. Kasha said, “I want my girls to play soccer. I could care less about the boys, as long as they play outside, play sports, and are active. I would want them to play collegiate sports as well.”

“The best part of marriage She finishes with her advice to newlyweds: is always having your better Don’t be prideful. “You both need to make half with you. You can’t both compromises, which is easy if you really love be down at the same time; them. If you’re dating an athlete, respect that you need someone to bring they have more than school and work. They you up.” aren’t average students. You aren’t their only

-Kasha Naho’olewa focus.”

- ABIGAYLE BU TLE R

time. Kasha has helped me grow a lot. I’m more patient.”

Chad Naho’olewa, Damon’s younger brother, also on the soccer team and a sophomore from Texas majoring in market-

Left: Damon and Kasha Naho’olewa are shown together in uniform in front of the practice field. Below: Kasha takes shots on Damon, who helps her train and stay conditioned for this season. Photos by Mei Yin

SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

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Women’s Soccer

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he Lady Seasiders are ready to improve after completing a very strong season last year finishing with an overall record of 12-3-1, and 8-3-1 in conference play that ended in a disappointing 3rd place in conference. After placing 1st the year before and ranking 21st in the nation, 3rd place left the Lady Seasiders particularly hungry for a conference win this season.

In preparation for the challenges and high expectations that a new season presents, Coach Alex Ruegner commented: “The expectations are pretty much the same. We want to win. We want the girls to be healthy and fit… their touches are on... the girls are happy. Some of the challenges of a new season are getting the new girls and junior 11

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Seasider soccer savvy

college transfers to fit into the established program… and to have the experienced girls to mesh well with them. We have a solid group of returning girls. We want them to lead the team. We did lose some key players from last year’s team, but we have new freshmen that can hopefully catch the same vision to continue forward.”

Coach Ruegner said the team has learned from the mistakes of last year and he is working to create a stronger chemistry within the team. When asked to describe the 2012 team, Ruegner said “Tough… these are tough, hard-working girls.”

Several players are returning for another season with high expectations as well.

Megan McCain, a junior from

ANATOMY OF

BENDING THE BALL •When the ball is struck with the side of a player’s foot it causes the ball to take off with spin. This spin creates differences of air pressure around each side of the ball bending the trajectory of the ball while in air. The difference in pressure creates what is called a “Magnus” lift force, pulling the ball off a straight line. The faster the spin created by the kick, the farther the ball will bend. This is the same effect that can explain the curve of a ball in other sports such as golf, tennis, volleyball and baseball.

“Magnus” lift force

Ball direction

Spin direction

Drag force

North Glen, Colo., majoring in exercise sport science, spoke about her personal motivation: “For me it’s the love of the game… I have to be 100 percent ready to play and give my team an opportunity to win.” “To win!” she continued, “It comes from the heart, you have to ask yourself: ‘Is this really what you want… are you willing to make the sacrifices in you personal life and commit and go all in for the team? If you are not giving 110 percent, you might as well not even be out on the field.”

When asked about being a leader or example for the new

Left: Megan McCain returns as the Seasider goalie Above: Pictured- Terryn Soelberg, senior from Bakersfield, Calif.

Photos by Mei Yin.

players, McCain commented: “I like having the pressure of the team on my back and being an example on and off the field. If I give my all and do my best and show my desire, I hope the team will follow in my footsteps. I may not be a captain on the team but I believe that I can lead by example.”

When asked about her team, she concluded: “This team has heart, and that is what sets us apart.”

Kami Straight, a senior from Colorado Springs, Colo., majoring in business management - marketing, anxiously returns for her final season after a devastating knee injury in a pre-season warm up game last year. When asked about her recovery and future expectations, she said: “I want to play solid defense, wracking up some shutouts and to be a feared presence on the field. Coming back from an ACL tear, my senior season has been the most motivating factor I could have asked for, I want to prove that an ACL tear can’t hold me back… it’s stronger than ever and I’m ready

to play hard.”

Terryn Soelberg, a senior from Bakersfield, Calif., majoring in exercise sports science, shared her efforts in preparing during the offseason: “For the summer, the team had a workout packet that we followed. I also played pick-up games to keep up my touch.”

In anticipation for the 2012 season, Soelberg said, “Experience is key. Last year was a building season and a learning experience for us. I expect us to have a strong team and to go to nationals. We need to go into the season knowing that we are going to have tough competition no matter what.”

The Lady Seasiders started their season at home on Sept. 1 vs. Eastern New Mexico, winning with a shot late in the game to end with a score of 1-0. Look out for some ferocious play from our girls, or as Soelberg put it “domination,” as they hit the pitch, striking towards a successful season. The next game the Lady Seasiders will play is on Sept.

6 against Western Oregon in Waipahu at 7 p.m. The next home game will be against Chaminade on Sept. 15 at 3 p.m.

- M ATTHE W BLE DSOE SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

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Men’s Cross Country

Downsizing for an upgrade: Deavila feels more dedicated at a smaller school

I

f you don’t see Spencer Deavila instructing surf lessons, you will see him rock climbing at Waimea or in full running stride while practicing for the cross country team.

Deavila, a senior majoring in business from Orange County, Calif., maintains a busy schedule with work, school, and training on the BYUH cross country team.

Deavila has been a cross country team member at BYUH for three years. “My freshman year, I ran for a bigger school in Arizona with a team of what seemed like a lot more guys, but with less commitment from the athletes. “Here [at BYUH] I guess it takes a special kind of guy and commitment to fly away from home. I feel like the guys are more dedicated to the team. For the past three years, there’s been 10 on the team; this year we have 17 guys. It’s really cool to have that many strong runners.”

Deavila got his head start in running during a P.E. class in seventh grade.

His class ran a timed mile, something he had never done before, and Deavila ended up beating everyone in his class. Two of his female classmates were on the cross coun-

try team and suggested that he join. Remembering that day, he said, “When they told me to run cross country, I was like, ‘I don’t want to run across the country!’” Cross country team members do not literally run across the country, even though for those who aren’t keen on running, it might seem like something similar. The cross country meets that the BYU-Hawaii men’s team competes in vary in distance from 5 km to 10 km.

The BYUH cross country teams ran their first races on Saturday, Sept. 1. Out of the top seven BYUH finishers, there were four freshman, a sophomore, and two seniors. Deavila came in first place and BYUH finished first out of all of the competing Hawaii teams in the race at Kahuku. Winning as a team is significant in cross country because the score is calculated by adding up the points earned by each team’s top five finishers. Points are awarded based on what

place you finish the race. First place gets one point, second place gets two, etc. Whichever team has the lowest score between the five runners wins. “With these new athletes coming in, I’m really excited because the team is going to grow and develop really well,” said Deavila.

“Coach Schlag is a good runner too. He runs with us on most of our runs.

We’re lucky to have him. He [Schlag] started off our first practice on Gunstock Ranch on Hinckley Hill.” He related the story of when President Gordon B. Hinckley came and talked about the vision the church had for the land in this area of Hawaii. The point Coach Schlag made was, “We need to see things from afar and have a broader perspective like the prophet did…It was nice for all of the freshman to get a good spiritual orientation along with a good run.” Schlag stepped in as the men’s coach the second week of the season last year.

Recalling how tough it is to get in shape at the beginning of each season, Deavila offered this advice to underclassmen or those thinking about going out for the team in the future: “When spring comes around, keep training. Train as hard as [you] would as if you were in a track season.”

That, he says, will make the transition into fall cross-country a bit more fluid.

-P HILLIP ANDRU S Pictured: Spencer Deavila.

Photo by Mei Yin

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A fire burning within: Belliston believes in beating the odds

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very Saturday after a meet, all of the BYU-Hawaii men’s cross country team’s jerseys get turned in to be washed and aren’t necessarily given to those who turned them in, but to the fastest 12 runners of the 17 member team. Matt Belliston, a team captain from Loveland, Ohio, finds this mentality motivates. Belliston has been motivated by a do or die attitude before.

When Belliston was in 11th grade, he went to a CES fireside that mentioned BYU-Hawaii. He thought to himself: “I should go!” When he brought it up to his dad, he was told that the acceptance rate was low and it was more of a pipe dream. Undaunted, he e-mailed Coach Norm Kaluhiokalani, who told him about the BYUH athletics program. Belliston was accepted to BYUH in May of ’08 and came to Laie in August of the same year to train for the cross country team.

Belliston not only fits in with his teammates but with his coach as well. Coach Schlag started out coaching Belliston and the rest of the cross country team in 2011. Of cross country Coach Kevin Schlag, Belliston said, “He is a great guy and a great coach. He tells jokes, but knows when to be funny and when to work.” Coach Schlag is an avid runner himself and can be seen training with the team in the early morning. “It’s easier to respect a coach if he’s running alongside you,” said Belliston.

Cross country, for Belliston, takes up more than just an hour or two in the morning each weekday. The men’s team practices at 6 in the morning together and then do individual work outs, including swimming, weights, core training and biking in the afternoon.

Aside from working out, there is a focus on what each athlete eats to stay healthy. “I was raised with the mentality of: ‘If the fire’s hot enough, it will burn anything.’” That may or may not have proved to be true this summer, when Belliston gained 12 pounds. After putting on the weight, “Coach (jokingly) told me ‘no more locos,’” said Belliston. In order to keep a balanced diet, Belliston said, “I try to eat a salad before any big meal and avoid fried foods.” He is learning to love fish even though he’s not a “fish kind of guy.”

Some little know facts about Belliston are that he loves to barbeque and play golf. During the summer he sold pest control in Texas and now works in Mahinalani Gift Shop at the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Matt Belliston isn’t the only Belliston on the cross country team at BYUH. His brother, Ryan Belliston, also runs on the team. Both have run for BYUH in previous years, but, because of missionary service, this is the first year they have been on the team together.

A personal motto that Belliston lives by is “You’re only as good as you think you are. That’s why I’m the best.” He takes it as meaning that you have to have confidence that you can do anything in order to become better.

Pictured above Matt Belliston.

Photo by Mei Yin

- PH ILLIP AN D RUS SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

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Taking the lead:

Kitahara brings diversity to team as only international runner

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Pictured: Yuki Kitahara.

Photo by Mei Yin.

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he only international student on the BYU-Hawaii men’s cross country team happens to be one of the team’s captains, Yuki Kitahara. Kitahara, a senior in EXS from Tokyo, Japan, has been running in competitions for more than 10 years. He is not only a leader on the cross country team, but he is also involved in the leadership for the Japanese Club and is one of the four married runners on the team.

He started out as a sprinter (short-distance runner) in fifth grade and continued in junior high school. In high school, Kitahara started running mid-distance races and moved on to running longdistance. He competed in a popular type race called “ekiden,” in which teams of competitors run a road relay race, with each runner executing an equal portion of the race. This was one factor that motivated him to compete when he arrived to Hawaii.

“I have stamina, but I need to work on my speed to lead the team. I should be able to run faster,” Kitahara explained. “The older you get, usually the harder it is to work on speed. Our goal is to go to nationals and be the top team in the conference. To do that, I need to work on speed. One thing that helps is to have the team goal written on signs on the locker room wall. Our goals are to be the top team in the conference, make it to nationals. We will accomplish that by having 100 percent attendance and cross training.”

Kitahara originally intended to go to school at BYU in Provo, but was glad to come to BYUH when he heard they had a cross country team. He red-shirted his freshman year at BYUH, meaning he practiced with the team, but did not compete. After having been on a mission for two years without running, Kitahara needed to build up his confidence to run again and his freshman year helped him to do just that. Roughly one month after having arrived at school, Kitahara signed up and competed in the Great Aloha Run in 2010.

He ended up finishing the race in 18th place out of 30,000 runners overall, an amazing feat for him. He ran the race again in 2012, only to break his old record and place eighth, one of two BYUH students to finish in the top ten.

Kitahara elaborated on the bond that exists between the team members when he said, “I like to build personal relationships and communicate one on one. I talk one on one with the runners about their lives while we run. We talk about school, dating, our families… Sometimes we talk about missionary experiences. One teammate is going on a mission soon, so I try and share missionary experiences with him.”

When asked what his accomplishments in Hawaii were, he didn’t mention placing high in the large races. He said that he feels the most accomplished when he finishes any race or workout and feels completely exhausted. “Racing shows my gratitude for my healthy body and makes me realize how much I relied on others to get where I am,” said Kitahara. “I use my talent to represent the school.”

-P HILLIP ANDRU S

Women’s Cross Country

Maintaining a Tradition: Lady Seasiders hope to keep history of strong finishes alive

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he BYU-Hawaii women’s cross country team has had a strong past few years, adding to the rich history and tradition of the program. They’ve joined the tennis team as one of BYUH women’s athletics team to make it to a national competition, racing in Kentucky two seasons ago. With a strong coalition of both fresh faces and returning runners, the team is expected to fair well in conference and regionals.

The team just finished third in its first competition of the year on Sept.

1 in Kahuku. According to BYUH sports information, “The Seasiders took five of the top 20 spots to finish with 67 team points to trail Hawaii Pacific by just five points for second place.” BYUH sports information also reported that Micaela Jaramillo led the Lady Seasiders in twelve place and was closely followed by teammate Jessica Paget in fourteenth place. Other notable finishers were Haley Olcott in sixteenth place, Chelsea Ollar in nineteenth place and Andie Martin in twentieth place.

The Lady Seasiders plan to improve their record at their next meet the UH Big Wave Invitational on Sept. 8. The meet will be held in Kaneohe at 7 a.m. Kaaie Mcgonegal and Andie Martin will lead the team as captains and two of four returners to the team.

-MARISSA E LDE R

Pictured: Kassie Mcgonegal and Andie Martin.

Photos by Mei Yin. SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

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Always persevering: Mcgonegal takes pride in wearing BYUH uniform after overcoming injuries

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he word perseverance comes to mind when you hear the story of exercise sports science senior and runner Kassie Mcgonegal. Now a captain on BYU-Hawaii’s women’s cross country team, Mcgonegal has gone through years of competition in track and field, cross country, and the injury and recovery that go with them.

Originally from Eden, Utah, Mcgonegal said she planned on coming to BYUH right after high school, but was persuaded to attend school elsewhere after being offered a scholarship to run for Weber State University in Utah. After beginning her running career as a freshman in high school competing in the 400 and 800-meter races, she continued running mid-distance races until she came to Weber.

While training with the track team at Weber, she was injured and had to have surgery on her IT band in her leg and had her scholarship pulled.

She then reconsidered her school attendance and got a call from BYUH’s Coach Norman Kaluhiokalani, also known as Coach K. Mcgonegal said, “Coach K heard I ran, and now I run cross country for BYUH.”

Mcgonegal looks forward to competing for BYUH this year.

She “feels good running with BYUH on my chest.” She said there is a certain pride associated with that and she “wants to do [her] best” this year as captain of the team.

Because she loves the outdoors, cross country has turned out to be a great sport for Mcgonegal. She said “running is a stress reliever. It calms me down and brings me focus.” When she isn’t running, Mcgonegal likes to mountain bike with her brother-in-law, a pro biker. She also loves to spend time wakeboarding and climbing.

-P HILLIP AN D RUS

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Building a different foundation: Martin strengthened by experiences in Africa

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omething that might be surprising about the one of the BYUH women’s cross country team captains, Andie Martin, is that she never ran in high school. Martin, senior in EXS from Corona, Calif., is in her second year at BYU-Hawaii, and first year as the women’s cross country captain.

“People from the team saw me running.” They must have liked what they saw because that day Martin’s life was going to change.

Martin got her cross country start at BYUH after attending school previously at California State University at Northridge.

She studied American Sign Language there before moving to Laie in April of 2011. In reference to her team, Martin said, it’s great to be around people with a “common passion and love for the sport and each other. It’s like a big family.” This year, the women’s cross country team will have a total of nine runners, all of which will compete.

While others might disagree with the sentiment, Martin enjoyed the pre-season “daily double” workouts. “You can push yourself to do whatever you want. It’s mind over matter,” she said.

If you speak Spanish, be careful what you say around her. Martin served a full-time mission in the Dallas, Texas Spanish-speaking Mission. She enjoys surfing, biking, trees, and did humanitarian work in South Africa.

Concerning her experiences in South Africa, Martin said, “I figure my life is about helping people who don’t have a way to help themselves or who are in need of help. I wanted to go there because I wanted to see the world and see how other people live that don’t have the luxuries we do here.”

Martin said she googled opportunities to serve in South Africa and decided to help build a school called Amapondo in the city of Port St. John. She said of the experience, “There was no school in town or anywhere close, so the kids never had gone to school. We had to build desks and chairs. We had an assembly and started up the school with 50 students. If they could walk to it, they attended the school.”

Martin also learned to dance with fire poi, a secret talent she acquired while volunteering in South Africa

“It was a full moon, and every time they had a drum circle,” Martin said of the environment surrounding here special talent. “A bunch of people were fire dancing and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. They taught me a few of the basic things and went and learned the rest.”

Martin plans on joining the Peace Corps and continue serving after her time here at BYUH and on the cross country team.

- PHILLIP ANDRU S SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

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Men’s Soccer

New coaching leads to high hopes Davis to coach his alma mater team alongside co-coach Griffiths

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YU-Hawaii soccer team male division will compete in this year’s conference facing new additional mainland soccer leagues with a new coach, Mark Davis, a fresh graduate of BYU-Hawaii. Partnering with Michael Griffiths, BYUH online professor who started coaching last year, their strong professional coaching skills and gospel-centered coaching gives brighter hope to the team.

Davis’ passion for soccer led him to become a coach. Born in Glendora, Calif. the 25-year-old Davis came from a family of soccer players. His dad was a coach and since childhood he was exposed to playing soccer with his two siblings. “I’ve never focused on anything besides soccer. Soccer is my life,” shared Davis.

In 2005, he joined the club state champion team “Utah Rangers.” He served his mission in Tampico, Mexico on 2006 and married Natalie Holman in 2009 at the Salt Lake City Temple, Utah. They moved to Iowa Western College that same year where Davis played soccer. In 2010, he transferred to Hawaii and pursued business management KE ALAKA‘I

entrepreneurship and marketing and joined the school’s soccer team. After his graduation in April 2012, he was hired as a coach.

Griffiths, like Davis, has also been playing soccer since he was a toddler. He played in different club team school sports in England and did youth soccer coaching. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at BYU in Provo studying instructional psychology and technology. While at BYUH in 2009, he watched soccer games and volunteered to be involved with the team and officially became a coach in 2011.

With their developed friendship, the two understand how their good preparation and their abiding commitment to the team will boost the team’s confidence and play in the conference. They complimented each other’s efforts in coaching the team. “We’re like the Book of Mormon and the Bible. Mike is the most Christlike man I’ve ever met. I have a lot of respect to him. Working with him is awesome. We work really well together,” said Davis. “We’re friends. We treat each other with a lot of respect. It’s fun working with

him. We keep a very professional way on how we do things.”

“We think similarly. We have a good atmosphere in our team. We love our team. We appreciate them. We look forward to them. They are superb athletes,” added Griffiths.

The team, which is composed of 26 men, 13 of which are returned missionaries, will be playing in the Pacific West (PacWest) Conference on Sept. 15 at BYUH.

They will also have a mainland trip on October 6, 8, 11, and 13 at the Grand Canyon, Dixie State, and California Baptist and Azusa Pacific Universities.

-MA VIS TAGU BA

Above: Will Barber, a member of the BYUH men’s soccer team, demonstrates his skill.

Photo by Michael Gulden

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When asked about the upcoming season, both co-coaches Michael Griffiths and Mark Davis shared their training philosophies, new styles to the game, and goals for the team.

Q: What are the styles of play you want to see? Give some examples of the techniques you do during your practices with the team.

Griffiths: “First-passing possession style.”

Davis: “The focus level of a single practice

is extremely high. The difference is how high the focus level for the boys. We practice twice in a day.”

Q:

What are your goals for the team?

Griffiths:

“I make sure the team is centered first to the gospel…[as well as] have a family environment and a caring team. We recruit not only for skill but also for attitude. I have a pragmatic approach to coaching. I don’t have a favorite formation. I invent formation...I just adapt the formation to the best abilities of the players that maximize their potential.”

Davis: “We want to dominate mid-field. We feel like we are very strong…I have a really high hope in this team. We play four games in a time span of eight days. We have to be so fit and be in shape by this time. If we can stay healthy and if there are no surprise injuries, we can do something special here in BYU-Hawaii.”

Q: What do you do to help the students who are involved in soccer balance their game and school?

Griffiths:

We have high expectations of the players. I [also] expect them to do their callings in the church…I check their grades [in school].

Davis: Right now, they’re not in school. They play soccer all day.

When [school] starts, we bring it down to one training a day. We try to make sure to check their grades and make sure that they are doing the best that they can do. We work in the spiritual, soccer, and education side of things.

-MA V I S T AGUBA

Pictured: top: Michael Griffiths: Pictured right: Mark Davis. Photo by Mei Yin SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

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Riding on the waves of greatness: Men’s basketball team hopes new talent and seniors will lead to successful season

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iding on the waves of two great seasons, the men’s basketball team is hungry to prove its worth this year under the leadership of Coach Ken Wagner. Two years ago the men’s team was one win away from the NCAA division II National Championship, suffering a 3-point loss to Bellarmine. Last season, the Seasider’s finished with an overall record of 17-10 meriting a 2nd place in conference. Last year may have been a slight disappointment from prior years, but the Seasider’s are looking to bounce back as the 201213 season approaches.

This year will be Coach Wagner’s 23rd year coaching at BYU-Hawaii, and with some talented returning players this preseason has all the hype to repeat the success of 2011. The loss of “Jet” Chang will be a difficult transition, but the team has several returning players that look to make just as big of an impact as the 2012 AllAmerican team. Bracken Funk and Okesene “Junior” Ale are among the returning impact players for the Seasiders. The team has also added some talent from transfer students and high school recruits: freshman Solomone Wolfgramm, a 6-4 forward from East Palo Alto was a standout at Pinewood High School, and Fresno City College transfer DeAndre Medlock, a 6-10 forward from Fresno, Calif., look to boost the Seasiders to a winning season.

Torree Soelberg, a senior from Bakersfield, Calif., majoring in exercise and sports science, commented about the upcoming sea20

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son: “I love going to BYU-Hawaii basketball games. We had a really good team last year and they were a lot of fun to watch and root for.

Basketball games are a nice break from the routine of classes, study and work. When the team is as good as they are, it is really impressive. I’m glad that all their hard work pays off on the court. I hope they do really well this season.”

The season tips off at home versus Western Washington on Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Cannon Activity Center. Bring your aloha and school spirit to the game and root for our men’s basketball team to have a successful season.

-MATT BLE DSOE

Top: Brady Hurst shoots a free throw at a home game. Above: The Seasiders on the floor during a game this past season. Photos by Dewey Keithly