Success of NHIS Varsity Football team goes beyond won lost record
A new season always brings new expectations, goals, challenges, and changes.
The Nanakuli High and Intermediate School Varsity Football team has been hard at work getting accustomed to their Division One opponents.
“Being only our second season at the Division One level in the past few years, we are still getting acclimated to games filled with larger, faster, and stronger opponents,” said head football coach Kili Watson.
Currently, the Golden Hawks’ record stands at 1-4 overall, 1-3 in the OIA Red division. Despite the won lost record, Watson feels that the team has been competitive in their games.
“Despite the record, our teams are always in a position to win the game, but errant mistakes hinder those opportunities. On the bright side, I admire the resiliency of our student-athletes to compete till the very end of the ball game,” said Watson.
For the players, they are not only looking to improve their won lost record but some personal growth goals as well.
“My goal for the rest of the season is to finish off strong and win our last games. Even if we don’t win, we know that we still are good because we stuck through with the season,” said Senior Wide Receiver Stanton Llarinas.
The team is looking to improve in several areas. “We can do better by pushing ourselves harder like: sprinting, catching the ball, stuff like that,” said Senior Receiver Kaleo Banks.
“Following games, whether a win or loss, their level of maturity is admirable. They review their past game, fix their mistakes, better themselves and prepare for the next opponent,” said Watson.
But Watson also believes in the goal of making students successful in life as well as on the field and that goal seems to be in reach.
“This year’s team is definitely a special group of student-athletes. I really challenged their character this year and I can say they have stepped up to the plate on multiple occasions,” said Watson.
The Golden Hawks have three more games remaining at Leilehua on September 15, at Mililani on September 23, and at home against Kapolei on September 29.
