Athletics

Dr. Thomas Buning Named Chaminade’s Athletic Director

July 13, 2020 by University Communications & Marketing

Following an extensive nationwide search, Chaminade University is proud to introduce Dr. Thomas Buning as its new athletic director.

Buning previously served as senior associate director of athletics at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and brings more than two decades of experience in NCAA Division I and Division II athletics.

He also brings a passion for the job—and for the Marianist values Chaminade instills in students.

Buning is excited to hit the ground running—understanding the unique needs of Chaminade’s athletics program, today and into the future. He steps into the role at a pivotal time for Silversword athletics and as the university continues to look for new ways to support our student-athletes.

With his personable leadership style, Buning will head up a program with 10 NCAA men’s and women’s athletic teams and over 140 student-athletes, building new strategic direction in concert with the university’s priorities.

His business acumen and strong managerial background make him uniquely positioned to focus on fundraising and long-term budget planning for the athletics program.

Buning recently completed his Doctor of Education in Leadership of Higher Education at Southern Methodist University, where he also earned a Master of Business Administration.

He also has a Master of Science in Engineering Management from Missouri University of Science and Technology, and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the US Military Academy West Point.

At Southern Methodist University, Buning helped lead an athletic program with 150 staff and coaches and an annual budget for $55 million.

Previously, he served as director of athletics at University of North Dakota.

Before joining Chaminade, Buning was a senior partner and managing director at a privately held mergers and acquisitions business brokerage services advisory firm.

While he excelled at the work, Buning said it made him realize his real passion is in athletics.

Buning is set to start at Chaminade in July. Please join us in welcoming him onboard!

Academic All-PacWest Teams Announced, Chaminade Sets Record

June 22, 2020 by University Communications & Marketing

A record-100 Chaminade University student-athletes were named Thursday to the Academic All-Pacific West Conference Teams.

The number broke the previous standard of 93 set during the 2017-18 academic year. It marks the fifth time in the past seven years that the Chaminade Athletics set a record for student-athletes recognized as Academic All-PacWest.

A total of 102 Silverswords were actually named but two student-athletes earned academic all-conference in two different sports.

Women’s volleyball senior Nina Torio (Mililani, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i/Mililani) capped off her college career with a perfect 4.00 cumulative grade-point average while majoring in Business Administration. She was one of nine seniors in the PacWest to post perfect GPAs.

Men’s soccer had the most Academic All-PacWest eligible members with 18 followed by women’s soccer with 16, women’s volleyball with 15 and softball with 14. Women’s basketball had all 10 of its eligible student-athletes honored.

Among small-roster sports (10 student-athletes or less), women’s tennis had all seven members recognized as Academic All-PacWest. Men’s cross country and women’s cross country had six each.

A total of 1,742 student-athletes in the PacWest were named on the academic all-conference teams.

To be recognized as Academic All-PacWest, student-athletes must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00, have completed two semesters at their current institution and competed in at least one regular season game or competition. Chaminade competes in 10 of the conference’s 15 sponsored sports.

Men’s Basketball

Isaac Amaral-Artharee, Freshman, Business Administration major, Portland, OR
Andre Arissol, Senior, Communication major, Northampton, England
Tyler Cartaino, Senior, Accounting major, Newbury Park, CA
Telly Davenport, Junior, Business Administration major, Idaho Falls, ID
Kevin Kremer, Freshman, Business Administration major, Chico, CA
Kobe Young, Freshman, Biochemistry major, Honolulu, HI

Women’s Basketball

Cheyenne Ardona, Sophomore, Business Administration major, Mililani, HI
Jamia Bailey, Sophomore, Elementary Education major, Yokosuka, Japan
Ellyonna Bankofier, Sophomore,Nursing major, Happy Valley, OR
Kali Benavente, Senior, Business Administration major, Tamuning, Guam
Arianna Blowe, Sophomore,Psychology major, Monument, CO
Destiny Castro, Senior, Accounting major, Talofofo, Guam
Michaella Dean, Sophomore, Behavioral Science major, Irvine, CA
Breann Nueku, Senior, Psychology major, Honolulu, HI
Grace Underhill, Sophomore, Biology-Integrative and Organismal major, River Forest, IL
Kirstin Wong, Senior, 3.62 GPA Criminology and Criminal Justice major, Laguna Niguel, CA

Men’s Cross Country

Elijah Bernardo-Flores, Junior, Criminology and Criminal Justice major, Waipahu, HI
Rocco Deangelo, Junior, Biology-Integrative and Organismal major, Mebane, NC
Beau Larsen, Freshman, Communications major, Papillion, NE
Peyton Oshiro, Freshman, Undeclared, Honolulu, HI
Josiah Rodrigues, Senior, Criminology and Criminal Justice major, Honokaa, HI
Matthew Schmidt, Senior, Forensic Science major, Hanalei, HI

Women’s Cross Country

Alena Albertson, Freshman, Environmental Science major, Austin, TX
Riley Hallman, Junior, Nursing major, Renner, SD
Hannah Hovestol, Sophomore, Nursing major, Modesto, CA
Montserrat Lanfranco, Freshman, Environmental + Interior Design major, Honolulu, HI
Eri Leong, Freshman, Communications major, Las Vegas, NV
Olivia Mariucci, Junior, Nursing major, Templeton, CA

Men’s Golf

Colby Gunderson, Junior, Biology-Cellular and Molecular major, Kaneohe, HI
Demond Mello, Senior, Communications major, Kaneohe, HI
Jeren Nishimoto, Senior, Business Administration major, Honolulu, HI
Schuyler Peterson, Freshman, Communications major, Huntington Beach, CA

Men’s Soccer

Quinton Brown, Freshman, Business Administration major, El Paso, TX
Kelton Cheney, Junior Undecided, State College, PA
Curtis Coburn, Senior, Biology-Integrative and Organismal major, Huntington Beach, CA
Lyric De Leon, Junior, Criminology and Criminal Justice major, Kapolei, HI
Tyler Ebisuya, Junior, Business Administration major, Kaneohe, HI
Jamin Fonseca, Junior, Criminology and Criminal Justice major, Mililani, HI
David Gewargis, Freshman, Business Administration major, San Jose, CA
Reece Hambly, Senior, Business Administration major, Binghamton, England
Steven Harris, Junior, Psychology major, Monroe, WA
Brison Kim, Freshman, Undecided, Honolulu, HI
Taka Kosins, Junior, Elementary Education major, Tokyo, Japan
Isaiah Kuloloia, Senior, Business Administration major, Mililani, HI
Colin Roemer, Junior, Undecided, Cologne, Germany
Matthew Schmidt, Senior, Forensic Sciences major, Hanalei, HI
Michael Stafford, Senior, Psychology major, Honolulu, HI
Tasman Turner, Accounting major, Kailua, HI
Joshua Wong, Criminology and Criminal Justice major, Aiea, HI
Brandon Yasue, Criminology and Criminal Justice major, Honolulu, HI

Women’s Soccer

Rachel Arakawa, Senior, Biology-Integrative and Organismal, Kaneohe, HI
Breanna-Leigh Bactista, Junior, Business Administration major, Mililani, HI
Camryn Cabudol, Freshman, Undecided, Ewa Beach, HI
Sharon Cain, Sophomore, Forensic Sciences major, Honolulu, HI
Randi Fontes, Junior, Nursing major, Wahiawa, HI
Alyssa Francia, Freshman, Religious Studies-Christian Studies major, Surprise, AZ
Laina Jumawan, Freshman, Biology-Integrative and Organismal major, Kaneohe, HI
Kira Nishiki, Freshman, Elementary Education major, Mililani, HI
Dayna Nishimura, Sophomore, Biology- Integrative and Organismal, Mililani, HI
Jordan Taboniar, Senior, Elementary Education major, Anahola, HI
Naomi Takata, Freshman, Nursing major, Honolulu, HI
Kyla Takazono, Sophomore, Elementary Education major, Pearl City, HI
Cierra Toledo-Muragin, Senior, Nursing major, Hilo, HI
Nicole Vontsolos, Freshman, Criminology and Criminal Justice major, San Diego, CA
Lindsey Wilson, Freshman, Nursing major, Mililani, HI
Kirstin Wong, Senior, Criminology and Criminal Justice major, Laguna Niguel, CA

Softball

Karyna Baldomino, Sophomore, Elementary Education major, Diamond Bar, CA
Kobe Brown, Freshman, Psychology major, Mililani, HI
Kaitlyn Castillo, Senior, Forensic Sciences major, Makawao, HI
Ronni Gallegos, Junior, Communication major, Long Beach, CA
Kailah Gates-Koyaso, Freshman, Business Administration major, Waianae, HI
Taylor Genera, Freshman, Biology-Cellular and Molecular major, Norwalk, CA
Malia Ka’akimaka-Moisa, Junior, Forensic Sciences major, Ewa Beach, HI
Kieren Lopez, Freshman, Biology-Cellular and Molecular major, Bakersfield, CA
Hailey Matsumura, Sophomore, Criminology and Criminal Justice major, Honolulu, HI
Cheyne Obara, Sophomore, Elementary Education major, Pearl City, HI
Alexas Presto-Ahsing, Sophomore, Business Administration major, Pearl City, HI
Yolanda Racaz, Freshman, Elementary Education major, San Pedro, CA
Jehna Ramiscal, Freshman, Forensic Sciences, Visalia, CA
Madelyn Stockslager, Junior, Psychology major, Torrance, CA

Women’s Tennis

Cai Yan Fang, Senior, Data Science, Analytics and Visualization major, Zhongshan, China
Tomomi Kohno, Senior, Psychology major, Tokyo, Japan
Kayleen Lau, Freshman, Biology-Cellular and Molecular major, Wailuku, HI
Catrina Liner, Junior, Biology-Cellular and Molecular, Corvallis, OR
Mariel Navarro, Senior, Nursing major, Manila, Philippines
Emily Ramirez Miranda, Freshman, Environmental Science major, Honolulu, HI
Elyssa Shirai, Senior, Environmental + Interior Design major, Waipahu, HI

Women’s Volleyball

Alecza Abary, Freshman, Undecided, Fontana, CA
Alana Handy, Senior, Historical & Political Studies major, Burlington, WA
Leka Kiner-Falefa, Junior, Business Administration, Honolulu, HI
Tate Lutu, Sophomore, Criminology and Criminal Justice major, Honolulu, HI
Riley Lynch, Junior, Psychology major, Kaneohe, HI
Rae Montrose, Freshman, Psychology major, Cedar Hills, UT
Rachel Reedy, Junior, Nursing major, Temple City, CA
Annah Rivera, Freshman, Biology-Cellular and Molecular major, Granada Hills, CA
Emma Tecklenburg, Senior, Criminology and Criminal Justice major, Plano, TX
Isabella Tessitore, Senior, Business Administration major, San Diego, CA
Tatiana Toleafoa, Sophomore, Psychology major, Union City, CA
Nina Torio, Senior, Business Administration major, Mililani, HI
Danielle Wiley, Junior, Elementary Education major, Peoria, AZ
Jacqueline Wolfe, Junior, Business Administration major, Laguna Hills, CA
Claire Zanon, Junior, Business Administration major, Beaverton, OR

Aloha and A Hui Hou to Bill Villa

February 28, 2020 by University Communications & Marketing

Good morning students, staff and faculty:

On behalf of the entire Chaminade University ʻohana, we bid a fond aloha and a hui hou to Director of Athletics William “Bill” Villa, who has announced he will retire in June at the end of the academic year. We are incredibly grateful to Bill for his outstanding work and many years of service to the Chaminade community.

Bill joined Chaminade University in 2008, as our first full-time athletics director, where he was charged with spearheading our 10 intercollegiate sports programs while working directly with thousands of student-athletes. Under his strategic guidance and superior leadership, our Athletics Program has soared to new heights. His achievements are many and include:

Overseeing the development of new facilities
Creating additional full-time staff positions
Implementing the annual golf tournament
Being a member of the founding planning team for Chaminade’s annual athletics fundraising gala
Fostering a rich and rewarding culture of healthy competition – Go ‘Swords!

Born and raised in Honolulu and a graduate of Kamehameha Schools Kapālama, Bill was a multi-sport athlete who shined in basketball and would eventually go on to play for the University of Hawaiʻi’s “Bow Babes,” regarded as the junior varsity team to the Fabulous Five. After 20 years in the insurance business, Bill turned his sights to athletics administration work, serving as the Director of Athletics for ASSETS School and Mid-Pacific Institute before joining Chaminade University.

Says Allison Jerome, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, “Words cannot express the incredible impact Bill has made on our athletics department. He has touched the lives of so many through his passionate, thoughtful leadership, and commitment to our mission.”

Bill shared that his immediate plans include serving as the new face of the Hawaii Interscholastic Athletic Directors Association (HIADA) in a part-time capacity as executive director, and continuing his role as a board member for the Alaka‘ina Foundation. Bill’s 12 years of service to the University have been outstanding and, on behalf of the entire Chaminade community, we wish him well in his future endeavors.

Please join me in congratulating Bill on his contribution and impact here at Chaminade.

Sincerely,

Lynn Babington, Ph.D.
President, Chaminade University

Intercollegiate Athletics Gala 2020

February 22, 2020 by University Communications & Marketing

It was an evening of Silversword pride – and celebration.

On February 20, some 350 people gathered at the Ala Moana Hotel for the 12th annual Intercollegiate Athletics Gala. The event honors the accomplishments of Chaminade’s student-athletes and recognizes all those who support the University’s strong athletics programs and facilities.

The gathering comes after a standout year for Silversword athletics.

In 2019, for the first time in five years, Chaminade’s men’s basketball advanced to an NCAA championship tournament. And the women’s volleyball team wrapped up the 2019 season with 22 wins.

The message at the gala: accomplishments like those aren’t possible without lots of community support.

“We are truly blessed,” said Curtis Coburn ’20, president of the Chaminade Student Athlete Advisory Committee, in his speech at the gala. He added that the challenges student-athletes overcome with the help of others promote self-growth and have “taught me that I can always work harder and I can always be just a little bit better. The situations we’ve faced will only make us more prepared.”

Coburn, who is on the University’s men’s golf and soccer teams, said it’s been an honor to be a Silversword. “I would like to begin by saying how thankful I am to be a Chaminade student-athlete,” he told the attendees. “The experience … would not be possible without the generous support from you.”

This year’s event included the induction of two titans in the Chaminade ‘ohana—Board of Regent member Dan Goo ’81 and the late Will “Mr. Chaminade” Pounds—into the Silversword Hall of Fame.

Dan Goo being inducted into the Hall of Fame

Goo has been serving the community for much of his life—as a member of law enforcement and a successful businessman. He’s also dedicated his time to Chaminade in a host of capacities, including as a member of the Board of Regents since 2008 and chairman of the University’s Development Committee.

And Goo is an ardent supporter of university athletics, making major gifts toward the university’s newly-constructed Coaching Offices and Silversword Training Center and Locker Rooms, state-of-the-art facilities that will ensure Chaminade Athletics can meet the demands of today and tomorrow.

“He’s interested in how he can help,” said Bill Villa, director of athletics at Chaminade.

Villa added: “He’s one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet.”

Goo spoke in a video at the gala, saying a cancer diagnosis when he was a young father helped him realize the importance of giving back to the community and working to improve other people’s lives.

“He believes that education can make a difference in the future of a young person,” said his wife, Judy.

“And he believes in the values of Chaminade.”

Pounds, the other 2020 Silversword Hall of Fame inductee, was also honored at the gathering.

He was one of the University’s most influential and dynamic players in the history of the Chaminade men’s basketball program, leading the University to an appearance in the NCAA Division III Quarterfinals in the 1978-79 season and becoming the first collegian in Hawaii to score 2,000 points.

He was also known for his generosity and kindness.

Former Silversword teammate Allan Silva said people gravitated to Pounds because he exuded incredible charm and positivity. “His attitude was never give up,” said Silva ’79. “We were blessed to have a guy like that on the team. He’s gone physically … but we’ve got him right here, in our hearts.”

That legacy still resonates with Silversword student-athletes and their coaches, about 40 of whom attended the intercollegiate gala. As always, all proceeds from this year’s event go right back into Chaminade’s athletics programs, including its 10 NCAA athletic teams with 140 student-athletes.