Chaminade University of Honolulu

Athletics

Academic All-PacWest Teams Announced, Chaminade Sets Record

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

Good morning students, staff and faculty:

William "Bill" Villa

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

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.”

The Late Will Pounds' Family

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.

Women’s Soccer Making an Impact On and Off the Field

Women's soccer team visiting Kapiolani Hospital

Members of the Chaminade women’s soccer team made a special visit to Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children recently to visit with patients and learn more about the facility’s important work.

Team Coach Michelle Richardson, assistant Coach Conor Whittaker and eight members of the team made the visit as a way of giving back to the community.

They visited with four patients, spending some quality time with them in hospital’s playroom.

The Chaminade students played video games with the patients, helped a young chef-to-be cook up treats in the play kitchen, and got a lesson in Barbie doll hair braiding from another patient.

The coaches said that the group also got a special presentation and facility tour to help them better understand the cutting-edge services available at Kapiolani Medical Center.

The hospital offers a broad range of specialty care, including intensive care for infants and children, 24-hour emergency pediatric care, maternal-fetal care, and women’s health services.  

Kick Off to the 2019-20 Season

Hui Ahinahina Booster Club Members

Chaminade’s Hui ‘Āhinahina Booster Club kicked off the 2019-20 athletic season right this month, with good food and entertainment – and an exhilarating win.

Advancement held its annual kick-off celebration Sept. 6 to coincide with the first game of the women’s volleyball team, which enjoyed a record-breaking season last year.

Scores of people came out to celebrate with the boosters, enjoying pupu, spirits, entertainment and prizes on the Henry Hall Courtyard.

The night capped off with a big win for Chaminade. The women’s volleyball team, no. 2 in the PacWest pre-season poll, bested West Virginia in straight sets.

Sponsors for the big celebration included Hawaii Pacific Health, the official healthcare partner of Chaminade University Athletics.

Women's volleyball vs West Virigina

Also supporting the event: AT&T, Big City Diner, Kona Brewing and Pepsi, along with Chaminade faculty and staff, alumni and members of the community.

And two lucky winners took home the grand prize for the evening: Tickets to the 2019 Maui Jim Maui Invitational, a nationally televised event hosted by Chaminade every year.

The boosters club serves as the main source of fundraising support for Chaminade’s 10 sports teams and more than 140 student-athletes.

The club’s goal is to provide opportunities on the field – and in the classroom – for those who wear Chaminade’s sports team uniforms.

In years past, the organization has helped cover essential needs for University athletics, including equipment, scholarships, travel costs and meals. Those who join the booster club can make gifts to a specific team or to the athletics department.

Bridges to the Future Celebration

Chaminade donors, faculty, staff and board members gathered on Tuesday, April 23 to celebrate the capping of the Bridges to the Future campaign.

Several students spoke at the event about the impacts the campaign has had on their time at Chaminade, including second-year ‘Aulani Oka who received a scholarship because of the campaign.

“I may have only been here for two years, but as a beneficiary of this campaign I can honestly say it’s changed my life,” she said. “I would not be standing here right now without your help. You have made a difference in my life, and the lives of many other students. I will do my best to prove myself worthy of this honor, and hopefully pay it forward to others in the future.”

The campaign was the university’s most ambitious fundraising campaign, raising $118 million. Funds raised supported student access and success, academic excellence, athletics programming, a vibrant campus environment and impacts in the community. Some notable impacts from the campaign include:

  • The creation of 46 new privately funded scholarships
  • A brand new School of Nursing, now tied for No. 1 due to it’s 100% pass rate of the national licensure exam
  • A new Silversword Athletics Training Center and Locker Rooms and renovated athletics facilities
  • Renovations to 100% of the major buildings on campus
  • 34,650 meals served to homeless individuals and families at the Next Step Shelter

Mahalo to all who helped make this campaign a success! In the words of fourth-year student Antonio Bonnetty, “Your contributions have an impact on students here because they allow students to achieve their dreams; they allow for change, and they allow students like me to breathe again.”