Seeing them with their families, hearing each of them introduced, and watching the slideshow was really special. Their faces said more than I could have over a microphone, and I had a microphone, so you know I tried.

Thank you to the parents who decorated, made posters, brought leis, and helped turn the Bozich Center into their gym for the night. Thank you to the athletes, students (especially Lily Buden), families, and the Maui Prep community who packed it, dressed in neon, and made some serious noise. More of you are showing up for these themes every week, and I love it. At this rate, I may need to start issuing sunglasses at the door!

That night was everything I love about sports: people showing up for one another, celebrating the work nobody sees, and giving these seniors a moment that was completely theirs. Reese, Ashley, Zoey, Kaia, Kelsey, Anna May, and Ocean, you deserved every second of it. Thank you for letting us celebrate you.

Senior Night on the court
First, the girls swept Kihei Charter in three straight sets: 25–10, 25–8, and 25–14. Then came the Senior Night celebration: the dance, the slideshow, and individual introductions for all seven seniors. The students also got me to dance. If you saw that, no you didn’t. If you have video, I would appreciate you respecting my privacy during this difficult time.

It was especially fun seeing some of our shorter girls get a turn at hitter and middle, going after kills and blocks like somebody forgot to tell them where they usually play. Apparently “you’re too short to play middle” is a suggestion, not a rule. Ask Ashley and Kaia. I hope someone got pictures, because I’m going to need proof when they ask to stay there.

Stat Lines!
Zoey Offergeld
11 kills, 2 aces. She got her flowers after the match and spent the match giving Kihei Charter something considerably less pleasant to take home.

Kelsey Reul
1 kill, 5 aces. Our libero had a kill and five aces. She spent Senior Night applying for every position on the team and, unfortunately for Kihei Charter, has a pretty strong résumé.

Reese Berliner
6 kills, 1 ace. Reese has said volleyball taught her to take risks. Kihei probably wishes she’d learned something quieter, like pottery.

Ocean Violi
3 kills, 3 aces. Three and three. Even her stat line showed up dressed for picture day.

Anna May Stoops
1 kill, 2 aces. A kill and two aces, just a polite reminder that “Senior Night” did not mean the visitors were getting a gift bag.

Ashley Davis — 24 assists, 3 kills, 2 aces, 1 block
Another complete order delivered on time. At this point the volleyball should be tipping her.

Kaia Reader — 2 kills, 1 ace, 1 block
Kaia treated the stat sheet like Costco samples—she wasn’t leaving until she had tried everything.

Cross country at Lahainaluna
Meanwhile, boys cross country was at Lahainaluna, on a course with enough hills to make times across the MIL more than a minute slower. Everyone’s except Michael’s, apparently. He somehow set a 30-second personal record. At this point I’m not sure whether he ran the same course or found a secret escalator.

Luke and Makaiah led the Maui Prep pack, and this young team keeps getting stronger against tough competition. I’ve loved watching them develop, and I’m grateful to their coaches, Kimo and Jake, for the time, energy, and resources they keep putting into these boys. I respect their dedication immensely. I also reserve the right to question the decision to run toward another hill when turning around was an option.

Okay, Wednesday: USA / AMERICA OUT! 🇺🇸

Our JV girls play Kulanihakoʻi at 3:15 p.m., and varsity takes them on at 7:00 p.m. at the Bozich Center. We beat them the first time around, but they’ve gotten better, they’re on a winning streak, and they’re coming in with momentum. We need the gym full and loud again.

Wear the flags. Wear the red, white, and blue. If your outfit looks like you could be mistaken for the grand marshal of a Fourth of July parade, you understood the assignment. Friday showed what this community can do for our girls. Let’s bring that same energy Wednesday as the competition gets tougher.

Go Pueo!!!

Trevor