Hawaii Baptist Academy is waiting this one through.
While Mid-Pacific Institute announced that it would withdraw from participation in football, competitive cheer and wrestling — all in tandem with multi-school entity Pac-Five — HBA has opted to defer.
So has Maryknoll, according to Athletic Director Ben Valle. HBA’s AD, Deren Oshiro, is in wait-and-see mode, as well. The start date for football practice is set for Aug. 17 by the HHSAA. Other fall sports will begin on Aug. 31.
“At this point for us, much like a lot of the ILH and state, it’s kind of a wait and see. We haven’t eliminated any sports. Everything is on the table. We’re waiting to hear from the DOH (Department of Health) and see the guidelines evolve with the CDC and NFHS (National Federation of High Schools),” Oshiro said on Tuesday. “There will be a lot more discussion next week at the ILH workshop. We’re hoping that all sports can be played. Everybody feels a little bit of uncertainty and uneasiness.”
The workshop is actually a league-wide conference that includes crucial voting on modifications and new proposals annually. Oshiro and Kamehameha Athletic Director Glennie Adams are involved with the HHSAA as representatives of the ILH, the state’s only all-private school league, on the pressing matter of COVID-19 response.
“Glennie and I are representing the ILH on that. The spirit of the committee has been good. Everyone’s trying to work with everybody. We’re getting to a point where decisions have to be made, but every day circumstances change,” said Oshiro, who is also HIADA (Hawaii Interscholastic Athletic Directors Association) president. "We're hoping for the best."
MPI’s pullout could be a huge detriment for Pac-Five. The Owls have roughly 25 players on varsity and intermediate levels. HBA’s numbers in football are less, but the Eagles have a thriving cross country program. Football is assessed as a “higher risk” sport by the NFHS, as are competitive cheer and wrestling. Pac-Five was 6-3 in the combined OIA-ILH Division II regular season last fall.
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