"Football team Waveriders enthusiastically diving into the new season under the leadership of coach Hill"
Kealakehe Waveriders Kick Off Preseason with New Leadership and Community Engagement
The Kealakehe Waveriders football team is gearing up for an exciting 2025 season, with a new head coach and a focus on community involvement. Brian Hill, who has taken the helm, is leading the team in their preparations for the Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) Division I competition.
Brian Hill's appointment as the new head coach signals a change in leadership, aimed at strengthening the Waveriders' performance. Hill has been hosting offseason workouts since March, and has recently led the team in repainting the 'Waverider' letters near the south end zone of the stadium.
The team is currently evaluating the quarterback position, with Lawai'a Nahakuelua and Kanoa Castillo-Simmons battling for the starting job throughout camp.
In an effort to support the football program, fundraising activities have been announced. A Waveriders Hoaloha Tailgate Fundraiser will be held this Saturday from 3-6 p.m. at Kealakehe, with ono grindz, games, beverages, and live music by LT Smooth and Bill Noble. Donations can be made to the school for those unable to attend the event.
The funds raised will be used to support the team's upcoming voyage to Maui High School and to assist with strength and conditioning, nutrition, and student-athlete resources.
The Waveriders have not won a game since October 2023, and have suffered three consecutive losing seasons. However, the players are motivated to turn the program around. They are hungrier than ever for this new opportunity, and are planning to play physical, hard-nosed football, with an emphasis on ball security and limiting turnovers.
The team's focus is not just on winning games, but on bonding together, learning life lessons, and giving everything to the school community. Senior running back and linebacker Gabe Chong and junior slot receiver and nickelback Kea Kaawa-Nolan have expressed positivity about Brian Hill's leadership, stating that he communicates well with everyone and has a plan in place for the program.
Standouts in camp include senior defensive end and tight end Teyon Bailey and Gabe Chong. The team will travel to face Maui High School on August 9, Kamehameha-Hawaii on August 16, and have a BIIF regular-season opener against Honoka'a on August 22.
With the season start imminent, the Waveriders have started practicing in pads this week. The players are eager to scrimmage Konawaena at 2 p.m. this afternoon at Waverider Stadium, as they continue to build team spirit and prepare for the challenges ahead.
The Kealakehe Waveriders football team, under new leadership with Brian Hill as the head coach, is preparing for the 2025 season, aiming to turn around their three-season losing streak in American football, specifically in the NFL style of play (football) and the BIIF Division I competition. Hill's focus on community involvement extends to offseason workouts, repainting stadium signs, and a Hoaloha Tailgate Fundraiser to support the team's travel, strength, and student-athlete resources. Key players, like Gabe Chong and Teyon Bailey, are looking forward to the season and working together under Hill's leadership, emphasizing team bonding, life lessons, and hard-nosed football. Their first scrimmage against Konawaena at Waverider Stadium is scheduled for this afternoon, as they continue their preseason training towards the upcoming BIIF regular-season opener against Honoka'a on August 22.
