PUNAHOU VARSITY BOYS TENNIS TEAM
by David Kawada - Content Editor
dkawada@digitalsports.com

SEE VIDEO OF TEAM INTRODUCTION BELOW

Photos from Richard Ing

There is a dynasty in high school sports that has been so dominant that the word on the street is that there may not be another team in the state that can unseat this team from their perch at the top of the mountain.  The Punahou Boys Tennis Team has won 14 consecutive State Championships and their head coach, Rusty Komori, has been there for all of them.  He is in his 15th year as the head coach and, yes, you are correct, he started this dynasty.  He is currently tied with legendary football coach Cal Lee from St Louis for the most consecutive state championships in Hawaii high school sports history.

Although there is the asterisk next to Coach Lee.   Thirteen of those titles were in the Prep Bowl which was prior to the sanctioned HHSAA State Football championships which started in 1999. Obviously, getting that 15th championship for Coach Komori would erase all doubt regarding the record.

Records aside, the modest coach quickly points toward his players, of which there are some key athletes on this year’s squad that will attempt to lead the team this season.  The #1 Singles spot is held by junior Kevin Caulfield who last year finished #3 in the State as a sophomore.  A varsity player since his freshman year, Caulfield will be looking to improve his State ranking this season.

The doubles top team of seniors Alex Ching and Erik Shoji are the favorites to repeat as the Doubles State Champions.  Ching also won the Doubles State Title as a sophomore in ’06 with another partner.  Should this duo repeat and defend their title, Ching would become only the 6th player in State history to have won 3 consecutive State Championships in either singles or doubles.  Both Ching and Shoji are also accomplished athletes in other sports.  Shoji is considered one of the top prep volleyball players in the country, having played with the USA Volleyball program over the summer.  Ching is also one of the State’s top golfers and qualified for this past Sony Open.

A student who has really excelled off the court is senior Travis Ing.  In between practices, Ing has managed to become a National Merit Finalist as well as winning the school’s academic awards for AP Chemistry, AP Physics, and Algebra /Trigonometry. 

But individual titles are on the back burner.  The State Team Championship is the focus of this 12 member team. 

“I have 2 requirements of my players, you have to have a great attitude and you must give 1000% effort,” says Komori.  “Otherwise if you don’t, it will get me sort of mad,” he adds with a laugh.

But what are his keys to success?  He says it is discipline, perseverance, and constant striving for excellence.

“Discipline comes from me as the coach because I set the example.  And you have to keep challenging yourself to be as good as you can be.”

When asked what he would like his players to learn from him, he noted a point that involves them off the court.
 
“I would like my players to learn life’s lesson through the adversity of tennis.”

This is sound advice from one of the top tennis coaches in Hawaii High School history.