By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 24, 2012
No question, DODDS Pacific enriched their Far East high school tournaments in wrestling, tennis and cross country when two years ago, they re-opened the door to international-school participation after keeping it closed since 2004.
One provision DODDS put in place was, each of the tournaments would be limited to 16 schools/teams, to keep each tournament manageable and not have to wrestle too much with billeting, athletic facilities and base-clearance issues.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 22, 2012
Now that I've emptied half a bottle of aspirin and FINALLY figured out the possible tiebreak scenarios in the Far East Division I football chase for title-game space, here's a way we could avoid such mumbo-jumbo in the future.
The new Far East format will undoubtedly be a topic of discussion at the next Far East Athletic Council's video conference in May. Though it could mean a few people holding their noses at such a pair of notions, the following two scenarios can, will and must be looked at, if they wish to avoid the need for half-victories, half-losses and full-fledged headaches in the future:
Bring Guam High into the mix. For one game or for a whole season.
It is time that DODDS Pacific and DDESS Guam recognize that Guam High is actually brethren, not an outside entity, that deserves to have its moment in the Far East D-I playoff sun, instead of DODDS and the Interscholastic Football League playing gnip-gnop with the Panthers on an annual basis.
OK, so one side or both don't want that. Even so, Guam High can continue to honor its commitment to the IFL but still have a voice in which teams qualify for the D-I title game, rid the process of half-wins/half-losses for D-I teams playing in Japan and Okinawa and give Seoul American a fifth D-I regular-season game.
Here's how:
-- Should Guam High remain outside the DODDS playoff purview and inside its IFL commitment ... Have Seoul American play Guam High as a regular-season Division I game, instead of Okinawa. Direct flights to and from. Cost savings realised. That would give all five D-I teams five regular-season games. No need for half-games for Japan and Okinawa. No muss. No fuss.
Another, even better suggestion would be the following:
-- Bring Guam High into the D-I picture, lock, stock and every barrel. Work out a deal in which Guam High plays an all-DODDS football schedule, and in Guam's public-private-school cooperative in all other sports. Bringing Guam High in as a D-I partner would give all D-I teams five games. Again, no need for half-games for Japan and Okinawa. No muss. No fuss.
What rightfully should happen in a perfect world is the latter. It could only happen if two reasonable men who are more than reasonably good at their tasks and could speak with reasoned voices face-to-face at the table.
What DODDS Pacific's Far East athletics coordinator Don Hobbs and Independent Interscholastic Athletic Association of Guam chief Martin Boudreau can, should and must work out is a way for Guam High football to play a DODDS D-I football schedule, but be welcome to play in the IIAAG in all other sports.
The chances of either ever happening? ... I won't hold my breath.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 21, 2012
Here’s a breakdown of the 9th Asia-Pacific Invitational Cross-Country Meet, a Far East-equivalent meet for international schools plus Guam High. Providing analysis is Bruce Carrick, longtime Pacific cross-country and track and field observer and gatekeeper of information and records at Athletic.net. Times and standings also provided by Athletic.net.
Day 1
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 21, 2012
The following has been updated to correct the second and third tiebreak criteria.
Musings, mutterings and the occasional schmahts as Ornauer slaps his wrists repeatedly, bangs head smartly on the keyboard and pins a reminder to his monitor: “Don’t jump the gun!”
DISCLAIMER: The following is likely to give you a headache, as it did me.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 18, 2012
The four fastest and most enjoyable days of the school year have come and gone: DODDS Pacific’s Far East Journalism Conference, where some 120 students from 13 schools in Japan, Korea, Okinawa and Guam plied their journalism skills in areas of newspapers, yearbook and broadcast. Gathering stories the first day, attending a breaking-news event and engaging in several challenges on Day 2, then piecing all of it together into four-page newspaper spreads, eight-page yearbook layouts and a 10-minute newscast.
The thing culminated with the hour-long awards ceremony at the Empire Room in the military’s five-star New Sanno Hotel in downtown Tokyo. And a special guest was on hand, Chad Rowan, aka sumo wrestling’s first American yokozuna (grand champion) Akebono Taro; he presented the awards, posed for photographs and did an interview with new Far East press corps selection James Kemper of Nile C. Kinnick High School.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 14, 2012
It started with Kennedy Allen of Seoul American, moved through to Kadena’s Elissa Mason and carried on with sisters Amber and Chloe Gadsden of Guam High these last four years, with no small share of challengers making their title runs every bit as difficult as they could be.
Next month’s Far East Tennis Tournament girls singles bracket appears as if it will be no less competitive. And the boys bracket could be its equal. In both cases, DODDS and international-school players stand an equal chance at capturing title glory, as has been the case since international schools have been welcomed back to Far East since November 2010.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 14, 2012
“Spirit Day” Saturday was sure a happy one at American School In Japan’s Mustang Valley, if the Mustangs’ sports teams’ performance was any sort of gauge.
Football pounded Robert D. Edgren 47-14. Tennis? A pair of 5-0 sweeps by the boys and girls over Nile C. Kinnick.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 14, 2012
The Top Ten
The Top Ten teams in the Stars and Stripes' weekly Far East high school football ratings, with records through Oct. 13, points and last week’s rating, as compiled by Dave Ornauer of Stars and Stripes sports. Ratings are based on teams' win-loss records, quality of wins, strength of roster, schedule and leagues, point differential and team and individual statistics. Maximum rating is 500 points:
Record Pts Pvs
1. Yokota, Japan 7-0 452 1
2 Guam High 7-0 440 2
3. Kubasaki, Okinawa 5-1 424 3
4. George Washington, Guam 5-2 416 5
5. Simon Sanchez, Guam 5-2 408 6
6. Okkodo, Guam 4-2 400 8
7. Kadena, Okinawa 3-2 396 4
8. Zama American, Japan 4-4 376 7
9. Singapore American 1-0 368 --
10. Nile C. Kinnick, Japan 4-4 360 9
Week 8 grid honors
American School In Japan—Haru Kent 66 yards, 2 touchdowns, 11 carries; 32 yards, touchdown, 2 catches. David Hernandez 10-for-13, 209 yards, 3 touchdowns. Drogin James 83 yards, touchdowns, 3 catches. Ken Yajima 38 yards, 8 carries; 40-yard touchdown catch; 74 yards, 4 returns; 2 interceptions. Max Linder fumble recovery, interception.
Robert D. Edgren—Khalil Williams 84 yards, 2 touchdowns, 3 catches; 112 yards, 5 returns.
Zama American—Andre Encarnacion 122 yards, 17 carries. RayVaughn King 3-for-3, 69 yards, touchdown; touchdown run; fumble recovery.
Kubasaki—Jarrett Mitchell 207 yards, 3 touchdowns, 12 carries. Tyler Smith 55 yards, touchdown, 7 carries; 2-for-4, 35 yards. Aaron Stravers 47 yards, 7 carries; 11 tackles. Christian Fernandez 12 tackles. Tyshon Butler 9 tackles. Kareem Key 8 tackles.
Yokota—Stanley Speed 117 yards, 4 touchdowns, 11 carries; 3-for-5, 77 yards; 26 yards, 2 returns. Morgan Breazell 50 yards, touchdown, 8 carries; 48 yards, 3 returns. Raymond Butler 71 yards, 11 carries; 66 yards, 2 catches.
Daegu High—Xavian Washburn 104 yards, 3 touchdowns, 8 carries; blocked punt in end zone for touchdown. Caleb Page 175 yards, touchdown, 14 carries; 1-for-1, 30 yards. Caleb Gosserand 60 yards, 2 touchdowns, 9 carries; 30 yards, 1 catch.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: October 14, 2012
Here’s a breakdown of the Independent Interscholastic Athletic Association of Guam all-island cross-country meet last Thursday at Nimitz Hill Golf Course. Analysis provided by Bruce Carrick, longtime Pacific cross-country and track and field observer and gatekeeper of Pacific records at Athletic.net. Times and placements provided by Athletic.net.
Guam High's double victory capped a very successful season, the first all-island title sweep by the Panthers in the school’s 15-year history.
