BIIF football: Warriors up for the challenge in 2025
KEA‘AU — With an early preseason win over Nanakuli under his belt, one would think that Kamehameha-91直播 head coach Kealoha Wengler would feel confident heading into BIIF competition. However, Wengler knows that the Warriors will be challenged in many ways during the 2025 season, and they can’t afford to take any practice sessions or opponent for granted.
One of the biggest challenges facing the team this year is the loss of Warriors’ home field. Pai‘ea Stadium is closed for track resurfacing, and will hopefully be available for the BIIF playoffs. The team is currently practicing on the middle school field, and the logistics of the commute from the high school have forced the coaches to be more efficient with practice time.
“There are no home games, and that’s a bummer for us and a bummer for the seniors,” Wengler said.
The BIIF’s new three-tier scheduling format also challenges the Warriors, a DII team, by placing them in the top tier with DI teams such as Konawaena, Kea‘au and Hilo. KSH will play each of those teams twice, with their only DII contest coming against Honoka‘a later in the regular season. The Warriors will receive an automatic berth into the BIIF DII playoffs, and will face the other DII team with the best record.
Wengler is excited about the increased competition, saying, “the schedule is awesome for us, we love the competition, and we’re excited about that. We know that we are going to get really good looks from the teams in our tier, and we hope that springboards us into the playoffs.”
KSH has a number of returnees that the coaching staff expects to lead the way, including Diesel DeMello, Ahyou Akau, Chasen Kaaua-Long, Teva Sanchez and Paliku Nachor.
DeMello is expected to lead the defense as a wide ranging middle linebacker.
The senior spent the offseason preparing himself mentally and physically for the competition, making a commitment to himself and his teammates to perform at a high level in 2025.
When asked what it would take to meet their goals, Diesel said, “just to stay motivated throughout the whole season, and making sure we have the fire and energy to last all the way through states.”
The senior Akaua is the anchor for the offensive line at the center position. Wengler was impressed with Akau’s effort in the offseason, and is expecting him to be a top performer, saying, “he’s put in the most time in the offseason. As soon as the season was over, he was back in the weight room putting in the work.”
The quarterback position will be manned this year by junior Chanse Kaaua-Long, Chanse was the backup on last year’s team, and wasn’t satisfied with the reps he got as a sophomore playing behind then-senior Adam Perry. In 2025, Wengler is ready to turn Kaaua-Long loose.
“He’s strong, he puts in a lot of time in the weight room,” Wengler said of the quarterback. “Running track really helped his speed”
A number of the players from last year’s junior team have been impressive in practice, and are expected to have an impact as the season progresses. Wengler said he is excited to see John Sanborn, Joziah Bertelmann and Kahekili Makekau perform at the next level.
The Warriors have a strong team culture — rooted in 91直播an culture. It’s always unique to be at a practice or on the sidelines of a KSH game and hear all of the various offensive and defensive calls being made in O‘lelo 91直播.
The coaches will rely on strong team culture to guide the team through the challenges of the 2025 season on their way to the ultimate goal of hoisting the Koa Trophy as state champions.
The Warriors will take on Kealakehe at 7 p.m. tonight at Waverider Stadium.
