All Raiders Rule!
The Iolani Raiders football team, undersized as usual, used tradition, experience, quickness, and superb conditioning, coupled with excellent coaching,
to win a fifth consecutive Division II State championship, this time over a Waipahu Marauders team. There were One Team connections throughout, with Waipahu led by first
year head coach Eric Keola, Iolani Class of ’79, a one-time teammate of Raiders head coach Wendell Look ’78, both playing for Coach Hamada ’46. Further, Waipahu plays
their home games in a stadium named for Masa Yonamine ’47, and won the OIA White (D-2) championship over the Pearl City Chargers, who play their home games in a stadium named
for Edwin “Bino” Neves '52, also an Iolani alumnus who played for Fr. Bray. The Raiders’ deeper tradition of One Team, and greater understanding and experience in execution
of Coach Look’s system helped them to prevail in a game well played by both teams.
And not only did the Iolani Raiders rule, but so did the Kahuku Red Raiders, who won the Division I championship over Punahou. The Raiders fans were seated with the Red Raiders
fans in a kind of serendipity given the shared school colors, nicknames, and backgrounds, with Fr. Bray having both founded Iolani athletics and given Kahuku some Iolani uniforms
at the onset of their program. Both Fr. Bray and Mr. Hamada would be proud to see the success and spread of One Team throughout the community.
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