Kaimana Padello made enough plays last fall for the Mililani defense to fill his own highlight film. Even so, his 2014 season left him feeling as if he still has some unfinished business to take care of in 2015.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had a wonderful season last year. It was great for our school and community, but I felt personally that I could have been better, and I\u2019ve been working hard to improve myself,\u201d said Padello, a defensive end and linebacker.
\n\u201cI think each of us at every position has to improve for us to keep our spot.\u201d<\/p>\n
As in past years, the Trojans are sure to get every opponent\u2019s best shot this fall after going 13-0 last season and delivering the school\u2019s first-ever Division I state championship. Mililani also won a second-straight OIA Red title, its third in five years under head coach Rod York.<\/p>\n
For Padello, it is all about the present. He made the weight room his home away from home during the off-season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been lifting two times a day to get stronger and get myself ready,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s hoping to continue his upward mobility after posting 17 sacks last year as a junior. Padello, who packs 210 pounds into a 6-foot frame, is quick off the ball and demonstrated his speed recently when he ran a 4.7 in the 40-yard dash.<\/p>\n
\u201cRushing the quarterback is my specialty,\u201d Padello said. \u201cBut I like both run (defense) and (defending the) pass. What I like most about football is the competition. I just like fighting in the trenches. Since I\u2019 m also a linebacker, they use me on the edge, so I have to get faster.\u201d<\/p>\n
Padello had an immediate impact during his sophomore season when he cracked the starting lineup. Halfway through the 2013 season, he dislocated his elbow and was sidelined for several weeks.<\/p>\n
Padello came back in time to play in Mililani\u2019s semifinal win over Farrington at that year\u2019s state tournament, as well as its loss to Punahou in the championship game.<\/p>\n
Last season, the defense gave up 18.8 points and just under 300 total yards an outing.<\/p>\n
Padello found his role model at home in older brother, Kelii \u201cKK\u201d Padello, who was the state\u2019s sack leader with 19 as a senior in 2013.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve learned a lot from him,\u201d he said of KK, who currently is playing for Southern Oregon.<\/p>\n
Padello\u2019s plan also is to play college football.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m being looked at by some colleges,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m hoping to get a scholarship, and I\u2019ve been thinking about it a lot lately. Watching other people who I\u2019ve beaten get scholarships has given me the
\nmotivation to get better and prove people wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mililani wrapped up spring practice recently and will conduct summer workouts until the official beginning of fall camp during the last week of July. While OIA allows full contact during spring practice, the Trojans will not be allowed to suit up in pads again until a few days into fall camp.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have a lot to work on, so I\u2019m glad I have this time for myself,\u201d Padello said. \u201cWe\u2019re just working on our plays, our technique and our craft.\u201d<\/p>\n
Among the highlights of the Trojans\u2019 2015 season will be a trip to Henderson, Nev., for a Sept. 4 game against Liberty High School.<\/p>\n
(Liberty will be in Honolulu the week before to play Saint Louis School at Aloha Stadium.) <\/p>\n
Mililani\u2019s trip also will be a reward for a senior class that has compiled a 35-5 record over the past three years.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s quite a few of us, we\u2019re a pretty tight-knit group,\u201d Padello said of Mililani\u2019s seniors. \u201cGuys like (returning quarterback) McKenzie (Milton) are leading us.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like the way we\u2019re looking right now and the direction we\u2019re headed in. I\u2019m pretty excited and anxious.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Kaimana Padello made enough plays last fall for the Mililani defense to fill his own highlight film. Even so, his..<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[120],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-55334","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-central-oahu-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n