In it for the Long Run

Making History in Island School Athletics

Preparing Kauaʻi’s Youth to Lead Lives of Significance

The 2021-2022 school year was an explosive one for Island School Athletics, winning eight Kauaʻi Interscholastic Federation (KIF) team titles and three individual titles. Records were broken and history was made throughout every season of athletics, in boys cross country, boys varsity volleyball, both individual and mixed paddling teams, golf and boys soccer all winning KIF Championships. Sean Magoun, Director of Institutional Advancement, boys soccer coach and KIF Coach of the Year in the ‘21-’22 school year, attributed at least some of the success of this season to the bond that was created amongst Island School athletes during the previous year. KIF put a temporary pause on high school athletics in 2020 due to growing concern about the Coronavirus spread across Kauaʻi. While matches and games across schools were canceled, Island School athletes continued to hold practices and scrimmages amongst themselves. Even while the island was temporarily shut down, these young athletes envisioned a strong comeback, and made it their goal to see that comeback become a reality. During this period of isolated practices and scrimmages, spending all of their time working together towards a common goal, Island School athletes created deep bonds and relationships with their teammates. It was this bond that, when mixed with their determination, carried so many teams to victory. These young athletes had grit and concentration, but also possessed an ability to see the success of the athletic program, even if they weren’t quite there yet. They had bought into the long term goal of the program, and were committed to making it work, even if they weren’t sure what “it” was yet. For Island School’s boys soccer team, “it” turned out to be placing fourth in the state, and making school history as KIF Champions. Captains of the boys soccer team were chosen on a weekly basis by Coach Sean, giving each player a chance to prove their dedication to the team and show their leadership skills. The boys who were awarded the title of captain were showing that they were committed to their teammates and coaches, and truly believed in the success of the program. When one athlete showed that belief, the whole team began to show it as well. The team believed they could make it to the KIF Championships and they went further than that by making Island School history, winning KIF and securing fourth place in the state, losing their last game by one point in double overtime. This road to this success didn’t happen overnight, or even in the two years since the KIF paused competitions. This road has been paved over the course of twenty years, being built and rebuilt since the year 2000. The first year that Island School grew from a K-8 school to a K-12 school, high school sports were introduced into the mix. With different sports being offered, one has remained steady for the past twenty-two years. At Island School, there have been many different types of teams, says Sean Magoun, who has coached the team since its inception. There have been teams that knew how to compete hard, but did not yet know how to win, and teams that have been committed to the immediate goal but not the long term goal of the athletic program at Island School. Last year, however, there was a turn of the tide noticed by Coach Sean, assistant coach Mark Ure and Jerry Jona, Island School’s Athletic Director. More noticeably in the 2021-22 school year than most years before, students and student athletes were proud to be Island School kids. They were proud to put on their

blue and white jerseys and proud to compete under the title of “Voyager.” Our students have bought into the ethos of being a student first, an athlete second, and putting the same effort into school as they did into sports. When students were able to see the whole picture and the worthiness of working towards a goal that had never been achieved in Island School history, they were able to reach it. This belief is built on teamwork and determination, and is coupled with an element of grit that is inspired by Jerry Jona, who pushes Island School athletes to both work hard on the field and be proud of that work off the field. This belief and grit, teamwork and individual effort all culminated in a record breaking year. We are so proud of our Voyager athletes and can’t wait to see how the program continues to grow and inspire a new generation of Voyagers.