Local Sports

Athlete of the Week: Matt Westmoreland

By Kanoa Leahey

...Matt Westmoreland won the boys ILH tennis singles champisonship last week...the first ever league crown for Island Pacific Academy in Kapolei.

The school is in its 4th year of existence, and does not yet have a junior or senior class.

Westmoreland is a sophomore...a force to be reckoned wtih in the sport and our pick for this installment of KHON2 Athlete of the Week.

Island Pacific Academy enrolls about 600 students from pre-kindergarten to 10th grade.

So obviously Westmoreland's exploits are big news on campus.

But not too many others are shocked about Westmoreland's accomplishment...the 16 year-old's been make an impact in youth tennis for several years now...after reluctantly taking up the game upon the urging of one of his peers when he was 11.

It was longtime tennis instructor David Chang who coaches Matt from the start.

He says to simply call Matt a "natural" would unfairly diminish Westmoreland's supreme work ethic.

What's also fun for Matt...is winning.

He appears headed toward a collegiate career...and if he has it his way, perhaps one day, even a professional one.

But with the state tournament coming up next week...Westmoreland is looking to continue putting little Island Pacific Academy...centerstage.

Congratulations to Matt Westmoreland...the KHON2 Athlete of the Week.

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