Honokaa senior Chayce Moniz grew up on a ranch working hard, and he carried that mindset to the soccer field in a Big Island Interscholastic Federation season of perfection.
Honokaa senior Chayce Moniz grew up on a ranch working hard, and he carried that mindset to the soccer field in a Big Island Interscholastic Federation season of perfection.
The 5-foot-7 midfielder scored 13 goals and sparked the Dragons to their second straight Division II state championship and third consecutive Big Island Interscholastic Federation title.
“He was a consummate Energizer bunny, constantly in motion with a high work rate,” Honokaa coach Maurice Miranda said. “He grew up working on a ranch, and all his parents (Jason and Jeri) do is work, and he’s like that. He doesn’t score bunches of goals, but when you look what he does for you over a whole season and add it up, he’s the glue.
“He gets the midfield going, and it’s a cumulative body of work. He was recognized this year, and I told him the other coaches noticed him, too.”
Moniz was named the BIIF Division II Player of the Year, in a vote by the league’s coaches, continuing his progression and improvement.
As a freshman, he received honorable mention. He was second team as a sophomore and made first team last season.
“That shows hard work gets results,” Moniz said. “It’s pretty amazing to be recognized by all the coaches. It feels really great, and I feel really honored.”
He intends to walk on at the Colorado School of Mines, an NCAA Division II program and home to 2010 Kealakehe graduate Brandon Sawada.