Ihi Victor is no stranger to a challenge. The Konawaena senior battled injuries throughout her Wildcat playing career but she never let it get her down. Instead, she continued to play hard, pushed through the pain, kept her mind sharp, and emerged on the other side of her high school career a stronger person who now has a college scholarship to play basketball at the next level.
Ihi Victor is no stranger to a challenge. The Konawaena senior battled injuries throughout her Wildcat playing career but she never let it get her down. Instead, she continued to play hard, pushed through the pain, kept her mind sharp, and emerged on the other side of her high school career a stronger person who now has a college scholarship to play basketball at the next level.
After looking at several schools and going on official visits, Victor decided to accept an academic and athletic scholarship to attend the Hawaii Preparatory Academy like school of Saint Martin’s University in Lacey, Washington.
Saint Martin’s is a Division II school located about five hours from Washington State University, where Victor’s playing partner and best friend, Chanelle Molina, will attend college.
“I fell in love with the place and the coach feels like I am a perfect fit with the style we play at Konawaena and the way I play,” Victor said. “I got along with the other players, the coaches and the administration.”
Victor was a valuable asset to the Wildcats during her four-year career. At 5-foot-10, she was typically one of the tallest girls on the court and she could shoot with both her right and left hand.
She, along with Molina, provided the leadership on this past season’s HHSAA Division I championship team. The two best friends collected a full book shelf worth of trophies playing together. Victor and Molina also won a state title in basketball during their junior season, and the duo also picked up two HHSAA titles on the volleyball court.
On the hardwood of the basketball court, Victor has helped the Wildcats claim the BIIF title all four years she was on the squad.
Despite all of her success, and because of her history with injuries coming into her senior season, it was still undecided if Victor would try to play basketball at the next level. However, a relatively injury free final year quickly put that uncertainty to rest.
“I think she was worried about not being able to play because of how her body felt and I was wondering if maybe her senior season would be it,” Konawaena head coach Bobbie Awa said. “But there were people in her ear encouraging her and telling her she could continue playing. She has loved this sport all her life and I believe she was able to get her confidence back this year.”
Looking back on her high school career, Victor will remember fondly playing with her best friend and for Awa.
“Playing for Auntie Bobbie at first was a little scary but that’s because she expects a lot out of us because she knows we can do it,” Victor said. “It really meant a lot to me to play for her and to play with Chanelle.”
Victor will put volleyball behind her and just focus on basketball at the next level. She is still a little undecided on her career path but has narrowed down her majors to either kinesiology, sports medicine or childhood education.