‘It’s unreal’: Moanalua boys volleyball reflects on historic state championship

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Moanalua boys volleyball team is still celebrating Saturday’s win against Punahou.

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Na Menehune stunned the perennial powerhouse in a five-set thriller to win the program’s first state championship.

“It’s like unreal that we were able to pull it out,” Moanalua outside hitter Lionel Gannon told Hawaii News Now.

The boys in blue entered the match undefeated, facing a Punahou team that won 11 of the last 12 titles and has a staggering 40 championships to its name.

The match was postponed because of weather and road closures, but Moanalua played with confidence.

“They don’t expect that they can come out and like pull out the win,” Gannon said. “We knew that we’re good enough that if we’re on our game, we can hang with anybody.”

For pin hitter Jarryn McCutcheon, the win carried extra meaning. McCutcheon said he was not only representing Moanalua, but also his home island of Molokai.

“It was like such a big accomplishment, not just for me, but me representing my island,” McCutcheon said. “All my emotions just like everywhere and like I was excited, happy, sad.”

McCutcheon was a key piece for Na Menehune’s offense, notching 17 kills in the win over the Buff ‘N Blue.

McCutcheon moved to Oahu after the passing of his grandmother and lived with his sister. He says volleyball got him through some tough times.

“Re-find myself and like I just took volleyball to help me find myself again,” he said.

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McCutcheon said he also leaned on his newfound family at Moanalua as he navigated his personal journey.

“All of them are just my brothers, like that’s just how I look at it,” McCutcheon said. “We became so close in such a short amount of time, and I love them with all my heart.”

The title was also emotional for longtime head coach Alan Cabanting, who has spent about 15 years leading the program. Moanalua reached the championship three times before but lost to Punahou each time.

“It’s still surreal,” Cabanting said. “I still can’t believe it, but it’s just amazing how we we’re able to come together.”

“Working with Coach Alan has been an amazing experience,” libero Darric Abe said. “I know that Moanalua has been known for having a lot of talent throughout the years and a lot of talented hitters.”

Moanalua’s win was also a milestone for Oahu public schools. The team became the first OIA program to win a state title since Roosevelt in 1979.

“It’s inspirational to everybody that when you set to your goal to it and your mind to it that you can do anything,” Cabanting said.

The team’s championship capped a successful weekend for Moanalua as the girls flag football and boys track-and-field teams also took home koa head trophies.

“All the teams were cheering each other on throughout the night,” Cabanting said.

“Just how supportive they are of each other, knowing this thing is going on, that thing’s going on, and them cheering for each other, absolutely it was a big supportive community that really made this happen,” he said.

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