PIAA combine: Seven years and going strong

HONOLULU - Doris Sullivan's PIAA combine, now in its seventh season, is known for giving back to the community in the form of an affordable way for island football prospects to be seen and heard about. In that spirit, it's not uncommon for players to come back and repay the favor.

On Saturday, there will be a handful of college and college-bound players volunteering their time in a continuing effort to make the PIAA combine the premier event it has become over the years. Abe Markowitz (USC), Mykenna Ikehara (Washington), Solomon Koehler (Arizona), Whitley Fehoko (Portland State), Bryson Beirne (Arizona) and Matt Tamashiro (Lambuth) will be this year's help.

And of course the event would not also be the local success that it is if it weren't for the generous contributions of many sponsors. The lead sponsor for this year's combine is Leo Goeas, a former Kamehameha, Hawai'i and NFL player.

Punahou's Manti Te'o and Dalton Hilliard, as well as St. Louis' Billy Ray Stutzmann, who head up the class of 2009 Hawai'i prospects will also be volunteering their time on Saturday. Te'o and Hilliard were both recognized Thursday by the City of Honolulu for being nominated to play in the 2009 U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Tex.

Another 2009 U.S. Army nominee - Kapolei's Stan Hasiak - along with teammate Chad Lopati, will work out, turn around, and then participate in their spring game later that evening.

Here is just a small list of the players expected to participate in Saturday's combine:

2009 prospects
Stan Hasiak - Kapolei
Chad Lopati - Kapolei
Cyril Ontai - Kapolei
Kapua Sai - St. Louis
Lucas Gonsalves - St. Louis
Benson Ma'afala - Damien
Anthony Tuitele - Damien
Jordan Pu'u Robinson - Kamehameha (Maui)
Mana Rosa - Baldwin (Maui)
Mika Nickel - HPA (Hawai'i)
Shawn Reed - Kalaheo
Chauncey Makainai - Kailua
Wade Keliikipi - Waianae
Danny Kekoanui - Waianae
Kevin Aipia - Castle
Veni Manu - Mililani
Tonka Marsom - Mililani
Cayman Shutter - Punahou
Kimo Makaula - Punahou
Passi Iafeta - Punahou
Roby Toma - Punahou

2010 prospects
VJ Fehoko - Farrington
Taz Stevenson - Mililani

The players will be measured for height, weight and reach, and then will be tested in the following areas: 40-yard dash (10-yard dash times will also be included), 20-yard shuttle (t-test), L-cone drill, standing broad jump, vertical jump and bench press (option of lifting 185 pounds or 225).

The skill players will add the 60-yard shuttle to their list of events, while the linemen will participate in one-on-one drills. We'll have a full report reviewing the combine, as well as interviews with top prospects like Te'o and Hilliard.