CLASSMATES CHEER ON LITTLE LEAGUE CHAMPS
Hawaii Little League champs get mini-parade at Highlands school
Photo gallery: Highland's Little League Champs |
By Dave Dondoneau
Advertiser Staff Writer
PEARL CITY — More than 1,000 Highlands Intermediate School students screamed their support for three classmates who were members of the world champion Waipi'o Little League team during a campus parade yesterday.
We're proud of you! You rock! We love you!
Those were just a few of the messages held up on makeshift posters as Jedd Andrade, Matthew Yap and Khade Paris paraded around campus in two golf carts.
Highlands students came out of their rooms at about 8:20 a.m. and lined the hallways and second-floor railings, clapping and screaming while some reached out to high-five the champions.
Asked if he could get used to the rock-star treatment, Jedd broke into a smile.
"Yeah," he said. "It's kind of cool. (Wednesday) Matt and I spoke at a seventh-grade assembly. I was pretty nervous. I bet Khade is glad he didn't have to."
Khade Paris, nicknamed "chocolate" for his love of Hershey's, made his first appearance at his new school yesterday after attending St. Joseph's last year.
One of the more soft-spoken players on the team, Khade, a sixth-grader, said he appreciated his fellow students' response.
"I was kind of nervous coming for my first day," he said. "I never expected anything like this."
Asked how long he thought the attention would last, Khade said "one or two weeks."
The three all wore Waipi'o baseball caps, and shirts with "Waipahu Baseball" on the back and "West" on the front.
The parade, as grand as it was, has been just a blip in the boys' schedule since they returned from Williamsport, Pa.
On Wednesday night the entire Waipi'o team got together with family for a dinner and party at the Mililani Golf Club. It was the first time they were all back together again since they won the world title on Sunday.
They exchanged stories and talked about the attention they've been getting, ranging from parades and assemblies to newspaper, TV and radio interviews.
"We got to see everyone and hit golf balls on the range after," Matthew said. "I never played before, but I think I hit better lefty than righty."
Daicorri Briscoe, an eighth-grader at Highlands, helped carry a world champion banner during yesterday's parade at the school and afterward said he'd love to celebrate with a parade of his own one day.
"Our football team nearly won the title last year," he said. "I'd love to win it and have a parade like this."
Next up for the trio and the whole Waipi'o team is the Parade of Champions at 5 p.m. Monday in Waikiki.
"We had our first parade in Williamsport," Jedd said. "It's been good."
Reach Dave Dondoneau at ddondoneau@honoluluadvertiser.com.