As a Matador, Dillon Jonke will compete in the Big West Conference, which includes Cal Poly, University of Hawaii, UC Irvine, and UC Santa Barbara. PHOTO BY RAY CHIN.

NAPILI — Since his first step on campus in the fall of 2019, senior Dillon Jonke has racked up a few titles: Pueo Scholar, MIL Golf Co-Player of the Year, and a MIL and State Golf Team championship. On Nov. 17, with a few strokes of his pen, he officially became a NCAA Division I Athlete.

Surrounded by his parents, Maui Preparatory Academy faculty and administration, and fellow Pueo golf teammates and coaches, Jonke signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) to attend California State University Northridge on a golf scholarship in the fall. Jonke, the 2022 HHSAA Golf Championship runner-up, earned the Pueo Scholarship in 2019. Jonke heard about the opportunity as he and his parents explored high school options.

“(The scholarship) was the luckiest thing that could have happened. Maui Prep seemed like a good opportunity, especially with the up-and-coming golf team. We jumped on it immediately,” he said.

The Pueo Scholarship is awarded annually to a high school student new to Maui Prep and provides tuition for up to four years. The committee welcomes applicants who demonstrate financial need and an excellence in academics, and a fine or performing art, community service, athletics or student government.

Jonke picked up his first golf club at age five, as he was exploring sports in search of a good fit. By age nine, he was winning golf tournaments and showing a diligent desire to improve. Jonke’s freshman and sophomore high school golf seasons were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but he and his teammates came out swinging in February 2022, handily winning the MIL Golf team title and running away with the state championship title on their home turf by 37 strokes. Last year, Jonke was ranked 137th nationally for the Class of 2023.

The son of Scott and Kerstin Jonke of Kihei connected with CSUN head coach Jim Bracken in 2021 when the Matadors came to Maui to compete in the Kaanapali Classic Collegiate, a 20-team tournament. The Lahaina Junior Golf Association coordinated a clinic and meet-and-greet with a handful of collegiate coaches, including Coach Bracken. Jonke hit it off immediately with Bracken, paving the way for official recruitment by providing continuous updates of his progress and results.

“Building a strong relationship with the coach was essential. CSUN was not even on my radar,” Dillon recalled. “I knew I wanted to commit there because it was such a perfect fit for me.”

“Dillon is going to be a great addition to our team,” said Bracken. “He’s consistently been one of the top two or three high school and junior players in Hawaii. He’s a hard worker and a great student and will fit in great with us at CSUN.” Jonke is appreciative of the Maui Prep experience that has prepared him to be a student-athlete in college.

“Coach Bracken was impressed that all my academic requirements were met by the end of my junior year. It goes to show that Maui Prep is on top of it and they are preparing us for college,” Dillon said.

Academics always came first, College Counselor Keenan Reader said of Jonke. “He was always a leader in the classroom.”

Reader remembered how Jonke approached him early in his high school career, looking for guidance on making the jump to college athletics.

“Everything Dillon was asked to do, he did,” Reader told the throng of supporters. “From the early morning workouts, extra strength and conditioning, to scheduling calls and campus visits.”

He reminded the young Pueo team that Dillon pursued the coaches and programs, fully earning his four-year scholarship.

After inking his letter, Jonke thanked his supporters. “I can’t believe this day has finally come. It’s been such a good journey, and to finally be here today is the best thing in the world. I’m going to continue to represent what Maui Prep does for students and I am going to try to win some tournaments in D-1 golf.”

For more information on Maui Prep’s Pueo Scholarship, visit MauiPrep.org/Admissions.