“We’re very inexperienced, but I am impressed with the work effort that has come through,” said Coach Dan Skousen.

LAHAINA – After taking a year off from his position as Lahainaluna High School’s cross country coach for personal reasons, Dan Skousen is back as the lead mentor for the Luna long distance runners.

Skousen, who is a physical education teacher at Lahainaluna, had established a rising cross country program with veteran coach Dennis Nakamura before he took a year-long leave of absence.

Coach Dan is back now, and with new assistant coach Johnny Webb, hopes to rejuvenate the program to the championship level it attained with the 2013 Maui Interscholastic League title.

“We are in a rebuilding process this year,” said Skousen, a former standout performer for the BYU Hawaii cross country team.

“We are very young and lack experience, as well as a drop-off in interest. We still have some committed student-athletes on the team.”

Leading the way for the Lunas is senior Kalea Acevedo, who, despite being in recovery from an injury sustained while playing soccer, is a four-year runner for Lahainaluna. A top ten finisher throughout the regular season competitions, Acevedo will more than likely represent the team at the state championship meet at the end of October in Honolulu.

She is joined by first-year newcomers Anysis Fuentes and Arabella Silao on the Lady Luna team.

Junior Cash McCall, the standout leader of the boy’s team, is the lone experienced runner. He is a top ten finisher and will probably join Acevedo at the state championships.

The remainder of the roster includes juniors Ken Alba, Johan Flores and Justus Perreria Aquino, and freshmen Isaiah Bell, Levi Basurtio and Brasil Ruiz Rockett.

“We are grateful for the McCall Family support of the team – specifically with organizing the purchase of our uniforms. And, as always, thanks to Trainers Jon Conrad and Rebecca Cohen for the dedicated care given to the student-athletes,” he concluded.