The Gatorade Company announced today Pearl City High School Lady Charger Sunshine Fontes as the 2015-16 Gatorade Hawaii Girls Soccer Player of the Year. Sunshine played a huge role in the the Lady Chargers capturing the 2015-2016 HHSAA State Division I Girls Soccer Championship. Sunshine scored 29 goals with an amazing 11 goals in the state tournament. Post season awards included being voted the Honolulu Advertiser State Player of the Year as well as a First-Team All-Division I state tournament selection.
I had the honor this morning to visit Sunshine's classroom where there was a surprise congratulations celebration with classmates, teachers, teammates, and coaches, along with a quick video from Gatorade that explained the Gatorade Hawaii Girls Soccer Player of the Year Award.
Sunshine Fontes
2015-16 Gatorade Hawaii Girls Soccer Player of the Year
Congratulations!
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Sunshine gets a hug from big sister and Lady Charger all-star teammate Randi Fontes.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Sunshine is pictured with her Lady Charger coaches (L-R) Dana , Daphne, and Tracee.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Sunshine is pictured with PCHS Vice-Principal Mr. Kyle Miyashiro
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
PEARL CITY HIGH SCHOOL STANDOUT NAMED GATORADE HAWAII GIRLS SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR
CHICAGO (May 17, 2016)
In its 31st year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with USA TODAY High School Sports, today announced Sunshine Fontes of Pearl City High School as its 2015-16 Gatorade Hawaii Girls Soccer Player of the Year. Fontes is the first Gatorade Hawaii Girls Soccer Player of the Year to be chosen from Pearl City High School.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Fontes as Hawaii’s best high school girls soccer player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year award to be announced in May, Fontes joins an elite alumni association of past state award-winners in 12 sports, including Abby Wambach (1997-98, Our Lady of Mercy, N.Y.), Derek Jeter (1991-92, Kalamazoo HS, Mich.), Candace Parker (2001-02, Naperville Central HS, Ill.), Alexi Lalas (1987-88, Cranbrook HS, Mich.), Heather O’Reilly (2001-02, East Brunswick HS, N.J.) and Mark Sanchez (2004-05, Mission Viejo HS, Calif.).
The 5-foot-5 freshman forward led the Chargers to a 16-1 record and the Division I state championship this past season. Fontes scored 29 goals, including 11 in seven postseason games. The Honolulu Star Advertiser State Player of the Year and a First-Team All-Division I state tournament selection, she attended a training camp with the U.S. Soccer Under-16 Girls National Team in March.
Fontes has maintained a 3.43 GPA in the classroom. A volunteer at a homeless shelter and food bank, she has also donated her time as assistant director of a free youth soccer camp on Oahu.
“What makes Sunshine very dangerous is her deceptive speed and demeanor and her ability to finish,” said Millie Dydasco, head coach of Castle High. “She will continue to pose big problems for her opponents, and it will only get worse being that she is still young and developing.”
Fontes will begin her sophomore year of high school this fall.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade high school sports leadership team in partnership with USA TODAY High School Sports, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.
Fontes joins recent Gatorade Hawaii Girls Soccer Players of the Year Kristen Hori (2014-15, Iolani School), Kiani Halushka (2013-14, Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama High School), Jill Shimabuku (2012-13, Iolani School), Carly Neal (2011-12, Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama High School), Caprice Dydasco (2010–11, Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama High School), Mari Miyashiro (2009-10, Mililani High School), Jayann Gabrio (2008–09, Punahou School), Tani Costa (2007-08, Kalani High School), and Mari Punzal (2006-07, Kamehameha Schools, Kapalama Campus) among the state’s list of former award winners.
To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit www.gatorade.com/poy.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]