Hilo football coach Kaeo Drummondo has spent the better part of the past three seasons preaching to his players about the powers of perseverance, sacrifice and hard work, as well as the benefits of embracing the grind and enjoying the process.
It’s a repetitive message, and he sometimes wonders if his teenage audience is tuning him out.
Only now can he rest easy.
“They were listening,” Drummondo said. “They were listening.”
He was holding the HHSAA Division I championship trophy to prove it.
The Vikings received the conquering hero’s welcome that goes with becoming the first Big Island school to win a state football title when they were greeted Sunday morning by family, friends, fans and dignitaries at Hilo International Airport.