HONOLULU – Hawai’i soccer head coach Michele Nagamine announced the addition of four student-athletes to the program for the 2023 season Thursday. The Rainbow Wahine will welcome Alexis Ballesteros, Alyssa Burdusis, Kennedy Justin and Kaiya Kapaku to the program prior to the start of the upcoming season.
“When we first introduced the members of our 2023 recruiting class, I talked about their industriousness and work rate on and off the field,” said Nagamine. “This group is no different. All of them are known for having engines that won’t quit and work rates that exceed expectations. They also had college and club coaches who raved about their personalities and love for the game. I know we got some ballers in these four!”
The four will join the three that were signed to national letters of intent in November, growing the group of incoming Rainbow Wahine for this season to seven.
2023 SIGNING CLASS
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Hometown (High School) |
| Isabelle Ayala | M | 5-6 | Henderson, Nev. (Green Valley HS) |
| Alexis Ballesteros | F | 5-0 | Beaverton, Ore. (Westview HS) |
| Alyssa Burdusis | D | 5-7 | Dublin, Calif. (Dublin HS/San Joaquin Delta College) |
| Kennedy Justin | GK | 5-10 | Long Beach, Calif. (Long Beach Poly HS) |
| Kaiya Kapaku | M | 5-7 | Kula, Maui (Kamehameha-Maui) |
| Tatum Porter | M/A | 5-5 | Anchorage, Alaska (A.J. Dimond HS) |
| Riley Simpson | D | 5-9 | Fort Collins, Colo. (Rocky Mountain HS) |
Alexis Ballesteros, F, 5-0, Beaverton, Ore. (Westview HS)
Three-year letterwinner at Westview High School … Earned first-team All-Metro League honors as a senior … Part of a Westview squad that advanced to the 6A state playoffs … A first-team All-Metro League selection as a junior in 2021-22 … Helped lead Westview to a state 6A second round playoff appearance … Played club soccer for Bridge City Soccer Academy.
Nagamine on Ballesteros: “Alexis will be redshirting this fall but we anxiously look forward to her return, as she is a dangerous attacking player who has the ability to score and assist goals.”
Alyssa Burdusis, D, 5-7, Dublin, Calif. (San Joaquin Delta College/Dublin HS)
Played two seasons at San Joaquin Delta College … Appeared in 44 matches, making 38 starts during her time with the Mustangs … A key part of a back line that allowed just 17 goals and recorded 13 shutouts in 25 matches in 2022 … Helped lead San Joaquin Delta to a CCCAA semifinal appearance … Started the final 19 matches of her sophomore season … A regular starter on the back line of a Mustangs team that gave up just nine goals and tallied 16 shutouts in 23 matches as a freshman in 2021 … A three-year letterwinner and 2021 graduate of Dublin High School … Played club soccer for San Ramon FC.
Nagamine on Burdusis: “Alyssa will compete for time at both outside and center back. She is a solid 1v1 defender and is able to get up and down the field with ease.”
Kennedy Justin, GK, 5-10, Long Beach, Calif. (Long Beach Poly HS)
A three-year letterwinner at Long Beach Poly High School … Named the Moore League Co-Goalkeeper of the Year as a senior in 2022-23 while earning a spot on the first team … Selected to the Long Beach Press-Telegram’s Girls Soccer Dream Team … Allowed just 12 goals in 18 matches and helped put together nine clean sheets … Led Long Beach Poly to a second place finish in the Moore League and CIF Southern Section Division 2 second round appearance … Helped the Jackrabbits to a CIF Southern Section state playoff appearance and third-place finish in the Moore League in 2021-22 as a junior … Played club soccer for Cerritos United Soccer Club.
Nagamine on Justin: “Kennedy will add a level of athleticism and height to our goalkeeping squad but it’s her maturity and intelligence level that I’m the most excited about. She is intuitive with great instincts and I know she will thrive in our environment.”
Kaiya Kapaku, M, 5-7, Kula, Maui (Kamehameha-Maui)
A four-year letterwinner at Kamehameha-Maui … An honorable mention all-state selection as a senior in 2023 by the Star Advertiser … Named honorable mention All-MIL by the Maui News … Helped lead the KS-Maui to an MIL title and state Division I semifinal appearance … Scored a goal in the Warriors’ MIL-title clinching win over Lahainaluna … A part of a KS-Maui squad that reached the quarterfinals of the Division I state tournament as a junior in 2022 … Played club soccer for Albion SC Hawai’i.
Nagamine on Kapaku: “Kaiya has long been a standout in the Hawai’i youth soccer scene. I remember first seeing her at a youth camp on Maui and she immediately caught my eye because she was so fluid and technical on the ball. I made a mental note that day to keep an eye on her, so I’m just stoked that we have another Maui girl on our roster.”
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