Kadena senior Tobin Kaiser signs a partial scholarship to play lacrosse at NCAA Division II Chowan University of Murfreesboro, N.D. He's surrounded by his parents Cara and Mike, Kadena High School principal Dr. James Bleecker, Tobin's brother Kyle and Island Youth Lacrosse Okinawa president John McClure. Seated on Tobin's lap is his 6-year-old niece Vivian. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa – A year ago at this time, Tobin Kaiser was nursing a torn meniscus in his left knee and was told by his physician that he might not be playing lacrosse for as long as nine months.

Fast forward to Thursday. Kaiser, a Kadena senior playing for Island Youth Lacrosse Okinawa, signed a partial scholarship offer with Chowan University.

“Never give up,” Kaiser said. “Always look toward your dreams. Everything has a meaning to it.”

Though lacrosse is not a DODEA-Pacific sport, student-athletes at DODEA schools may play for youth services teams at the high school-age level and earn varsity letters.

That’s according to a memorandum of understanding between DODEA and outfits such as Marine Corps Community Services and Kadena’s 18th Force Support Group.

Kaiser is the second Okinawa high school-aged student-athlete to earn a lacrosse scholarship in the last two school years. James Kinney, Kadena Class of 2024, plays for NAIA Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas.

“I’ve been playing with James for eight years,” Kaiser said. “He was definitely some inspiration to me.”

For Kaiser, it marks a comeback from a severe knee injury suffered while playing IYLO ball in December 2023. It meant missing the 2024 winter season.

“He didn’t let that stop him,” IYLO president John McClure said at a ceremony at which Kaiser signed his letter of intent.

Kaiser offered to coach one of the youth teams, McClure said, and the league’s board approved it. “He turned the opportunity into becoming a leader and shared his knowledge with others,” McClure said.

And Kaiser returned to action on a full-time basis just three months after he was injured.

Kaiser’s mom, Cara, is a DODEA middle-school instructor who has been teaching on island for 13 years.

Tobin pretty much grew up on Okinawa and swam for the Okinawa Dolphins youth team, and also played ice hockey, youth football, rugby and soccer.

In addition to the partial athletic scholarship, Kaiser, a 4.0 student, also earned a leadership scholarship and a merit scholarship that could come close to paying his full tuition, his mother said.

Chowan, located in Murfreesboro, N.C., plays in NCAA Division II Conference Carolinas. The Hawks finished 5-9 overall and 2-5 in conference play last season.