Junior Kainoa Otenbriet has played baseball since he was 3 years old, quickly developing into a standout player. After being called up to varsity during the NCS playoffs as a freshman and joining the team full time as a sophomore, Otenbriet appeared on track to pursue his dream of playing Division I baseball. But just months before his third varsity season, a devastating car accident threatened his future in the sport.
On September 18, Otenbriet was on the way to play in a baseball tournament in Arizona, one in which he would be able to show off his skills in front of several colleges, when his car entered hydroplane causing a severe crash.
“I want to say I don’t really remember the accident because I was asleep,” Otenbriet said. “and then I also don’t remember anything from roughly four days after the accident.”
The crash left Otenbriet with several serious injuries, including a broken pelvis, bruised organs and a traumatic brain injury caused by a dented skull.
“For the broken pelvis, I got 3 screws,” Otenbriet said. “And it made it so I couldn’t walk and put pressure on my left leg for a while.”
Without the ability to walk, Otenbriet was obligated to use a wheelchair until he was able to upgrade to a walker, and then crutches.
“I was on the walker for like a month, then I got crutches. Then I got released from the San Bernardino hospital to the Vallejo hospital,” Otenbriet said. “I was there for a week and then I came home and by the time I came home, I was walking on one leg with both crutches.”
Trapped at home during the recovery process, Otenbriet was unable to go out, which restricted him from seeing his friends.
“I felt very sad that I couldn’t hang out with my friends,” Otenbriet said. “I felt like my life was put on pause.”
Otenbriet’s day-to-day life during this period consisted of physical therapy, weekly doctors appointments, and a lot of video games.
“I played so many video games, it was actually ridiculous.” Otenbriet said. “My screen time was through the roof.”
When Otenbriet was still unable to attend school, he was able to complete and catch up on missed schoolwork by having Kevin Gorham, beloved radio and leadership teacher, transport his homework to and from school.
“My lovely radio teacher, Gorham, was like my assistant and would deliver my work from school to home,” Otenbriet said. “Gorham was a big help in it all, and the school was very understanding when I got back, and I had a lot of accommodations.”
Otenbriet returned to school after Thanksgiving break, and was able to fully walk shortly after. Two weeks later he was able to jog and three weeks later he was able to run again. With such quick physical recovery, being fit enough to play baseball was no longer a question, but a reality.
“I want to say after Thanksgiving break, I was walking. I just kind of went for it because you can only learn how to walk again by just walking.” Otenbriet said. “I thought I would miss the first few games of the season but I have played every game since.”
Despite returning to a heavy workload, Otenbriet quickly caught up in his classes and maintained strong grades. His rapid recovery also allowed him to rejoin the varsity baseball team for his junior season, where he earned second-team WACC All-League honors on May 15. The junior outfielder batted .278 and had 20 RBIs to help lead the Jets to the North Coast Section playoffs.
“At first I was not really upset…but wishing I could have gotten first-team, but honestly, when you really look at it, second-team all league is truly a blessing, especially after what I’ve went through,” Otenbriet said. “I’m really [proud] that I was able to do that and prove to myself and all the other people that helped me go through this hard time in my life that I can still do the thing I love and bounce back.”
During Otenbriet’s rehabilitation, he received support from many sources, through a GoFundMe, and he was extremely grateful for all the people that donated to help him get him back to where he is now. This gratitude was reciprocated by Otenbriet’s head coach, Adam Boyd, who was immensely impressed by his determination throughout his recovery.
“Kainoa’s impact on the team goes beyond what shows on the stat sheet. The way he fought back through recovery was incredible. Not once did he complain or have excuses for what he was going through, just put his head down and put the work in,” Boyd said. “His resilience not only defined his own journey, but is also a source of inspiration for his teammates, coaches, family, and friends around him.”
