In more than a century of Richland Bomber football, there had never been a junior captain. Until Sylen Kiesel-Kauhane.
Now a senior, the 6-foot-4 defensive weapon has done it twice — voted captain in back-to-back seasons by his teammates — and in the process, he’s redefined what leadership looks like at Richland High School.
When Kiesel-Kauhane joined the varsity ranks, nothing was guaranteed. His father, RJ Kiesel-Kauhane, a former University of Hawai‘i linebacker, had joined the staff as Richland’s defensive coordinator. Both father and son knew what that might look like from the outside.
“They were cautious,” said head coach Josh Jelinek. “RJ didn’t want anyone thinking Sylen’s role came because his dad was a coach. They didn’t want a hint of nepotism — but it became impossible to deny how good he was.”
Four weeks into Sylen’s sophomore season, Jelinek said what everyone was thinking:
“Sylen’s the best linebacker on our team.”
Once he earned that starting spot, he never let it go.
By season’s end, his leadership was unmistakable. When players voted for team captains, his name topped the list. For the first time in program history, the Bombers had a junior captain — and his teammates had chosen him.
Kiesel-Kauhane’s leadership comes from effort, not ego. “He never stops moving,” said Jelinek. “Always talking, always lifting teammates up. In three years, I’ve never seen him do a single negative thing.”
That discipline extends beyond the field. With a 4.0 GPA and valedictorian status within reach, Sylen sets the tone for what Jelinek calls “the total package.”
“When we tell kids you can play on Saturdays and still take care of business in the classroom,” the coach said, “Sylen’s the example we point to.”
For Sylen, it’s simple: “I wanted to be a voice for my team. Knowing my teammates have confidence in me means everything.”
Family and Football
For RJ Kiesel-Kauhane, coaching his son has been both rewarding and delicate.
“I didn’t want him to get anything he didn’t earn,” he said. “From the islands, we’re taught to stay humble. I just wanted him to have the full experience like every other player.”
That humility has been a hallmark of the family since they arrived in the Tri-Cities.
“RJ wasn’t looking for a title,” Jelinek said. “He just wanted to give back to the game. The two of them have made our program better because of that.”
RJ calls this senior year together “a blessing.”
“God put us here for a reason — to grow together and to teach through this game,” he said.
Sylen’s identity and work ethic are rooted in his Hawaiian heritage.
“My culture means everything,” he said. “You respect your roots by making your ancestors proud. That’s who I play for — my family, my name, and the love of the game.”
His extended family still watches every Bomber game from Hawaii.
“They text and call after every game,” he said. “It gives me another reason to go out there and go to battle.”
Football, Sylen says, has shaped his mindset as much as his skillset.
“Every day you’ve got to do something to be better than the guy across from you,” he said. “Football’s not the end — it’s what teaches you how to live.”
This season has looked different. The veteran linebacker has been playing defensive end in a multi-effort to hone what could transfer to the next level as well as develop the depth at the linebacker position for the future of the Bomber program. Kiesel-Kauhane is averaging about 4.5 tackles per game as Richland’s defense ranked third in the Mid-Columbia Conference during the regular season.
While his future beyond Richland hangs in the balance, Kiesel-Kauhane knows where he’ll be this Friday night: Under the lights in Richland.
The Bombers closed their regular season in dramatic fashion, edging Kamiakin 15-14 last week to finish MCC play 7-2. With that win, Richland earned the right to host Mount Si in the Round of 32 playoffs, set for 7:00 p.m. Friday at Fran Rish Stadium.
And leading them onto the field with a flag in his hands and fight in his heart — again — will be No. 14, Sylen Kiesel-Kauhane, the captain who’s made Bomber history.
