No Punahou student of his generation embodied the all-around athlete profile better than Brian Wells ’91. Competitive, hyperfocused and blessed with an otherworldly jumping ability that belied his modest height, Wells became a multiple individual and team state champion across three sports.
Wells started high school focusing on soccer and track and field – adding volleyball at the suggestion of Punahou classmate Stein Metzger ’91. Wells made the Intermediate volleyball team and won the Most Inspirational Award. Intermediate soccer and JV track rounded out his freshman athletic itinerary.
Sophomore year, Wells dropped soccer and remained a volleyball athlete, playing on JV. In varsity track and field, he became a mainstay of the 300m hurdles and field events, placing fourth in the triple jump in the 1989 state meet and contributing to a buff ’n blue state championship.
Wells made the varsity volleyball team his junior year, playing outside hitter on a state championship squad. In varsity track, he placed second in the state in the triple jump and fifth in the 300m hurdles and helped the buff ’n blue collect another state team title.
During his senior year, Wells was a first-team All-State volleyball player and propelled the School to its 11th consecutive state volleyball championship. In the spring he had a dominant state track and field meet, winning the high jump and 300m hurdles and placing third in the long and triple jumps.
As a senior he also chose to revisit soccer, despite having not played since his Intermediate days as a freshman. He tried out for the team wearing secondhand cleats and earned a spot on the roster, helping Punahou win the state title. Wells earned All-ILH second team honors.
Wells played collegiate volleyball at UCLA, where he was a three-time national champion. Today he lives in Seattle with his family and owns a design-build firm.