Congrats to all of Kauai’s student-athletes for all of your accomplishments during the latest round of state tournaments. I’m sure you’ve done all of your families and friends proud representing the Garden Isle.
In a short roundup, here’s what happened during the last few weeks:
w Boys volleyball: Kapaa High School placed second in the Division II tournament. Reaching the championship match as the No. 1 seed, the Warriors fell to Saint Francis of the ILH in a five-set thriller.
w Tennis: Waimea High School’s Kari Correa (girls singles) and Limar Medina and Edmelle Medina (boys doubles) advanced to the Round of 16 in their respective brackets.
w Baseball: Kapaa High School finishes third in the D2 tournament. On the final day, the Warriors defeated Farrington of the OIA, 7-6.
w Softball: Kapaa and Waimea high school played each other for fifth place in the D2 tournament. In the teams’ last game of the season, the Menehune walked off to beat the Warriors, 10-9.
w Golf: Kauai High’s girls team finished ninth in the girls tournament with a 523; Kauai’s boys team finished tied for third with Waiakea of the BIIF with a 638.
w Track &field: Kauai’s Taegan Keep won gold in girls discus for the second year in a row; Kauai High’s girls team placed 13th, Kapaa’s boys team placed 18th.
But as the spring comes to a close, so does another academic year. And with the year ending, another senior class bids farewell to high school.
I’d like to write here something classy and inspirational, but I’m sure you’ll read and/or hear plenty of it during the next couple of weeks leading up to graduation. So, I won’t bother with that.
To the graduating seniors who I’ve either talked with in person at the games or to those I’ve read about in The Garden Island, I wish you luck as you prepare to transition into adulthood.
In the near future, I hope to hear or read of you’re continued successes whether on or off the field, court, gridiron, etc.
I was recently told of Kapaa High alum Leighton Moniz receiving a league Gold Glove award playing at Edmonds Community College in Washington. I hope to hear more about him and others down the line.
If any of you will be taking your game to the collegiate ranks, please consider contacting us to talk story. I’d be happy to share your story with the rest of the island.
FYI, there won’t be a “Hello. My name is …” column next week as I’ll be back home in California celebrating my sister’s graduation.
One thing I’ll be taking back from Hawaii: I plan on stacking so many leis around her neck that you can’t see her face in the pictures. I’ve seen that here, and it’s pretty hilarious.
Happy graduation, everyone.
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Nick Celario, sports writer, can be reached at 245-0437 or ncelario@thegardenisland.com.
