LIHU’E – The Kaua’i High School swimming pool malfunctioned at the worst possible time for Mokihana Aquatics — about six weeks before its annual Fun Meet. The month club members spent out of the water through head coach Orlando Anaya.
LIHU’E – The Kaua’i High School swimming pool malfunctioned at the worst possible time for Mokihana Aquatics — about six weeks before its annual Fun Meet. The month club members spent out of the water through head coach Orlando Anaya.
“I didn’t know what to expect of our kids in this meet,” he said Saturday. “But they blew me away. They swam awesome.”
On the first day of the Fun Meet — the second, and final, day begins Sunday at 9 a.m. — Mokihana swimmers proved equal to participants from Maui Gold Swim Team, Barbers Point Swim Club, Aloha Aquatics and Punahou Aquatic.
Of the 62 events contested on Saturday, Mokihana took first in 15 of them. The club finished second in a host of others.
“Our kids swam fast,” Anaya said. “I’m really proud of them. But, all of the kids here are swimming fast. This was a really good first day.”
Included in the group of fast swimmers was Anaya’s son, Keenan, who will represent Kaua’i at the United States Swimming Western Zone Championships August 7-11 on Maui. Anaya swam a zone-qualifying 28.3 in the 50-yard butterfly, and nearly another in the 100 freestyle. He had already qualified for the zone championships in both.
But Anaya was not alone. Mokihana’s Danelle Yost., 14, turned in a 1:01.43 to win the 18-and-under 100 free. Roxanne DuBois won the girls 13-14 year-old ‘B’ division of the same event in a 1:08.94. Paris Mackey won the same event on the boys side with a 1:02.80, good enough for a Hawai’i double-A time.
Mokihana’s Cava-Lei Wilson won the girls 11-12 year-old ‘B’ 100 free and the 50 butterfly. Ten-year-old Kelsey Tanaka won the 10-and-under ‘A+’ division of the 100 free with a state qualifying time of 1:15.33. Tankaka also won the 50 breaststroke.
Katelyn Umetsu won the girls 18-and-under 100 butterfly. Robby Farias won the 8-and-under ‘C’ division 25 breaststroke.
Mokihana also won the girls 18-and-under 200 freestyle relay. The team of Yost, DuBois, Umetsu and Jamie Sibayan swam a 2:02.09 to crush the next-closest finisher, from Barber’s Point.
“We’ll be looking for more outstanding performances from all the kids tomorrow,” Anaya said. “And more good times for all. There hasn’t been any complaints here today. We got in, got the meet done and now our visitors are going sightseeing.
“It’s working out really well.”
