Kula School Swimmers to watch: Kaikea Goo/Katerina Hettinger Notes & quotes: Kula school is in only their second year of KIF swimming and will host their first KIF pentagonal meet this year at Kaua’i High swimming pool. As a freshman,
Kula School
Swimmers to watch: Kaikea Goo/Katerina Hettinger
Notes & quotes: Kula school is in only their second year of KIF swimming and will host their first KIF pentagonal meet this year at Kaua’i High swimming pool. As a freshman, Hettinger won all pentagonal meets in the 100 breast only to come 2nd place behind crowning breast stroke champion Jeni Shibata of Kaua’i High at the Championship meet, the only meet she did not win.
Island School
Swimmers to watch: Erin Emberson
Notes & quotes: Emberson is the defending champion in the girl’s 100 fly. Kawamoto has the youngest team with one junior and senior, respectively, and all others being freshman. “I am not as interested in times as I am in developing young swimmers: Kawamoto says in approach to this years season. Island School has taken over the High School Swimming Invitational and has vowed to make it an annual event.
Waimea High School
Swimmers to watch: Jack Flores, Bo Domingcil, Kaina Makua, the Fujimura sisters – Ivy and Gina, and Katelyn Umetsu.
Notes & quotes: Last year Waimea’s boy’s team had a great season. Led by senior Fred Flores, Waimea placed 5th at the state champion in the 200 freestyle relay and had a swimmer place 10th overall in an individual event (Fred/50 free) for the highest finish of a Kaua’i swimmer in more than 10 years. Waimea’s boys should do well but will be challenged by Fred’s loss. Umetsu is coming off the heals of a steller age group short course season just missing state qualifying times for her age group in several events. As a freshman this year, Umetsu should contend to be a champion in her individual events.
Kapa’a High School
Swimmers to watch: Jeramy Albano, Kelii Kaaihue, Jaime Sibayan
Notes & quotes: Kapa’a comes in with the greatest depth of any team with nine age group swimmers on their team. Albano and Kaaihue will contend to replace Fred Flores as the top male swimmers on Kaua’i. New Head Coach Panui seams to fit Kapa’a well. Kara is the daughter of Waimea AD James Kitamura, who was an outstanding collegiate swimmer and went on to an even more successful career as a swim coach in Colorado before returning home. Panui is also an ex age group and high school swimmer.
Kaua’i High School
Swimmers to watch: Amanda Sheppers and Roxanne DuBois
Notes & quotes: Sheppers is last year’s female swimmer of the year and current record holder in the girls 500 free. “We want Amanda to break her record” says Hall “and to win KIF”. “We want to win”.
KIF Swim Meet Schedule
(Pre-season)
– First Annual Island School Swimming Invitational
12/29/01 start 9 a.m.
– Kaua’i High School Pool/host: Island School
(Regular season)
– KIF Pentagonal Swim Meets
1/12/02 – start 10 a.m.
– Kaua’i High School Pool/Host: Kaua’i High
1/19/02 – start 10 a.m.
– Kaua’i High School Pool/ Host: Kula School
1/26/02 – start 12 noon
– Waimea Community Pool/Host: Waimea High
2/2/02 start 10 a.m.
– Kapa’a Community Pool/Host: Kapa’a High
– KIF Boys & Girls Swimming Championships
2/9/02 start 12 noon
Kaua’i High School Pool/Host: Island School
