The BIG “Scheppers vs. Umetsu” race has been put on hold due to illness, yet the crowd that showed up at Waimea this Saturday was not disappointed (and a crowd it was). The schools that run meets pride themselves in
The BIG “Scheppers vs. Umetsu” race has been put on hold due to illness, yet the crowd that showed up at Waimea this Saturday was not disappointed (and a crowd it was).
The schools that run meets pride themselves in being great host as Waimea was this weekend, but as far as spirit goes, it will be hard to top the Menehune fans.
While Kaua’i high school swimming has more then 100 athletes this year, the largest number in years, attendance has been dismal to sparse at best.
Where are the families and friends?
Some meets have been delayed because it’s been hard-press to get as little as ten additional timers.
Not in Waimea.
A full slate of timers nearly packed bleachers and cheerleaders joined in to make this latest meet edition to KIF swimming the most spirited spectacle by far.
The partisan home town crowd had lots to cheer about.
Waimea boys won seven of ten events entered and posted the only individual state qualifying time.
Waimea’s Bo Domical and Kaina Makua were multiple event winners and Jack Flores was the lone state qualifier this weekend.
Amanda Scheppers of Kauai and Katrina Hettinger of Kula school were the girl’s multiple event winners.
Waimea’s girls team was noticeably struggling with out there star swimmer Umetsu.
Umetsu’s chance to de-throne defending swimmer of the year Scheppers all but disappeared this weekend as this makes the second KIF competition that she has missed.
Participation has always been a prime factor in determining All Stars.
Racing without starting blocks had an obvious negative affect and not only did we see the least amount of state times this weekend but there were only a handfull of personal best times also.
Maybe Mike Aldax’s article on coaching should be required reading for all coaches.
The kids deserve the best opportunity to succeed and the coaches should bend over backwards to give them that opportunity.
I wonder if football coaches would play a game without field markings or a baseball game played without bases.
Of course not.
Yet it will happen in swimming next week at Kapa’a where the last three years there has been injuries because of its lack of facility standards.
Kauai’s swimming coaches have regularly complained about the lack of respect that swimming receives.
Knowingly allowing swimmers to race in a compromised and unsafe situation is not helping.
So what will the swimming coaches do about it?
Most likely, absolutely nothing!
