KAPA‘A — The Kaua‘i High School Red Raider cheer squad repeated as the KIF cheerleading champions after edging out Waimea and Kapa‘a on Saturday at the Bernice Hundley Gym in Kapa‘a. Saturday’s win gives the Red Raiders their second straight
KAPA‘A — The Kaua‘i High School Red Raider cheer squad repeated as the KIF cheerleading champions after edging out Waimea and Kapa‘a on Saturday at the Bernice Hundley Gym in Kapa‘a.
Saturday’s win gives the Red Raiders their second straight victory in the three years that the KIF has hosted the cheerleading championships, and their 25-member coed squad will be heading to the state competition later this Spring.
Kaua‘i made themselves known in no uncertain terms as they made their entrance, and swept the competition with top scores in the five judged categories enroute to their 229 point total, the near-capacity audience agreeing with accompanying rounds of screams, and applause and the squad, smartly dressed in red and black went through their routines.
Waimea High School, smartly dressed in long-sleeved dark blue, picked up second place with 205 points followed by the hosting Kapa‘a Warriors who finished the day with 188 points.
Routines that each school’s squad use for their appearances at the various sports year-round formed the basis of their competition routine, but there were embelishments added that no one sees except at the competition.
A whole new realm of vocabulary accompanies the sport including base, spot, catcher, and pendulum as Kapa‘a trainer Sam Henriques noted the intensity of each squad’s dedication during their pre-competition practice that lasted late Friday night.]
Henriques, who along with Waimea trainer Brandi Hori, had vantage point seating during the competition, said cheerleading is a contact sport, the Kapa‘a trainer noting the amount of tape used on the Warrior girls in preparation for the Saturday competition.
There was no Kaua‘i time on Saturday as the doors to the gym closed to the public shortly after 1 p.m., and late-comers were restricted to the gym foyer while the competition took place inside.
But, when the results were announced, the doors were open, and the girls from each of the schools were swarmed by supporters, relatives, and friends who presented each performer with the recognition they deserved for a job well done.
Members of the champion Red Raiders include coaches Carrie Naka‘ahiki-Young, Todd Young, and pepsters Ivan Kuapahi, Brian Rodriguez, Jonathan Rojas, Preston Ramson, Danielle Alayvilla, Jamie Cataluna, Charity Velez-Arrisgado, Taylor Morales, Jensine Soria, Alyssa Racca, Lauryn Duterte, Jessica Alcanta, Riza Andres, Candace La‘amea, Kathleen Constantino, Kyra Canales, Keelie Fireston, Roseanna Jerves, Jamie Pascua, Nicole Longboy, Kailan Chow, Holly Shimazu, Kimberlee Carillo, Angela Semana, and Ashley Agacaolli.
Sistah Clara Oligo served as the day’s mistress of ceremonies with the Kapa‘a J.R.O.T.C. color guard doing the presentation of colors while Candice, BriAnne, and Yony States rendered the national anthem.
Judges included Doug Hussey, Tina Kuribayashi, Ludia Park, Henry Santos, Joel Shugart, and Marilyn Valencia. Timers were Rebecca Pickett, Irene Gusman, and Roxanne Thompson.
