Editor’s note: This is the fourth story in a fivepart series on the 2005 KIF canoe paddling season. Although it’s a rebuilding year for the Kaua‘i High School boys canoe paddling squad, head coach Joe Curammeng thinks that his team
Editor’s note: This is the fourth story in a fivepart series on the 2005 KIF canoe paddling season.
Although it’s a rebuilding year for the Kaua‘i High School boys canoe paddling squad, head coach Joe Curammeng thinks that his team has what it takes to contend for the 2005 title.
“We should do a lot better than last year and we’ll need to work together as a team in order to do well,” Curammeng said.
The squad is primarily made up of multisport athletes including football and bowling.
On the team are Jonathan Rellin, Kalei Johnson, Ericson Abalos, Michael Debusca, Nelson Pulido, Christopher Young, Garren Venzon, Bennett Banach, Angel Yadao, Preston Ramson, Jason Glovasa, and Brian Rodriguez.
The JV crew consists of Sky Viernes, Skyler Ramson, Ryan Tokashiki, Jonathan Glovasa, and Cameron Takamura.
Curammeng is assisted by former Kaua‘i High School girls paddling standout Alayna Villatora.
“We’re in rebuilding mode, but we’ve got great leaders in Ramson and Rodriguez who are both experienced paddlers,” Curammeng said.
But so far, the varsity boys haven’t been too close to the top, as their highest finish in the two races has been thirdplace in last week’s race.
Things have been much better for the girls’ varsity squad and head coach Doneen Stokes is stoked about their chances.
“We don’t have a big squad, but it’s not how big your squad is, instead it’s all about good technique and commit ment,” Stokes said.
The 2005 varsity squad is made up of three seniors and nine juniors. The three seniors are Danielle Davis, Tiffanee Fujimoto (team manager), and Kim Kanittha. Davis is a cocaptain, along with Candace Ma‘amea, Fujimoto is a backup steersman, and Kanittha is an exchange student from Thailand.
The juniors include Mariko Asano, an exchange student from Japan, Cori Arashiro, Andrea Gunnar, Ronni Huff, La‘amea, Allison Katahira (steersman), Kellyn Tanaka a steersman, Jennifer Whitfield (team manager), and Athena Yee, a transfer from Island School.
The defending champs won the first race, but the girls buried a flag on the turn in the second race, which put them out of contention.
“It’s really hard to tell who’s going to win, but we’ll be right there in the end,” Stokes said.
While talking to Stokes during a phone interview, the girls were enjoying themselves in the background, but Stokes did say that they would stop the chatter when she gets near them.
“They’re a good group of girls and they get along very well,” Stokes said. Lori Parraga and her JV girls squad is on a hot streak so far this season.
That’s why she hopes that the weather holds up for their race this Saturday.
“I talked to Ms. Q (Charlene Quinones, Kaua‘i A.D.) and she said that we’ll have to wait until today to find out if the races are still on or not, but if it’s not, then that would stop our momentum,” Parraga said.
The team consists of Jodi Fukushima, Kahala Kekauwela, Jocelyn Slade, Molly Hamada, Sarah Pa, Kassie Dasalia, Kristen Cummings, Kara Cummings, Jewel Villatora, Asia Villatora, Salena Fahfelt, Kristina Iwai, Kimi Masumura, and Kira Boro.
Jewel and Asia and Kristen and Kara are sisters. It’s pretty rare to have two pairs of sisters on one squad and it definitely contributes to the success so far.
“We’ve done extremely well so far and I attribute it to hard work, dedication, and also their parents deserve some credit too,” Parraga said.
Undefeated so far, the Red Raider girls’ JV squad has their eyes on the KIF crown.
“We do a lot of individual training and we work on technique, strength, endurance, and stamina,” Parraga said.
The KIF canoe paddling season continues, weather permitting, on Saturday, Feb. 5 at the Wailua River.
