Kalani High School’s Dara Ajimine took the early lead for the girls yesterday in Day 1 of the Billy Tees/Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association State Bowling Championships at the Lihu‘e Bowling Center. The boys competition also started yesterday afternoon. Ajimine,
Kalani High School’s Dara Ajimine took the early lead for the girls yesterday in Day 1 of the Billy Tees/Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association State Bowling Championships at the Lihu‘e Bowling Center. The boys competition also started yesterday afternoon.
Ajimine, a two-time state champion who won her first title at the LBC, held a 15-point lead over Pearl City High’s Ashley Shoemaker after the morning, three-game session at 596 over Shoemaker’s 581.
After the break and mid-day lane switch, Ajimine was able to hold onto her lead to finish the day at 1,177 (190-195-211-230-150-201). Shoemaker dropped two slots to finish the day at 1,074.
Moving ahead of Shoemaker were Sacred Hearts’ Venny Jean Turner (1,113) and St. Francis’ Chelsea Seki (1,081).
Of the hosts from the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation, Waimea High School’s Tiffany Lum was the league’s top finisher of the day. Lum scored 967, with her best frame coming in the second game where she posted 185.
Lum is currently outside of the top 20, but could potentially break through to the top 15 for a medal with a strong finish in today’s final three-game session.
Eight bowlers back is Keera Cacal at 953.
A Kaua‘i girl representing Kamehameha Schools Kapalama, she’s four ahead of Kaua‘i High School’s Jessica Iwata.
The 2007 KIF champion Iwata’s best frame was her last of the day in which she finished with a 174 en route to a score of 952.
This year’s KIF champion Mindi Agena of Kapa‘a High school struggled a bit yesterday. A score of 103 was her lowest in the fifth game and Agena finished with an 897 (163-156-148-170-103-157).
The Kaua‘i girls team (4,434) is currently seventh in the team rankings out of 11. Kalani, led by Ajimine, is in first place with 4,920. Kalani has been the state team runner up for the past two years and its last state championship title was in 1994 at the Hilo Lanes under the coaching of Ted Chock.
Following Kalani are the girls from Kapolei (4,889), Hilo (4,648), Waiakea (4,636) and Moanalua (4,628). Last year’s team champions from Mililani sit at 4,509.
The boys hit the lanes slightly before 3 p.m. yesterday.
By the end of their first session, Kalani’s David Goo was in the lead by a pin at 647. Goo bowled his first two games over 200 (205 and 248) but dropped a 194 in the third. Waiakea’s Ethan Nakana was at 646 and Pearl City’s Micah Lee was two back at 644.
The KIF’s highest finisher by the half was Waimea’s Matthew Haack. He bowled 152, 201 and 197 to finish at 550.
The Pearl City Chargers also had the lead after the first half by 10 at 3,007. Waiakea’s Warriors were at 2,997 and the two-time defending team champions from Hawai‘i Baptist Academy were at 2,637.
The boys’ final first-day results were not available by press time.
The championships wrap up this afternoon.
