Kaua‘i, Waimea sweep air riflery matches

LIHU‘E — Brianne Hornos (83-86-58-227) and Delissa Nobriga (78-73-75-226) posted the highest scores for the girls in leading Kaua‘i High School to a sweep of its series at the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation air riflery matches Thursday against Kapa‘a.

Tyler Navarro of the Kaua‘i boys team posted the day’s best 254 (84-91-79) to complete the sweep of Kapa‘a.

The Kaua‘i girls outshot Kapa‘a 1,071-901 while the Red Raider boys posted a 1,114-923 showing over the Warrior men.

Close on the Raiders’ heels, the Waimea Menehune swept its series over Island School in Puhi, the Menehune wahine finishing with a 1066-522 showing over the Island School girls while the Waimea boys posted a 1091-1033 edge over the Island School team.

Those results set the stage for Thursday’s matchup when Waimea travels to the Kaua‘i High School complex for the second-to-last match in the KIF air riflery season. That match starts at 3 p.m.

Bessie Baclig (79-81-60) posted the highest score for the Menehune after rebounding from a poor sixth place performance in the prone position to set the pace in the kneeling position and ending second in the standing position. BreeAnn Abuan (83-76-56-215) followed with Dylan Tabalan (81-80-53-214) just a point back following a strong kneeling position shoot. Jackie Taylor (82-68-61-211) and Amber Duldulao (84-64-58-206) rounded out the Menehune leaders, the team getting 200-performances from all its shooters.

Island School girls posted just three shooters led by Lindsey Duarte (78-59-57-194), Pii Kali (76-35-56-167) and Griffin Lord (67-52-42-161).

Kaua‘i girls also posted 200-plus shooters for its team effort with Kristyn Yamamoto (74-67-67-208) following the two leaders. Meagan Fujimoto (85-61-63-207) and Britney Fernandes (77-66-58-203) rounded out the Raider ladies’ leaders.

Kaylan Armstrong-Shiira (80-60-59-199) paced the Kapa‘a ladies followed by Mary Walker (76-56-51-183), Jessica Pasadava (67-47-64-178), Lana Bilbo (84-59-32-175) and Amy Niwa (72-49-45-166).

Following Tyler Navarro, Kaua‘i boys, defending KIF champions from 2008, also posted all-200 shooters as Shaun Koide (78-80-62-220) and Samuel Lang (82-77-65-219) filled in the No. 2 and 3 slots. Sheldon Chu (89-68-58-215) and Travis Navarro (83-73-50-206) filled out the leaders.

Adam Clark (80-70-50-200) set the pace for the Warrior men followed by Marvin Woods (76-68-50-194), Thomas Woods (74-62-53-189), Hunter Bilbo (79-57-38-174) and Jameson Macadamia (61-66-39-166).

John Medeiros set the pace for the Menehune men in Puhi with a 234 (87-78-69) followed by Bryle Rivera (82-75-72-229), Benigno Baclig (79-77-59-215), Amlan Fujimura (93-72-48-213) and Wesley Sakamoto (75-61-63-200). In the series, Fujimura posted a near-perfect score in the prone position with a 93 showing, the day’s best score in that position.

J. Riley Louis set the pace for the Island School shooters with a 218 (83-78-57) as that team also posted all 200-plus shooters in the round.

Aaron Rozon took advantage of the home-court to finish second at 208 (74-71-63) followed by Logan Domingo (78-70-56-204),  Zebulon Leech-Kirchman (90-65-47-202) and Cole Moore (77-79-45-201). Leech-Kirchman’s prone position score of 90 was the second-highest of the day behind Waimea’s Fujimura.

The Island School boys have been showing a steady improvement in their shooting skills, dropping Thursday’s contest by less than 60 points. The point-spread between their top shooter and No. 5 shooter is clustered around just 17 points, demonstrating the team’s consistency at home.

This compares with the 34-point spread for the Menehune that this year, in addition to building a new core of shooters, lost its home court due to construction repairs being done at the Hanapepe Armory.

Island School travels to the Kapa‘a High School range, Thursday. Matches there also start at 3 p.m.

• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.