WAILUA — The Kapa‘a High School varsity paddling crews are headed for the Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association state championships. All three crews — the varsity boys, the varsity girls, and the varsity mixed — finished by controlling the Kaua‘i
WAILUA — The Kapa‘a High School varsity paddling crews are headed for the Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association state championships.
All three crews — the varsity boys, the varsity girls, and the varsity mixed — finished by controlling the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation paddling season and winning their respective division championships, Saturday at the Wailua River. With the sweeping win, the Warrior crews will represent the KIF at the state regatta.
Working the river for the first time in the afternoon due to SAT testing, the crews shared the water with heavy kayak traffic and an occasional barge entering and exiting the Wailua Marina under whispering trades and calm water.
But that did not hinder the Warrior crews from picking up first place in the Varsity Girls division with 24 points over Kaua‘i (13 points) and Waimea (7 points).
The Varsity Boys finished with 20 points over Kaua‘i (14 points) and Waimea (7 points).
Kapa‘a wrapped up the varsity wins by collecting 24 points for the Varsity Mixed division over Kaua‘i’s 12 points.
The Warriors finished the varsity sweep by adding a first finish in the Junior Varsity Boys division with 24 points over Kaua‘i’s 12 points.
Kaua‘i High School topped the JV Girls with 24 points to Kapa‘a’s 12 points, and in the JV Mixed, the Red Raiders pulled off first place with 17 points, just one point ahead of Kapa‘a’s 16 points and Waimea rounding out the division with 8 points.
Kapa‘a’s Varsity Girls took its division with a 3:58.70 paddle in the finals over Kaua‘i (4:01.21) and Waimea (4:11.21).
The Warrior Varsity Boys topped its division on a 3:34.41 paddle followed by Kaua‘i’s Varsity Boys who crossed at 3:39.57 in the finals followed by Waimea at 3:44.87).
Following a marathon Mixed division race featuring at least seven preliminary heats so all paddlers had a chance on the water, Kapa‘a’s team soared to a 3:51.53 run in the finals over Kaua‘i’s 4:02.41 paddle.
Kaua‘i’s JV Girls slipped across the line on a 4:12.04 run followed by the Kapa‘a B team crossing at 4:26.59.
The Kapa‘a JV boys topped that division with its A team crossing at 3:43.09 followed by Kaua‘i at 3:58.44. Of note, the Warriors’ B team finished its heat on a 3:52.98 paddle.
Kaua‘i JV Mixed topped its division on a 3:53.84 to round out the day’s action. Kapa‘a followed at 4:02.23 with Waimea at 4:28.65.
Kapa‘a will be representing the KIF at the 2011 First Hawaiian Bank HHSAA Canoe Paddling Championships, Feb. 4 at Ke‘ehi Lagoon on O‘ahu.
