PUHI — Forty-one points separated the first and second place in the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation girls air riflery competition, Wednesday at the Island School range in Puhi. The Kaua‘i High School boys team had earlier clinched the KIF title for
PUHI — Forty-one points separated the first and second place in the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation girls air riflery competition, Wednesday at the Island School range in Puhi.
The Kaua‘i High School boys team had earlier clinched the KIF title for its division, but victories by both the Waimea and Kaua‘i girls teams during last week’s final scheduled matches pushed the shootoff at Island School, a neutral range for both teams.
When the dust settled, the Kaua‘i girls pocketed the gold on 1,168 points to Waimea’s 1,127-point showing, Kaua‘i getting its pace from Kristyn Yamamotoya who consistently led the Raider girls through the season.
Waimea first-year shooter Jessica Tangalin, her head protected from the afternoon heat by a woven coconut palm visor, set the pace early, marking a 92 in the prone position, that performance being echoed by Kaua‘i shooter Meghan Leary who posted a 91.
“This is just her first year shooting and she’s leading the team, but she’s already a senior,” said Victor Aguilar, Waimea’s coach. “Imagine if she’d started shooting earlier.”
But Tangalin’s lead stumbled in the standing position, the Waimea senior marking a 68 to tie with teammate Courtney Guirao.
Kaua‘i picked up the pace during this phase, Yamamotoya rebounding from an 86 in the prone position to set the pace with the highest score in this position at 83 points, closely eclipsed by teammate Brooke Hornos who posted an 80.
Tangalin charged back in the kneeling position to post an 84, only one of two 80-point scores marked by the Menehune while on the Raider range, Jamie McDermott set the standard with an 84 followed by Emma Leary and Joelle Patricio each marking 82 points, effectively sealing the match.
Overall, Yamamotoya posted the highest individual marks at 253 (86-83-84) followed by Hornos (84-80-70-234), Patricio (86-62-82-230), Emma Leary (77-69-82-228) and McDermott (77-62-84-223). Meghan Leary (91-51-77-219) and Leilani Pasol (79-49-62-190) accounted for the eight Kaua‘i shooters.
Tangalin topped the Waimea showing at 244 (92-68-84) followed by Quiana Duarte (87-66-70) and Guirao (74-68-81) tying at 223 points.
Malia Takakuskei (89-56-74-219) and Kayla Ishida (83-67-68-218) rounded out the scoring Menehune, Ishida finishing tied with Mariah Paiste (79-64-75) at 218 points. Jackie Taylor (78-55-75-208) and Nikki Acoba (86-54-62-202) rounded out the Menehune girls on the range.
The Kaua‘i boys and girls teams will be representing the KIF at the Civilian Marksmanship Program Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association Air Riflery Championships on Oct. 30 at the Kamehameha Schools-Big Island range.
Only three schools have made the record books during the 13-year history of the Boys competition, Punahou, with coach Karen Finley, taking six of the 13 years, including the 2011 tournament.
Saint Louis, coached by Zig Look, follows with five titles from 1999 through 2003. Waiakea holds two of the 13 state titles in boys air riflery.
On the girls range, Sacred Hearts holds eight of the 13 years recorded by HHSAA followed by Punahou, under Finley’s coaching, getting five titles, including the 2011 state championship. Sacred Hearts, capturing its first three titles under Look, more recently was led by Alan Tokumura who led the team to state titles in 2009 and 2010.
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• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
