LIHU‘E — Kapa‘a High School paddling teams, earlier sweeping the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation championships, placed three members each on the varsity Girls and Boys and two members on the varsity Mixed all-star crews. The announcement by the KIF on Monday
LIHU‘E — Kapa‘a High School paddling teams, earlier sweeping the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation championships, placed three members each on the varsity Girls and Boys and two members on the varsity Mixed all-star crews.
The announcement by the KIF on Monday saw two Kapa‘a seniors, Saowalak Khaechawat and Malani Lum, being joined by junior Burgandi Williams on the varsity Girls crew, the three Warrior paddlers being joined by Kaua‘i senior Tia Morishige, Waimea senior Kaili Kanahele and Kawaikini senior Ku‘uipo Rapozo.
The Kapa‘a varsity girls captured the KIF title following a solid performance during the KIF championship race where the wahine had to overtake the Kawaikini team, a feat it accomplished at the turn, and was awarded the title after the Kaua‘i crew was disqualified.
Despite the disqualification, Kaua‘i finished just a point shy of the title, finishing the season with a heart-breaking tie for the runner-up spot with Kawaikini. Kapa‘a girls went on to the First Hawaiian Bank Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association state paddling championships where the Warrior crew finished in sixth place, beating out the Punahou crew by a mere .01 second, the only KIF crew to finish in the Top Eight.
The Kapa‘a boys named to the KIF paddling all-star crew in the varsity division include three seniors: Josh Palmeira, Vance Kamibayashi and Brandon Kelekoma, the Warrior trio being joined by two Kaua‘i seniors, Dominic Armstrong and Gavin Marcelino, and a Waimea senior, Harry Wa‘ahila Jr.
The Kapa‘a boys rose to the KIF title following an undefeated season.
Marcelino was also named to the KIF Mixed all-star crew, joining Kapa‘a junior Caesarline Manini-Gaines and senior Holden Prem. Kaua‘i senior Deeanna Lee joined Marcelino in the mix along with Waimea senior Bryana Resquer-Yorkman and Waimea sophomore Cody Licayan.
