Kaua‘i girls, Kapa‘a boys lead KIF swimming all-stars

LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i High School girls relay team made a splash at the recent Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association state championships and were named to the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation Swim All-Stars as well.

The Kaua‘i girls’ 200-yard medley relay team, namely Kate Machorek, Tambrina Fairbanks, Yasmine Ware and Sophie Britzmann, had been shattering KIF pool records throughout the season, topping its season with a new KIF record during the KIF championships en route to headlining this year’s all-stars.

Machorek, a sophomore, was also named to the girls’ 200-yard freestyle and the girls 500-yard freestyle spots.

Ware, another sophomore at Kaua‘i High School, was named to the girls’ 200-yard individual medley and the girls’ 100-yard backstroke events.

Britzmann, a senior, picked up individual accolades in the girls’ 50-yard freestyle (despite Ware’s state title in that event) and the girls’ 100-yard freestyle event.

Fairbanks, a junior who transferred to Kaua‘i this year after swimming for Kapa‘a, received accolades in the girls’ 100-yard butterfly and the girls’ 100-yard breaststroke.

But they were not done yet, being part of the girls’ 200-yard freestyle relay team, which earned the nod on the all-stars.

Machorek, Britzmann and Ware were joined by senior Kaitlin Santos in the makeup of the all-star team.

“Kaitlin captures more gold in Kaua‘i’s championship relay to bring her career relay gold total to seven, along with her single individual championship, during last year’s 100-yard free,” said Mokihana Aquatics coach Orlando “O” Anaya, whom Santos swims for outside of the KIF. “While she was not able to defend her championship in the 100 free this year, she was able to pull off a state consideration standard — her first in high school swimming.”

The girls’ 400-yard freestyle relay team honors went to Kapa‘a High School, including Maluhia Stark-Kinimaka, Kiana Flores, Abi Stine and Mainei Aloha Kinimaka.

Kapa‘a High School boys, who won the KIF championships, received the nod for its boys’ 200-yard medley relay team, which included swimmers Bryson Baligad, a sophomore, Don Maddock, a junior, Jackson Littlefield, a sophomore, and Iona Loi, a senior.

Baligad also got the nod for the boys’ 100-yard butterfly and the boys’ 100-yard breaststroke.

Ro Davis, a former swim coach on Kaua‘i, was in attendance during the KIF championships.

“Bryson set a new KIF record in the 100 butterfly at the state meet, breaking Keenan Anaya’s mark set in 2006,” Davis said in an email. “Additionally, his swim narrowly missed breaking Cory Carroll’s 1985 mark in the 50-yard free by .16 second.”

Davis said Baligad’s performance at the state meet deserves attention, despite the fact he did not qualify for the finals in the very competitive boys’ division.

Kapa‘a High School also received all-star accolades for its boys’ 200-yard freestyle relay, including Loi who was joined by Micah-Kamuela Nobriga-Ferris, a sophomore; Maddock and Kai Haugland, a junior.

Nobriga-Ferris picked up individual all-star honors for the boys’ 200-yard IM.

Island School swimmer Quinn Hannah-White, a junior, picked up all-star honors for the boys’ 200-yard freestyle and the boys’ 500-yard freestyle.

James Papa, a sophomore at Island School, earned the nod in the boys’ 50-yard freestyle.

Kaua‘i High School boys Riley Young, a freshman, earned the all-star nod in the boys’ 100-yard Freestyle and Jacob Peck, a senior, got the nod for the boys’ 100-yard backstroke.

Waimea High School’s boys’ 400-yard freestyle relay team, including Keenan McCracken, a junior, Erik Siles, a senior, Christopher Milan, a senior, and Michael Kocher, a senior, also got the all-star nod.

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