Swim Kauai Aquatics took part at the Bill Smith Invitational swim meet on Oahu Oct. 24-25. The 12 SKA boys led the charge, grabbing numerous top three finishes at the two-day meet, placing fourth overall out of the 17 teams
Swim Kauai Aquatics took part at the Bill Smith Invitational swim meet on Oahu Oct. 24-25.
The 12 SKA boys led the charge, grabbing numerous top three finishes at the two-day meet, placing fourth overall out of the 17 teams represented. The SKA girls were close behind, with nine girls combining for an overall seventh-place finish.
The meet served as a warm-up for the upcoming state championship meet in Kona this December.
Swim Kauai Aquatics new Head Coach Curt Colby, attending his first off-island Hawaiian swimming meet, was impressed with the effort put forth by the team.
“We really came together in a very strong way for this meet,” he said. “It’s a great stepping stone for our state meet in December, and we’ll continue to work hard to reach our goal.”
Jack Machorek (15) set the tone for the boys as he clinched wins in both the 100-yard butterfly (54.66) and the 200-yard backstroke (2:03.92). He posted a “perfect meet” and earned new personal best times in each of his eight events over the weekend, and placed in 2nd for the boys 15-16 age division.
His top finishes included second in the 200-yard butterfly (2:01.67), third in the 200-yard freestyle (1:47.24), fourth in the 100-yard freestyle (50.53) and 200-yard individual medley (2:02.80).
Brothers Akira (14) and Ryden (12) Williams each placed in fifth-place overall for their age divisions.
Akira pocketed top finishes in several events, including second in the 100-yard freestyle (49.80), third in the 200-yard freestyle (1:49.58), and fourth in 200-yard individual medley (2:08.22). Younger brother Ryden was third in the 50-yard freestyle (28.15) and 100-yard breaststroke (1:20.50), and fourth in the 100-yard butterfly (1:15.27).
Rounding out the top scorers for the boys in their respective age divisions were Riley Young (17), 6th place overall in the boys 17-18, Zachary Safford (15), seventh place in boys 15-16, and Lucas McSweeny (10), eighth for the boys 10 and Under division.
Young’s best finish was fourth in the 200-yard individual medley (2:11.90).
Safford secured third in three different events: 100-yard breaststroke (1:04.60), 100-yard butterfly (55.02), and the 200-yard butterfly (2:05.86), and earned personal best times in all of his events.
McSweeny finished fourth place in the 100-yard backstroke (1:21.57) and the 200-yard freestyle (2:30.47).
Jackson Evans (15), Trevyn Nishimura (9), and Saber Fairbanks (17), all placed in the top 10 in their best events.
Evans grabbed fifth place in the 50-yard freestyle (23.38). Nishimura earned his first Invitational medals, with his strongest showing in the 100-yard backstroke (1:26.27).
Fairbanks found his greatest success in both the 100-yard freestyle (54.73) and 200-yard breaststroke (2:37.88).
On the ladies side, Hayley-Jay Kaeo (12) Kaira Kaaihue (15), and Alana Cayabyab (12) led the way.
Kaeo posted a perfect meet, and placed highest in the 50 and 100-yard butterfly events (29.51, 1:06.66) and the 100-yard freestyle (58.48), all earning her a fifth-place finish in her age division, and seventh-place overall for the meet.
Kaaihue obtained sixth in the 200-yard freestyle (2:01.52), while Cayabyab wrapped up the meet with two seventh-place finishes in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:16.60) and 200-yard individual medley (2:28.55), and posted a perfect meet as well.
Also posting “perfect meets” this weekend were Kiana Kaaihue (10), Kassy McCoy (11), and Malia Splittstoesser (13).
SKA Relay teams also displayed their speed this weekend. The team of Evans, Machorek, Akira Williams, and Young clinched second place in the open division of the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:33.52), with each of the athletes posting a 50-yard freestyle time below 24 seconds, and a third-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay (1:45.17).
The girls team consisting of Kaeo, Cayabyab, McCoy, and Sadie Stearns (12) wrapped up their two-relay events with fifth-place finishes in each.
Dutch Fairbanks (14), T. Koerte (9), Xaveria Rodriguez (13), Julia Safford (13), and Henry Scherer (14) all posted outstanding time drops as well and achieved many new Hawaiian Swimming time cuts as well.
