WAILUA — The Kapa‘a High School paddling program took the lion’s share of the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation paddling regatta Saturday at the Wailua River. The Warriors swept the JV program and captured top honors in the varsity girls and varsity
WAILUA — The Kapa‘a High School paddling program took the lion’s share of the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation paddling regatta Saturday at the Wailua River.
The Warriors swept the JV program and captured top honors in the varsity girls and varsity mixed divisions as the defending KIF champions dropped just the varsity boys division to a strong Kaua‘i High School team.
Saturday’s regatta sets the stage for the next four weeks when the KIF hosts its regatta at the Wailua River.
“Originally, we were going to have the first race on the 20th and take a break for Christmas,” said Gregg Gonsalves, Kapa‘a’s athletic director. “But all of the coaches said they preferred to go five straight weeks so the schedule was changed to reflect that.”
KIF regatta organizers said that both Kula Intermediate and High and Island School opted not to participate in this year’s competition.
Following Kapa‘a, Kaua‘i was a strong challenger, getting first place in the varsity boys division and second place in the JV girls, JV Mixed, the varsity girls and the varsity mixed classes.
Kapa‘a was uncontested in the JV boys as the team went out on a 3:57.22 paddle unchallenged.
“Most of the schools didn’t have enough paddlers to field a team since a lot of the kids are on break and traveling,” said Ross Shimabukuro, athletic director for Kaua‘i High School. “Hopefully, they’ll be back for the next race.”
In the varsity girls’ race, Kapa‘a jumped out to a solid lead, taking its preliminary heat on a 4:10.52 run before clocking a 4:21.03 paddle in the final heat.
That domination is a continuation of its showing last year when the Warrior wahine missed first place at the state finals by a mere .20 second, placing in a strong runner-up position to Punahou.
Kaua‘i girls, showing a 4:20.57 performance in the preliminary heat, finished second with a 4:25.27 paddle in the final heat followed by Waimea stopping the clock in Lane 3 at 4:46.69 (4:30.25 prelim).
“You gotta come to practice, boys and girls,” Kaua‘i coach Donette told one girl who was querying about the Raiders’ second-place finish. “You don’t come to practice and the results show up on the board.”
In the varsity boys competition, Kaua‘i High School’s team set the stage by pulling off a strong preliminary heat on a 3:45.16 showing with Kapa‘a finishing third (3:50.44) to Waimea (3:47.90).
Kapa‘a improved to a second finish in the final heat on a 3:53.06 run, but fell short of the Raiders who stopped the clock at 3:46.30. Waimea fell to third with a 3:54.21 paddle.
The Warriors also dominated the varsity mixed class with a 4:03.51 paddle in the final heat over Kaua‘i’s 4:09.57 showing and Waimea rounding out the heat with a 4:22.39 paddle.
Similarly, Kapa‘a dominated the preliminary heats on a 3:53.46 run followed by Kaua‘i (4:06.70) and Waimea (4:09.20).
Kapa‘a topped the JV girls on a 4:22.92 paddle followed by Kaua‘i (4:26.59) and Waimea (4:44.56).
The Warriors also topped the JV mixed division with a 4:18.06 showing over Kaua‘i (4:25.75) and Waimea (4:33.94).
The next KIF regatta will be held Saturday at the Wailua River starting at 10 a.m.
