The list announcing the selections for this year’s Kauai Interscholastic Federation paddling all stars were released by the league Friday.
All stars are voted for by the coaches.
Kapaa High School has seven all stars this year — two boys, three girls and two mixed paddlers.
“Denali (Viluan), Raiden (Kurisu) and Keanu (Gutierrez-Kelly), they’re young. They’re all sophomores,” said Kapaa paddling coach Micah Mokuahi. “So the boys side, really young this year. But they did really well. We ended up losing the tiebreaker for the varsity race with them to Kauai High. But they did really well for kind of smaller kids. They paddled really hard, and trained really hard — very consistent in their training.”
He he said of the girls: “Kuulei (Fulton), she was the backup steersman, but she was big for us because it gave us the flexibility to not rely on just one steersman. She was our mixed steersman a lot of the time. Rachel (Pleas), you’ve probably heard her name around. She’s a good volleyball player. She’s a good athlete. And this year, she really committed.”
Kapaa won this year’s KIF paddling girls and mixed championships in January to qualify for the 2018 Hawaiian Airlines Canoe Paddling Championships in Hilo earlier this month.
Mokuahi said, though, the team had tough times at the state regatta.
“Last year for states, pretty much the same set of girls that came in fourth at states. They wanted to win at states, and they just had a bad day,” he said. “They were bummed. They were really upset. They worked so hard. We just had a very disappointing end of the season, but we’re proud of them and they’re proud of themselves. They did everything they could do, and that’s all they can do.”
Kauai High School has seven all stars — three from the boys crew, two from the girls crew and two from the mixed crew.
“We actually had a phenomenal season. It was extremely exciting, very challenging,” said Kauai girls paddling coach Lori Parraga. “I think the highlight — especially for our seniors — although we didn’t win the KIF (girls) title, we came out winning on the championship day. That was a nice sendoff, especially for our senior girls.”
Parraga said of Kauai’s girls all stars: “Kirstee Luis, who’s a senior, has paddled for me for four years. Not only was a stroker but a team player throughout the season when one of my steersmen were injured. Kirstee became the steersman for the entire season. … Naia Manintin actually sat in the power seat and became the stroker due to paddler injuries. She had a phenomenal paddling season. Kishyla (Kua-Saladaga) is another senior that made the mixed (all-star crew). She also a three-year paddler. Naia and Kishayla are three-year paddlers. Throughout the three years, they had totally outstanding seasons.”
The Red Raiders won this year’s KIF boys championship to qualify for the state regatta. Kauai High boys paddling coach Doneen Stokes couldn’t be reached for comment Friday.
Island School has four all stars — one boy, one girl and two in the mixed crew. This past season was the return of the Voyagers paddling program after a near decade-long hiatus.
“It went great. It was a ton of fun,” said Island School coach Luke Evslin. “It was definitely a learning experience for all of us, but I think the kids had fun. We did well in a couple of races, and basically, every single one of them is coming back next year. So overall, it was a success, for sure.”
Evslin said of his all stars: “For the two boys, it was their first year paddling. Sasha (Rovinsky) was our best paddler. He put in a ton of extra time. … He’s a phenomenal athlete. He was the boys’ stroker. Ezra (Washburn) was our steersman. I’d say he’s probably one of the more natural steersmen I’ve ever seen. For his very first time back there, he has a very good feel for it. They were a big core of our boys crew and mixed crew.
“Jaden (April) and Ella (Beck) had both paddled before. They’re both freshmen. Jaden had maybe our second-best attendance out of the girls. She’s been paddling for years. She could sit anywhere — she was stroking and steering a lot in practice, and she has a great attitude. And then Ella’s a phenomenal athlete. She was the (KIF girls) cross country winner. She had played soccer, so she could only come out once a week. Anytime we could have her, when there wasn’t a conflict with a soccer game, she made us a whole lot better.”
Waimea also has four all stars named — one boy, one girl and two mixed paddlers.
“Matthew (Kaohelaulii), or ‘Makai’ as we refer to him, he’s one of our seniors. So he had an opportunity, finally, to finish the season with us. He’s actually one of our stronger paddlers as far as strength-wise. He’s one of our bigger kids,” said Waimea coach Keith Castaneda. “Kalei (Kaleikaumaka Makua), she’s a second-year paddler. She’s one of our stronger paddlers. Very reliable. Dedicated. Loves to paddle.
“Cole Taba is a freshman, and he comes from an avid paddling family. So, it’s in his blood. It’s kind of natural for him. And then our last one, Danica (Muraoka), she’s a senior. Of all the all stars, she’s the one who’s been with us the longest — all four years. She’s an avid paddler during the summer with Koloa Canoe Club. She’s a pretty reliable paddler. She can basically sit anywhere other than steering, even though she’s learning basics. But she can sit anywhere. She’s an avid athlete.”
2017-18 KIF Paddling
All-Stars
Boys: Denzel Magallanes, Kauai, senior; Kekoa Kinimaka, Kauai, junior; Spencer Tsukamoto, Kauai, junior; Keanu Gutierrez-Kelly, Kapaa, sophomore; Raiden Kurisu, Kapaa, sophomore; Cole Taba, Waimea, freshman, Sasha Rovinsky, Island, junior
Girls: Rachel Pleas, Kapaa, senior; Kelly Kauai, Kapaa, senior; Sophia Rodriguez, Kapaa, junior, Kirstee Luis, Kauai, senior; Naia Manintin, Kauai, senior; Daneica Muraoka, Waimea, senior; Jaden April, Island, freshman
Mixed: Matthew Kaohelaulii, Waimea, senior; Kaleikaumaka Makua, Waimea, sophomore; Denali Viluan, Kapaa, sophomore; Kuulei Fulton, Kapaa, senior; Kysen Parongao, Kauai, sophomore; Kishyla Kua-Saladaga, Kauai, senior; Ella Beck, Island, freshman; Ezra Washburn, Island, junior
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Nick Celario, sports reporter, can be reached at ncelario@thegardenisland.com.
