They play rock-paper-scissors to determine their position, they’ve sometimes played with their left hand to keep focused and they’ve been more than ready to be subbed out – when not if – matches get out of hand.
In a nutshell, Halia Nahale-A, Pua Wong and their Kamehameha teammates know how to make Big Island Interscholastic Federation water polo fresh and interesting, even when it seems like they’re are simply toying with the competition.
“I think it’s true that our offense starts with our defense,” Wong said. “Whenever we get the ball on defense, we can easily get the ball from the other team … on the Big Island.”
That’s not bragging. Just a statement of fact.
Seniors Nahale-A and Wong have never played in a BIIF match that was all that competitive come the fourth quarter, nor have any other Warriors the past five seasons.
Coach Dan Lyons’ rule is that everyone who comes to practice plays in matches.
“I guess that’s how we make it interesting,” Wong said.
Lyons won’t deviate from his usual plan this season, though he anticipates Kamehameha will face more tests.
For one, the Warriors are younger and perhaps don’t possess as much speed as seasons’ past.
“Hawaii Prep, I think they’re going to possess a challenge,” Lyons said. “They’ve got a number of good swimmers.”
Kealakehe only lost to the Warriors last season en route to a BIIF runner-up finish and a spot at the HHSAA tournament. The Waveriders must replace Mehana Pilago and her league-high 57 goals, but Sarah Somsanguansit and Hannah Tomlinson are among their key returnees.
Kona Community Aquatic Center will host the first three slates of matches, starting with four games today.
Kamehameha will have a hard time duplicating its uncanny depth of a season ago, when six players scored between 30 and 36 goals as the Warriors won their fifth consecutive league crown. BIIF Player of the Year Acacia Trusdell graduated, but three of the high-scoring six are back in Nahale-A (36 goals), Katelynne Kubo (31) and Wong (30).
Alyssa Pelanca likely will move from a reserve role to a starting one, Zoey Chang is a fresh face to the program who will see playing time and Jeyii Kaili is set to take over at goalkeeper.
Lyons is excited about the potential of nine freshmen, two of whom will likely start. Though they don’t have the ready-to-play seasoning that Lyons’ counterparts at the Interscholastic League of Honolulu powerhouses might find, Wong sees the group as a welcome addition.
“All the past years we’ve been begging for freshmen, and maybe one would come,” Wong said. “Three would be the max. They are a very athletic class.”
The winner of rock-paper-scissors gets to choose who play the 2-meter position inside and who plays 2-meter defense. Nahale-A prefers the wing, an area of the pool where Kubo also excels.
“I think we’re trying to get all the girls comfortable with being able to shoot and being able to take the shot,” Nahale-A said. “If only one of us shoots, the defense can focus on that person. We have to get everyone going.”
This will be Nahale-A’s last year of competitive water polo. She plans to start her college studies in New Zealand. Before she leaves, one of her primary goals is to see that the Warriors’ legacy is in good standing.
“I really want to make sure all the girls get their experience,” she said. “Because it’s not just about this year. It’s about all the years that are going to come.”
