KEAAU – Hawaii Prep’s Kaili Yuen and Keaau’s Kason Kepano each have a gymnastics background, and their flipping know-how came in handy when they decided to delve into diving.
KEAAU – Hawaii Prep’s Kaili Yuen and Keaau’s Kason Kepano each have a gymnastics background, and their flipping know-how came in handy when they decided to delve into diving.
Sticking the landing has taken a little getting used to.
Kepano gave an emphatic “No” when asked if the water provided a softer landing spot than gymnastics mats.
Said Yuen: “Landing on you’re head, it’s hard to get used to that, but it’s fun.”
Yuen does it as well as anybody on the island, and this year she and teammate Hadley Beach have plenty of company.
At a BIIF meet Friday at Kamehameha’s Naeole Pool, divers had to take turns as they worked off the 1-meter springboards. Coordinator Kristine Dalhquist said participation in the sport is the highest it’s been in at least 20 years. At a meet earlier this season, there were nearly triple the five divers that participated last year.
“I’m hoping there is more interest in the sport. We’ve been trying to grow the sport,” Dalhquist said. “I think the teams are realizing that diving can be an important part of the swimming meet, in terms of points.”
That’s something that Yuen and Beach already know: it’s not just BIIF swimming.
The past two years, they’ve finished 1-2 in the finals – which is held with much less fanfare than the swimming – getting Ka Makani off to fine starts en route to winning the BIIF swimming and diving championships.
“I like being part of the team, but it’s weird because I always feel like the dive team is separate from the swim team,” Yuen said. “The scores still count. The reason we always win BIIFs is because we’re the only team that has divers.”
They have more competition this year, but they are likely to finish 1-2 again this season. Each already has qualified for the HHSAA championships, and Yuen scored 8s on a dive Friday for the first time. Beach was fourth last season at states, while Yuen was sixth.
“My goal would be top three,” Yuen said. “Most of the people on Maui and Oahu do club diving. Here we only have high school diving. They have a lot more experience.”
If Yuen and Beach are the veterans, then Keaau is the new kid on the block.
Kepano said he started “messing around” with dives at Pahoa Pool a year or so ago. He’s steadily worked his way to pikes, twists and flips and he prompted Cougars athletic director Iris McGuire to start the diving program.
Kepano and teammate Keliipono Mendoza each qualified for states Friday, giving Keaau coach Chris Ho a perfect birthday present.
Ho said he doesn’t have a diving background, adding, “YouTube is our best friend.”
Kepano also participated for the Keaau cheerleading squad that advanced to states in the fall.
“I’m just open to trying new things,” he said.
The winners of Friday’s meet weren’t immediately available, but Dalhquist said Kepano and Mendoza occupied the top two spots with Waiakea’s Arren Leung third.
The swimming season continues Saturday at Kona Community Aquatic Center.