KAILUA-KONA – Facing the unusual rough waters of Kailua Bay on Saturday, Keaau continued to flex its paddling muscles over the field by placing in the top three in five of the six scoring races, while bringing two wins back to the east side.
KAILUA-KONA – Facing the unusual rough waters of Kailua Bay on Saturday, Keaau continued to flex its paddling muscles over the field by placing in the top three in five of the six scoring races, while bringing two wins back to the east side.
“We are showing a lot of progress and working hard together,” said Keaau head coach Grant Kaaua. “We are definitely coming together and I am proud of them.”
Kaaua added that the team was a little nervous because of the trip over to the west side, especially with the swell that arrived in the area earlier in the morning.
“The team came in and and was able to build up its confidence,” Kaaua said. “We had a lot of energy.”
Keaau, racing in the team’s new canoe for the second time this season, took first place in the varsity girls and varsity mixed races. The competition was close in both.
The Cougar girls crew of Hunter Prieto, Shayna Picanco, Tiara Halama, Ashley Hauanio, Keo Teixeira and May Ann Tadeo placed first with a time of 4 minutes and 40 seconds, edging out second place Kamehameha by four seconds.
“The girls were working very hard and to see them come out on top — I was very impressed,” Kaaua said.
In the mixed race, Keaau finished in a time of 4:24, also winning by four seconds, beating Kealakehe. The crew consisted of Skyden Fukunaga, Zac Dorn, Jim Hisaiah, Nadine Ching, Picanco and Tadeo.
The Cougars also placed second in the in the varsity boys and JV boys competition.
The varsity boys race was the closest competition of the day and perhaps the closest competition in quite some time.
The Kamehameha crew of Makana Alexander, Pono Mortensen, Judah Adams, Nahi Pilago, Kaulana Vook and Isaac Santos edged out Keaau by only two one-hundredths of a second. The Warriors finished in a time of 4:05.30, while the Cougars followed in a time of 4:05.32.
Third place was also a race in the varsity boys competition, with Waiakea beating out Hawaii Preparatory Academy 4:06.21 to 4:06.89.
Kealakehe claimed the only victory for a west side school on the day, beating Keaau in the JV boys race. The Waverider crew of Thomas DePontes, Makoa Ng, Kauka Lindsay, Luke Harper, Memphis Kealohi-Haili and Keahi Spoon placed first in a time of 1:53. Keaau followed at 2:01.
Also picking up wins on the day were the Waiakea JV girls (2:11), and the Ke Kula O Ehunuikaimalino JV mixed crew (2:17).