Waiakea senior Shaye Nishimura is following a new tradition at the HHSAA air riflery championships for her school.
Waiakea senior Shaye Nishimura is following a new tradition at the HHSAA air riflery championships for her school.
She placed second, shadowing the footsteps of former teammate Mekayla King, who also won a silver medal at states last year.
It was a special final shooting meet for the entire cast of Warriors. The boys and girls teams were well aware that coach Mel Kawahara is stepping down.
“I was happy to make my coach proud since it’s his last year,” Nishimura said. “The key was to stay focused and stay calm and also to just have fun.”
Nishimura, who was 11th at states last season with 528 points, tallied 632.2 points on Tuesday at Neal Blaisdell Center on Oahu.
She and Mid-Pacific Institute’s Sophia Crisci each had a 632.2 total, but Nishimura had more points in the standing final round, 88.2-87.2.
Island Pacific Academy’s Alyssa Okimoto took gold with a 635.5 total, shooting an 85.5 in the final round.
In the standing qualification round, Okimoto outpointed Nishimura, 172.4-166.1, a margin the Navigator junior was able to maintain.
Okimoto was fifth last year at states with a 624.1 total.
Nishimura was fifth at BIIFs this season, runner-up as a junior, third as a sophomore, and not too good as a rookie freshman.
What she remembers best is the blast she had with her teammates.
“What I like about air riflery is the people, being able to shoot with my teammates and having fun with them,” Nishimura said. “I’ve grown more mentally because of air riflery. It has taught me to be humble and to have a positive mindset with anything in life.”
BIIF runner-up Tiari Faagata, from Kamehameha, placed sixth with a 628.6 total while league champion Iceley Andaya was 20th at 525 points.
Other BIIF shooters were Waiakea’s Kiani Aburamen, 14th, 529; Waiakea’s Anne Nakamoto, 15th, 529; Kamehameha’s McKenna Hewitt, 18th, 526; Hilo’s Erin Sugiyama, 26th, 519; Waiakea’s Tori Hironaga, 33rd, 516; Kamehameha’s Elena-Marie Waianuhea, 34th, 512; and Hilo’s Maleah Astrande, 56th, 477.
Waiakea placed third with 2,118.57 points and followed by Kamehameha at 2,107.57 points. Sacred Hearts took first with 2,132.57 points.
“I knew the atmosphere at states was going to be really competitive,” Nishimura said. “But our team had really good enthusiasm.”
Waiakea junior and BIIF runner-up Skylar Soultz placed ninth with 525 points. Kamehameha junior and league champion Devez Aniol was 12th with 523 points.
Hawaii Baptist Academy’s Donovan Shiraishi captured gold with 633.4 points.
Other BIIF shooters were Hilo’s Shayden Kang, 15th, 522; Waiakea’s Ryan Kim, 17th, 520; Kamehameha’s Nainoa Kalaola-Marquin, 29th, 511; Kamehameha’s Ethan Lee, 34th, 506; Waiakea’s Jonah Matsuura, 36th, 503; Kamehameha’s Jonathan Ching, 37th, 503; and Christian Liberty’s Jared Maldonado, 46th, 496.
Kamehameha snagged fifth with 2,043.42 points. Moanalua seized gold with 2,095.52 points.
When Nishimura looks at her state silver medal, she can reminisce about coach Mel, who like all good coaches serves as a role-model and implements life lessons.
“What I learned from coach Mel was to be positive, to focus on the present and not think about the past or future,” Nishimura said. “What I like about him is that he’s honest. He has really good integrity. I’ve learned more life lessons than shooting lessons from him.”