AGE GROUP SWIMMING

STATE LONG COURSE CHAMPIONSHIPS 1997

 

The state's top swimmers gathered on Maui at the Lahaina Aquatics Center

for the 1997 Hawaii Age Group Long Course State Swimming Championships

from August 1-5. Twenty four clubs were represented at the meet with over

400 swimmers entered in the competition.

The Hawaii Swimming Club (HSC), comprised of swimmers from Oahu,

Maui, Hawaii, and Molokai, entered the largest contingent with 61 of their

swimmers in the competition and captured the overall team championship

with 1,160 team points. Punahou Aquatics placed second with 885 points

and the Aulea Swim Club finished in third place with 697 points. Aloha

Aquatics Association, with swimmers from Hawaii and Oahu, wound up in

fourth place with 579 points and the Maui Swim Club was fifth with 548

points.

 

Four Molokai swimmers proudly joined their HSC counterparts in leading the

competition from the opening day. Led by Head Coach Reid Yamamoto and

coaches Rodney Hayashi and Taskie Hoopii (Kahului), Keith Arakaki (Oahu),

and Carla Spidell and Patti Kimball (Hilo), the HSC group earned their

third consecutive meet championship. Earlier in the season, they won the

Coach Soichi Sakamoto Invitational hosted by the Maui Swim Club and the

Keo Nakama Invitational hosted by HSC-Oahu. Molokai coach Lloyd Yonemura

pulled double duty as a coach and the meet announcer.

 

Leading the Molokai group was Lenn Yonemura who was entered in eight

individual events in the 15-16 age group. Lenn scored in four of the

events and made the finals in five events in improving all of his previous

best times in each event. Lenn earned fourth place finishes in the 100 M

Breast, 200 M Breast, and 800 M Freestyle (half-mile) and an eighth place

in the 400 M Individual Medley (IM). Lenn also swam in the trials of the

100 M, 200 M, and 400 M Freestyle, and the 200 M IM. He missed placing in

the 400 M Free by .23 of a second.

 

Mahinameli Reyes was also entered in eight individual events in the Girls

10 & Under division. Only nine years old, Mahina swam against older

competition throughout the meet and held her ground against the more

experienced swimmers. Despite her age, Mahina is a veteran swimmer and

will be improving in future meets. Mahina swam the 100 M Free, 50 M and

100 M Backstroke, 50 M and 100 M Butterfly, 50 M and 100 M Breaststroke,

and the 200 M IM.

 

Swimming in the Girls 13-14 division, Loni Yonemura overcame an overnight

illness to finish strong on the final day of competition. Loni swam six

individual and three relay events but was forced to scratch from the 400 M

IM on the fourth day of competition. Based on her entry time and

anticipated improvement, Loni was expected to score points in that event.

Earlier in the meet, Loni swam the 100 M, 200 M, and 800 M Free events

with mixed results. On the final day, Loni bounced back from dehydration

and an upset stomach to improve her times in the 200 M IM, 50 M Free, and

the 400 M Free events.

 

Loni teamed with Jessical Bartolome (HSC-Hilo), Kara Creelman

(HSC-Kahului), and Roanne Chow (HSC-Hilo) and swam the anchor leg for

sixth place in the 800 M Freestyle Relay. She swam the Butterfly leg with

Bartolome, Chow, and Erin Samura (HSC-Hilo) in the 400 M Medley Relay

where the quartet finished fourth. Loni led off the 200 M Freestyle Relay

and was followed by Ji Yeon Ku (HSC-Kahului), Dana Katsutani (HSC-Oahu),

and Samura and that relay team captured sixth place.

 

Leoho`onani Reyes was the busiest Molokai swimmer. She had six individual

and four relay events. Leo placed eighth in the 50 M Breaststroke and was

the second alternate for the finals of the 100 M Breaststroke. Both

events are her favorites. Leo also swam the 50 M, 100 M, and 200 M Free

and the 200 M IM.

 

Leo's relay teams all finished in 9th place over the final four days of

swimming. Leo joined Cassie Lyons (HSC-Hilo), Holley Fernandez

(HSC-Kahului), and Pualana Reys (HSC-Kahului and grandaughter of Mr. and

Mrs. George Pastrana of Ranch Camp) for the 400 Free Relay. Leo,

Fernandez, Chelsea Hesser (HSC-Oahu), and Mikiala Miller (HSC-Kahului)

swam the 400 Medley Relay. Reys, Fernandez, Joni Yoon (HSC-Oahu, and Leo

teamed for the 200 Free Relay and Fernandez, Leo, Jodi Kalawe (HSC-Hilo),

and Hesser combined to swim the 200 Medley Relay.

 

With the conclusion of the 1997 Long Course season, the Molokai swimmers

are looking ahead to the upcoming break before preparations begin for the

1997-98 Short Course schedule. All interested swimmers, regardless of

their swimming ability, should contact coach Yonemura or Molokai Head

Coach David Kalani as workouts will begin in mid-August. Recent

participants in the learn-to-swim classes should call immediately.

 

The swimmers and coaches gratefully acknowledge the support of the Molokai

Divison of the County Parks and Recreation Department. Former department

head Zachary Helm, now assigned to the Maui Division, Head Lifeguard

Kalani Johnston, and Lifeguards Lani Caparida and Clare Pereira-Seeger

have been instrumental in the supporting the Molokai swimmers.

 

The swimmers and coaches would also like to thank the Duke Kahanamoku

Outrigger Foundation for funding much of their travel throughout the

season. Travel expenses continue to be the biggest obstacle in getting

the swimmers to qualifying, invitational, and championship meets.

 

Finally, a big mahalo to the Molokai Community for

their continued kokua in backing up the swimmers. To you, the

team sends a great big THANK YOU!