Leoho'onani came up with two second place finishes in individual events, in the 50 Y and 100 Y Breaststroke events, and both times were good enough to qualify for Western Zone competition. Leo also earned awards for the 200 Yard Medley Relay where she teamed with Jodi Kalawe (HSC-Hilo), Emalia Suehiro (HSC-Maui), and Tamarah Binek (HSC-Hilo) for third place. Binek, Kalawe, Reyes, and Mikiala Miller (HSC-Maui) teamed for second place in the 200 Yard Freestyle Relay.
For the three-day meet, Leo swam in 12 individual and two relay events and has now earned state or zone qualifying times in all of the individual events. Although swimming a strong meet and having a good season, Leo still has her work cut out for her as most of her qualifying times will be nullified when she moves to the 11-12 age group in March, just prior to the state championships. Consequently, Leo has set her sights on the faster qualifying times for her season goals and has assured herself of qualifying for state with times for the 11-12 breaststroke events of 50 and 100 Yards.
Lenn faces the same problem as Leo when he ages up into the 15-16 division in February. He went all out in his 200 Yard Breaststroke event to meet the faster qualifying time and will also be participating in the state finals in March. He earned six medals for the meet with a fifth place finish in the 200 Y Breaststroke, an eighth place finish in the 200 Yard Individual Medley, and four second place finishes in the relays. Lenn, Caleb Rowe (HSC-Maui), Cody Hesser (HSC-Oahu), and Jason Yung (HSC-Oahu) teamed in all four relays. They swam the 400 Y Freestyle and 400 Y Medley relays and 200 Y Medley and 200 Y Freestyle relays.
The busiest Molokai swimmer was Loni Yonemura who swam eleven individual and four relay events. Loni has earned qualifying times in eight of the individual events to swim in the state finals in March. Her relay team of Helena Suehiro (HSC-Maui), Holly Fernandez (HSC-Maui), and Roanne Chow (HSC-Hilo) for fifth place in the 400 Yard Freestyle Relay. Suehiro, Loni, Nicole Okuna (HSC-Hilo), and Chelsea teamed for a sixth place finish in the 400 Yard Medley Relay and a fourth place finish in the 200 Yard Medley Relay. Loni, Helena, Chelsea, and Roanne closed their meet with a fourth place finish in the 200 Yard Freestyle Relay.
Eight-year old Mahinameli Reyes swam with the 10 & under age division for the meet. There are no 8 & under divisions in state, invitational, and national competitions but the youngest member of the Molokai group has already earned four "B" times in the 10 & under division. Mahina swam in six individual events and swam her personal best in four of the events. She also teamed with Mikiala Miller (HSC-Maui), Elysse Lamonte (HSC-Oahu), and Tara Binek (HSC-Hilo) for the 200 Yard Medley Relay. Mahina, Lamonte, Binek and Emalia Suehiro teamed in the 200 Yard Freestyle Relay.
Next up for the Molokai Swim Team is a regular season meet on December 14 at the War Memorial Pool in Wailuku. The swimmers will be off for the holidays and return to action in mid-January.