1996 by Lloyd Yonemura
HSC was paced by the performances of Marlene Yafuso (Women, 10 & Under), Merceda Rivera (Women, 11-12), and Nakana Rivera (Men, Open). Yafuso won eight of ten individual events and Nakana Rivera won six. HSC dominated the Women's 11-12 division as Merceda won five events, Sara Afong won four, and Roanne Chow won one.
Overall individual performances were paced by Hong Zhe Sun of RainbowAquatics who won all ten of his events in the Men, 10 & Under division.
Teammate Nicholas Borreca won nine of ten in the Men's 11-12 division. Punahou's Pia Chock also won nine of ten individual events. Sun continues to dominate his age group as he set five new Hawaiian records in the course of the meet.
Punahou Aquatics followed HSC in the team standings and Rainbow Aquatics took third. Maui Swim Club entered a smaller that usual contingent but still placed fifth in the final standings. The Maui Gold Swim Team also took a small group and placed ninth.
Valley Isle swimmers fared well in the three-day competition. Saree Hoopii of HSC, Jennifer Toba of Maui Gold, and Kara Creelman of Maui Swim Club finished high in the individual standings of the Women's 13-14 division. Hoopii won the 100 M and 200 M Freestyle and the 100 M Backstroke while Creelman won the 100 M Breast.
Maui Swim Club's relay team of Creelman, Erin Haywood, Elisa Wong, and Whitney Kim won the Women's 13-14 age group 200 M and 400 M Medley relays. HSC's Hoopii, Sierra Binek, Jessmine Kim, and Dawn Nishimoto won the Women's 13-14 age group 200 and 400 M Freestyle relays.
HSC's Kristine Hayashi, a four-time Hawaii High School Athletic Association (HHSAA) state breaststroke champion, won both of her specialities, the 100 M and 200 M Breaststroke events in the Open Division. Hayashi is bound for the University of San Diego next fall.
In the Men's 11-12 division, Kevin Delmore, Tracy Castille, Andrew Janiszewski, and Kyle Hayashi of HSC won the 400 M Freestyle relay. Maui Gold's Toby Orikasa, Jayson Kina, Roger Horikoshi, and Daniel Toba won the 200 M Freestyle and Medley relays.
Jason Creelman, the HHSAA's state champion in the 50 Y Freestyle, swam a strong race from start to finish to claim the 50 M Freestyle championship. The Maui Interscholastic League Male Swimmer of the Year is from the Maui Swim Club and competes in the Men's 15-16 age group.
Garrett Cerizo, also from the Maui Swim Club, won the Men's 13-14 100 M Butterfly event. Cerizo turned in two strong lengths and used a strong finish to edge the field in the final ten meters.
Although a new member to the 13-14 division, Caleb Rowe from HSC managed to top the field in the 200 M Breaststroke event. Rowe recently aged up from the 11-12 bracket but turned in a strong effort throughout his heat. Rowe teamed with Lenn Yonemura, Ryan Miyatake, and Cody Hesser and the foursome won four relay events. The HSC quartet captured awards in the 200 and 400 M Freestyle relays and the 200 and 400 M Medley relays.
The efforts and performances of the swimmers can be directly attributed to the excellent coaching and support from their respective clubs and from the Maui Age Group Swimming Association. The Association and the local clubs have worked tirelessly to build a strong swimming program on Maui. All of the local groups are growing and are competing on an even level with other clubs throughout the state.
The Hawaii Swimming Club is spread over four islands (Maui, Hawaii, Oahu, and Molokai). Head Coach Reid Yamamoto oversees all of the groups. Yamamoto, based with the Kahului club, is a product of the HSC program on Oahu and is a former University of Hawaii standout.
Spencer Shiraishi oversees the always-powerful Maui Swim Club. The club's record in team scoring and in individual performances speaks highly of the veteran and the guidance he has provided over a number of years. Most recently, the club captured the team champioship at the Coach Sakamoto Invitational in May.
The Maui Gold Swim Team is led by Ray Orikasa. Orikasa recently assumed the head coaching responsibilities but continues a fine program that is building and growing each year.
These three clubs will be joined by the Lahaina Swim Club at the state long course championships slated for July 26-30 to be hosted by the HSC-Hilo swim club.