23rd Annual Coach Soichi Sakamoto Invitationals
The combined efforts of the Hilo and Kahului branches of the Hawaii
Swimming Club (HSC) captured the team championship of the 23rd Annual
Coach Soichi Sakamoto Invitational Swimming Meet held at the Coach
Sakamoto Pool over the Memorial Day weekend. Formerly called the War
Memorial Pool, the complex was renamed at the opening ceremonies in honor
of one of Hawaii's greatest Coach. The HSC victory broke a six-year reign by the host
Maui Swim Club who put together an outstanding effort to claim the runner-up award.
The HSC-Kahului contingent was bolstered by the Molokai branch (Molokai
Swim Team) of the Hawaii Swimming Club. Mahinameli and Leoho`onani Reyes
and Lenn and Loni Yonemura all pitched in for valuable team points in
individual and relay events.
Competing in the 15-16 age group, Lenn swam seven individual and three
relay events. He scored in six of the seven individual events and the
relay teams captured two firsts and a second place. Lenn also emerged
with six state qualifying times. For his efforts, Lenn won two gold
medals, a silver medal, a bronze medal, and ribbons for two fifth places,
one seventh, and one eighth place finish.
In the individual events, Lenn swam the 50 M Free (11th), 100 M Free
(7th), 200 M Free (5th), 100 M Backstroke (8th), 100 M Breaststroke (3rd),
200 M Breaststroke (2nd), and 200 M Individual Medley (5th). Lenn teamed
with Daniel Shishido, Chang Ku, and Michael Nishimitsu, all of
HSC-Kahului, for second place in the 400 M Medley Relay. The foursome won
the 400 M Freestyle Relay and the 200 M Medley Relay.
Mahinameli also made the most of the three-day meet. She swam in nine
individual events and two relays, all in the 10 & Under division. She
attained five state qualifying times to bring her total to seven on the
season.
Mahina swam in the 50 M and 100 M Free, 50 M and 100 M Backstroke, 50 M
and 100 M Breaststroke, 50 M and 100 M Butterfly, and the 200 M Individual
Medley. Mahina, Kiana Johnson and Aja Suehiro of HSC-Kahului, and
Christine Okuna of HSC-Hilo, teamed to place fourth in the 200 M Freestyle
Relay. Suehiro, Mahina, and Nikoya Collier and Alicia Gerber of HSC-Hilo
raced to second place in the 200 M Medley Relay.
Leoho`onani was the jack-of all-trades as she swam in both the 11-12 and
Open divisions. Leo swam nine individual and four relay events. She won
a bronze medal for a third place finish in the 50 M Breaststroke and
teamed with Jessica Bartolome, Nicole Okuna, and Marlene Yafuso, all of
HSC-Hilo, to win gold medals in the 200 M Medley Relay.
Leo attained four state qualifying times in the meet. She qualified in
the 50 M and 100 M Free and the 50 M and 100 M Breaststroke events. Leo
also swam the 200 M Free, the 50 M and 100 M Backstroke, the 50 M
Butterfly, and the 200 M Individual Medley.
Jodi Kalawe (HSC-Hilo), Holley Fernandez (HSC-Kahului), Mari Ono
(HSC-Hilo), and Leo combined for seventh place ribbons in the 400 M Medley
Relay and 8th place ribbons in the 400 M Freestyle Relay. By far, Leo's
most challenging experience came in the 200 M Freestyle Relay. Swimming
in the Open division with HSC-Hilo Assistant Coach Patti Kimball, 17-year
old Keala Arensdorf (HSC-Kahului), and 11-Year old Sara Spidell (daughter
of HSC-Hilo Head Coach Carla Spidell), the quartet combined for fifth
place ribbons!
Loni was the busiest of the Molokai swimmers with four relay and 10
individual events. Loni earned four qualifying times (50 M, 100 M, and
200 M Free, 200 M Individual Medley). She also swam the 50 M and 100 M
Backstroke, 50 M and 100 M Butterfly, and 50 M and 100 M Breaststroke).
Loni teamed with Kalawe, Tamarah Binek (HSC-Hilo), and Mikiala Miller
(HSC-Kahului) for sixth place ribbons in the 200 M Freestyle Relay.
Bartolome, Helena Suehiro (HSC-Kahului), Binek and Loni placed second in
the 400 M Medley Relay. To open the final day of competition, Loni,
Suehiro, Miller, and Binek combined to place fourth in the 400 M Freestyle
Relay. Loni closed the meet with another fourth place finish in a relay
event as she teamed with Miller, Erin Samura (HSC-Hilo), and Pualana Reys
(HSC-Kahului, and granddaughter of George and Rita Pastrana of Ranch Camp)
in the 200 M Medley Relay.
The team is in the middle of the long course season. The prestigious Keo
Nakama Invitational is coming up on the Fourth of July weekend, a month
before the long course championships. The championships was recently
moved to the Lahaina Aquatics complex during the first week in August.
Once again, the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation funded the travel to
the Sakamoto meet. Team members and coaches are extremely grateful for
the support of the Foundation.
Looking further down the road, the short course season will begin in
October. Newcomers who are interested in competitive swimming should
begin preparations immediately as practices continue daily and on weekends
under the guidance of Molokai Swim Team Head Coach David Kalani and
Assistant Coach Lloyd Yonemura. The team would like to acknowledge the
continued support of the County of Maui, Molokai Divison, Department of
Parks and Recreation (Zach Helm, Director; Leslie Kanoa and Luana Alcon;
Lifeguards Kalani Johnston, Lani Caparida, and Clare Pereira).
Learn-to-swim classes are held from Monday through Thursday from 4:00 PM
to 5:00 PM. Contact Coach Kalani or Cooke Pool Lifeguards Johnston,
Caparida, or Pereira at 553-5775 for more information.