LIHU‘E —Kaua‘i High School swept its series over Kapa‘a, and Waimea High School swept Island School, Thursday as the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation opened its 2009 Air Riflery season. Matches were held at both the Kaua‘i High School complex and at
LIHU‘E —Kaua‘i High School swept its series over Kapa‘a, and Waimea High School swept Island School, Thursday as the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation opened its 2009 Air Riflery season.
Matches were held at both the Kaua‘i High School complex and at the Island School fields with three new coaches heading up the four programs.
“Jason Bryant’s really knowledgeable,” said Ross Shimabukuro, athletic director of Kaua‘i High School. “He thanked me for allowing him to be a coach, but I told him that it should be us thanking him for coming forward as a coach.”
Bryant replaces long-time coaches Douglas and Melissa Nobriga at the helm of the Red Raiders.
Ian Versammy was officially on duty Sept. 1 at the Kapa‘a High School squad, and replaces former coach Bill Barchers who relocated to the Mainland.
Sean Magoun fills in the coaching position at Island School.
Victor Aguilar remains the coach at Waimea High School, and was philosophical about the Menehune boys’ 60-point margin of victory over Island School on the opening day.
“I’m trying to get as many of the new shooters out so they can get a feel of the competition,” Aguilar said. “A lot of the boys are first-time shooters and we’re trying to get as many boys up in the 200-point range.”
That 200-point range proved to be the margin of victory for Waimea as the Menehune men outscored Island School 1068-1006 despite the Voyagers’ J. Riley Louis finishing with the day’s best score of 244.
Louis was joined by two other Island School shooters making the 200-range, Logan Domingo (208) and Ben Steuri, a first-year shooter (204).
Waimea’s men were led by Bryle Rivera and Amlan Fujimura, each marking 228 points, followed closely by John Medeiros adding 225 points.
Kaua‘i High School’s Tyler Navarro finished in a tie with Louis for high-point honors at 244. Navarro led the Red Raiders to its 1267-591 showing over Kapa‘a, which got 151 points from Adam Clark.
With just two Raiders in the 200-range, Navarro was joined by Shaun Koide finishing with 235, followed by Reyn Morioka (198), Sheldon Chu (193).
Brianne Hornos paced the Kaua‘i girls with a 198 to the Raider wahine’s 1221-1024 showing for the Warrior ladies.
With just two returning
shooters, Hornos was joined by
Taylor Ludington (183), team
captain Meghan Fujimoto (178)
and Britney Fernandez (171).
“I was really nervous,” Fujimoto said. “You see how my fingers are twitching? That’s how nervous I am.”
Kapa‘a’s girls were paced by Mary Walker finishing with a day’s best 217 points at the Kaua‘i High School complex that has been improved with its overhead canopy and wind screening system that, although on the warm side, eliminates any distracting dust puppies.
Walker was joined by Jessica Pasadava (149), Amy Niwa (136), Kristina Raquesante (119) and Kaylan Armstrong-Shiira (117).
Dyan Tabalan of Waimea finished with 217, tying Walker for the day’s best score, in leading the Menehune wahine to its 1061-747 win over the Island School girls that fielded just four team shooters.
Following Tabalan, Amber Duldulao added 215, Breeann Abuan marked 213, Melissa Kagawa and Bessie Baclig ending with 208 each.
Lindsey Duarte and Stephanie Steuri topped the Island School girls with 216 and 203 points, respectively. They were followed by Pi‘ilani Kali at 177 points and Giffin Lord at 151.
Matches continue each Thursday starting at 3 p.m.
