OAHU – The 2002 State Junior Lifeguard Championships took place Aug. 10 at Ala Moana Beach Park on Oahu, and Team Kaua’i proved to be an undeniable force in the competition, placing fourth overall and nabbing four individual event state titles.
Team Kaua’i took an early lead by winning the first event of the day, the 14-under girls 1000-meter run. Hanalei’s Noelani Moeller won the event and became Team Kaua’i’s first state champ of the day.
Emma Makepa Foley (Girls 14-under) took first place in the Flag Competition. It was the second time she won the title.
Fletcher Parker (17-under) smoked the Run, Swim, Run event. The Poipu resident won the event for the second time. He also came in second place in the 200-meter swim.
And the final state title, the 14-under girls paddle board relay, was dominated by six participating Kauaians: Bethany Hamilton, Camille Brady, Jackie Brady, Emma Makepa, Mia Melamed, and Noelani Moeller.
In the end, Team Kaua’i finished fourth overall. Third place went to District 2 from Oahu and first place went to Oahu’s North Shore. Team Kaua’i was only four points behind the overall winner, the closest the team has come to winning the overall title.
Other Jr. Lifeguards who participated: Cory Mira, Dusty Cole, Dillon Melamed, Andrew Segawa, Kaimi Kaneholani, Jason Balonick, Jeremy Ferguson, Lee Rodelo, Liana Nakazawa, Virginia Fajardo, Hunter Vetter, David Wallace, Amanda Scheppers, Bo Domingcil, Savase Brede and Noah Myers.
