KIF swimming gets underway Saturday, Jan. 17 starting at 10 a.m. at the Kaua’i High School pool, and the 2004 season has promise to be as exciting as that of 2003 when the smaller boys team of Kapa’a was able
KIF swimming gets underway Saturday, Jan. 17 starting at 10 a.m. at the Kaua’i High School pool, and the 2004 season has promise to be as exciting as that of 2003 when the smaller boys team of Kapa’a was able to take on a powerhouse Kaua’i High School team and challenge them by taking everything to the last relay race at the championship match, nearly pulling off an upset.
Both schools return teams with about the same numbers making the KIF title race up for grabs.
The girls race holds promise for excitement despite the fact that most schools will come to the pools with smaller rosters, Kapa’a outnumbering its closest rival by almost ten swimmers making them the favorites to repeat as champions.
First-year coach Tom Coxwell from Newport Beach, California comes to Island School with more than 20 years of experience coaching age group, masters, and high schools across California.
Guillen William Ajates, a one-year transfer student from Spain, is Island School’s sole swimmer, and has been swimming since age seven.
Ajates brings to Kaua’i seven age group championships from Barcelona, Spain.
Comparatively, last year’s KIF Swimmer of the year, Keenan Anaya, holds six age group championships in Hawai’i.
Jeremy Albano leads the Kapa’a Warrior boys who came back from a strong performance at the 26th Kalani Invitational where Albano finished eighth in the 100-yard breatstroke with a solid 1:05.57, putting the 16-year-old KIF record of 1:04.86 within reach.
Micahel Maddock, Andrew Salvador, Dillon Sloggett, and Tyson Ober Smith are some of the names that will lead the Warrior men in the pool.
Kapa’a top girls swimmer Bristol King will not be swimming this year, but good swims are anticipated from Liana Nakazawa and Taylor McClintic.
“We want to get our girls to states,” said 3rd year head coach Kara Panui who kept referring to a sixth-place finish or better at the high school state championships.
Last year’s KIF Swimmer of the Year Anaya will again lead the Kaua’i High School boys, Anaya expected to continue his record-breaking performances in the water.
Anaya broke 11 KIF swim records in his 12 individual swims last year.
“Our boys are driven to win,” said Melissa Hall in her 6th year at the helm of the Red Raiders. “We will be focusing more in individual goals this year because we lost our team. The pool was a problem, and it shut us down so our swimmers went somewhere else. Yet, I am impressed with the ones who stayed. This group is die-hard! They’re truly committed.”
Wailana Waite returns from Kula School, a sophomore who turned heads as a freshman in 2003. Waite, a possible contender in the breaststroke, is one off only four girls and six boys that will take to the pool, but will have a big say in who becomes the KIF champions.
“We hope to have competitive relay teams in the KIF this year,” said second-year coach Dick Oliver. “I want to teach these kids that hard work does pay off.”
Waimea will be the smallest public school team fielding six girls and no boys, but the Menehune girls could sweep all relay championships and are strong contenders for medals in individual competition as they are led by 2003 KIF Female Swimmer of the year Katelyn Umetsu, and all-star Leilani Alquiza.
“We’re very excited,,” said 4th year head coach Joanne Acoba. “We are going to support them (swimmers) in making their individual and relay goals.”
2004 KIF Swim Meet Schedule
All meets will be held at the Kaua’i High School swimming pool.
Jan. 17 – 10 a.m. KIF Qualifying – host Kapa’a
Jan. 24 – 10 a.m. KIF Qualifying – host Island School
Jan. 31 – 1 p.m. KIF Qualifying – host Waimea
Feb. 7 – 10 a.m. KIF Qualifying – host Kula
Feb. 14 – 1 p.m. KIF championship – host Kaua’i
