HANAPEPE — Just two dozen points separated the fight for the KIF air riflery title Thursday in Hanapepe.
“It used to be 1,100 could win,” said Waimea High coach Victor Aguilar. “But now, the only way to guarantee a win is to shoot 1,200.”
The Kaua‘i High boys team wrapped up the title with 1,151 team points over a strong Waimea boys team that finished with 1,127 points. Last year Waimea beat Kaua‘i for the boys title in a shootoff.
In the girls competition, Kaua‘i wrapped up the title with 1,177 team points over Waimea’s 1,107 team points.
“I just hope the pressure doesn’t get to them,” coach Douglas Nobriga said while he watched his first relay shooters deep in concentration. “They were all right in practice, but I guess they’re going to do what they’re going to do.”
Kaua‘i’s Jason Cabot fired in the second relay and finished tops on the day with a 240 (94-76-70), ending just six points shy of a perfect 100 in the opening prone position. Aaron Braun (95-83-71-239) followed a digit back. Kelan Adachi (81-90-58-229), Anthony Remitio (86-78-65-229) and Elliott Yamamoto (74-84-56-214) accounted for the rest of the team scoring.
Bronson Koki soared to the top of the Waimea team with a 232 (87-73-72) continuing his season-long improvement. Daniel Kalauawa (88-82-61-231) followed a point behind. Kevin Aguilar (77-79-72-228), Kekoa Masuda (84-68-70-222) and Christian Jacob (87-67-60-214) rounded out the Menehune leaders.
Liane Muraoka topped the Red Raider girls with a 251 (90-88-73) — the second time in as many weeks a Raider girl broke the 250 mark.
Following last week’s 250-plus score by Casey Shimokawa, Nobriga sported a new red hairdo after losing a wager with the team.
“This is permanent,” Nobriga said. “Theirs are temporary since they just sprayed it on today.”
Nobriga was referring to the impromptu coifs along the firing line as some of his shooters complimented their new black uniforms with red hair dressing.
Shimokawa (83-74-78), Charissa Riofta (88-83-64) and Maureen Sibolboro (81-89-65) all tied at 235 and Rachel Hamamura rounded out the Kaua‘i leaders with 221 (88-72-61).
Syanne Sagawa (84-83-65-232) topped the Waimea girls, followed by Rachel Wright (90-72-64-226), Ceci Sun (83-79-57-219), Chaelyn Briones (78-77-62-217) and Kelly Joyce (81-70-62-213).
“On any given day, the boys’ matches were the closest,” Aguilar said. “The Kaua‘i girls definitely have a solid team of four. They should do well at states if they can all shoot their personal best.”
The state meet will be held at the Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall on O‘ahu Nov. 1.
“This year, they’re allowing CO2,” Nobriga said. “That should help a lot by not having to pump the rifles. But I wonder how many schools actually purchased the CO2 weapons.”
The KIF season closes Thursday when Kaua‘i hosts Kapa‘a and Waimea travels to Island School.
Matches begin at 3 p.m.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
