LIHU‘E — Micah Nobriga-Ferris and Luke Roberts marked Mokihana Aquatics milestones, Sunday. Both swimmers finished the two-day timed trials with eight of 10 best times in their events, tying Kayla Ishida. That presented Mokihana Aquatics coach Orlando “O” Anaya with
LIHU‘E — Micah Nobriga-Ferris and Luke Roberts marked Mokihana Aquatics milestones, Sunday.
Both swimmers finished the two-day timed trials with eight of 10 best times in their events, tying Kayla Ishida.
That presented Mokihana Aquatics coach Orlando “O” Anaya with a dilemma he never faced in the 29 years of Mokihana Aquatics — who would be the Swimmer of the Meet?
Anaya said Ishida marked five state QUAL times and that helped earn her the honor of Swimmer of the Meet to mark the opening of the 30th year for Mokihana Aquatics.
“We will do something different for this meet as we feel it is deserving,” Anaya said in an e-mail with the results. “Micah and Luke are tied for Runner Up. Yes, we are listing a second place for Swimmer of the Meet for the very first time.”
Roberts celebrated his first Invitational cut, or HI-AA time, and took off “chunks of time,” Anaya said. Nobriga-Ferris was able to make improvements in a very difficult age group in which to make cuts, the coach added. He also pocketed an HI-A time standard.
Ishida finished with QUAL time standards in the 11-12 50 Butterfly (32.57), the 100 Freestyle (1:04.17), the 50 Free (28.72), the 50 Backstroke (34.68) and the 200 Freestyle (2:20.49). In all of those events, she pulled in a personal best, her biggest improvement coming in the 200 Free where she shaved off 9.47 over her seeded time.
Nobriga-Ferris, 14, had his HI-A time in the 50 Freestyle where he stopped the clock at 30.98 for a 0.63 improvement. His best showing was in the 200 Butterfly, where he stopped the clock at 3:26.29 for an 8.44 improvement.
Roberts, 9, pocketed his HI-A time standard in the 100 Breaststroke where he came in at 1:57.33. This was one of his two events where he did not post an improvement. However, his biggest showing was in the 9-10 200 Individual Medley (3:57.74) where he chopped 31.63 seconds off his seeded time.
Of note, Roberts also shaved 13.32 in his 50 Butterfly (55.81) and 11.56 off his 100 Backstroke (1:52.52).
“We saw lots of great times,” Anaya said. “We had swimmers swim ‘best races,’ not necessarily best times, but this is not unusual. We saw awesome team spirit, parental support, ono grinds, and camaraderie among all with new friends being made. All of the swimmers were successful this weekend.”
Makanani Mersberg, 11, finished with seven best times in 10 events, her best showing coming in the 200 Free (3:17.28) where she chopped 20.10 off her seeded time. She also knocked 12.52 off her time in the 100 Back (1:47.26).
John Quinlan, 12, finished with five best times, his best showing coming in the 200 Free (3:59.77) where he chopped 20.48 off his seeded time. His 2:07.08 swim in the 100 Breaststroke was 17.57 better than his seeded time.
Gracie Stokes, 11, posted a 7.25 improvement in her 200 Free (3:06.00) and Alana Tamashiro shaved 4.19 in her 50 Butterfly (50.10).
Juliana Tampus, 8, had a 6.52 improvement in her 50 Butterfly (1:08.57) and Ryan Valenciano, 16, chopped 2.26 off his seeded time in the 200 IM (2:47.63). James Wilmot, 13, had an 11.82 improvement in his 200 Free (2:46.50).
“The swimmers, parents, and friends are awesome,” Anaya said. “Personally, I could not have started our 30th year any better.”
Visit www.mokihanaaquatics.com for more information.
