KAPA‘A — The Kapa‘a High School tennis program split its series against Waimea, Saturday at the Kapa‘a courts, the Warrior girls taking its series, 3-2 while the Warrior boys dropped to Waimea, 1-4. Chas Okamoto, playing on the Boys First
KAPA‘A — The Kapa‘a High School tennis program split its series against Waimea, Saturday at the Kapa‘a courts, the Warrior girls taking its series, 3-2 while the Warrior boys dropped to Waimea, 1-4.
Chas Okamoto, playing on the Boys First Singles court, did not allow a single game to his opponent, Joshua Quinlan, en route to taking the Kapa‘a boys’ only win, 6-0, 6-0.
Waimea controlled the Boys Second Singles court when Joshua Ponting got past Justin Medina, 6-4, 6-1, being joined by the Menehune team of Kaleo Hauata and Bradley Cano taking a 6-1, 6-2 win over Kapa‘a’s Reggie Agaran and Shawn Rabaino on the Boys First Doubles court.
From there, things became more exciting as the Waimea pair of Andrew Dutton and John Villanueva worked for its 7-6(6), 6-1 win over the Kapa‘a team of Ryan Lopez and Jarrod Shinn on the Boys Second Doubles court.
Kapa‘a’s team of Kalani Murakami and Andrew Obiano put up a good opening fight, taking the first set of the Boys Third Doubles, 7-5 over Waimea’s John Gawaran and Bryle Rivera before succumbing, 1-6, 1-6 in the remaining sets.
Medina and Obiano teamed to get Kapa‘a a win over Mark Razalan and Lance Cacal, 8-7 in the first of two exhibition matches, but Waimea’s Chris Ajimura teamed with Ponting to edge out Kapa‘a’s Ryan Lopez and Murakami, 8-6 in the second boys exhibition match.
Jamie Brun, playing on the Girls Second Singles court, proved to be one of Kapa‘a’s pivotal matches, going three long sets before defeating Waimea’s Shantel Rita, 8-6, 4-6, 7-6(3).
But the Kapa‘a duo of Kara Lee Higa and Taylor Anama was not as fortunate, dropping to Waimea’s Mary Yasay and Shalyn Jim 2-6, 6-4, 6-7(3) on the Girls Third Doubles court.
Yasay teamed with Indira Safad to get past Kapa‘a’s June Kaohelaulii and Candice Miner-Ching, 8-3 in an exhibition match.
Waimea’s other win came when Brittney Barreira gave up one set to Sawalak Khae-Chawat on the Girls First Singles court, 6-0, 6-1.
Kapa‘a’s team of Alexsis Valdez and Sierra Mayer handled Waimea’s Rachel Umetsu and Dessa Rentrop, 6-1, 6-2 on the Girls First Doubles court.
The Warriors wrapped up its edge on the Girls Second Doubles court when the pair of Kaylie Nakamura and Jazzerie Taeza got past Waimea’s Annalissa Hartsell and Brittney Palencia, 7-3, 6-4.
Waimea will host Kaua‘i at the Hanapepe tennis courts and Kapa‘a will host Island School, Saturday to close the KIF tennis season, both matches starting at 10 a.m.
Qualifying play for the Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association state championships start Apr. 21 in Po‘ipu followed by the finals Apr 22 in preparation for the state championships on Maui, May 5 through 7.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
