LIHU‘E — Randy Iloreta Jr. is on a literal roll, Thursday.
The Kapa‘a High School junior rolled a high 223 to help lead the Kapa‘a boys bowling team to its first season win during the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation bowling series at the Lihu‘e Bowling Center.
Coming off a 220 last week, Iloreta Jr. upped his performance by three pins to lead the Warrior boys to a 2181 pinfall, 60 pins ahead of Waimea’s boys (2121) and Kaua“i (2030).
“He’s been doing good from the time he started,” said Randy Iloreta Sr., the Kapa‘a student’s father. “During his first year he finished with a 176 average and in his second year, ended in the high 170s. Now, with six games, he has a 190 average after the first three games, the 220 helping raise his
average.”
Iloreta Sr. said the Kapa‘a boys have a lot of returning bowlers, Austin Perez-Jacinto joining his son in the No. 2 position, Perez-Jacinto rolling 149-154-127 over three Thursday games.
Helping with the Warrior team scoring, Clarence Sembrano Jr. rolled 127-144-158 and Shannon Duarte ended with 143-112-130.
Iloreta Jr. finished the day 223-148-178 and currently leads the individual boys with a 1649 pinfall over nine games and a 183.22 average.
Sembrano is No. 4 in the boys individual standings with an 1171 pinfall over nine games and a 130.11 average.
Chase Ueno (228-172-162), a Kaua‘i Junior Bowler for 10 years where his mom is an instructor, had the highest score of the day for the boys with a 228 and helped lead the Menehune men to its second place finish.
Ueno, who said his goal is to bowl a perfect game in the KIF, is in solid No. 2 in the individual standings with a 1561 pinfall over nine games with a 173.44 average.
His performance for the Menehune was joined by Kalei Nakaya (134-157-164) who is No. 3 in the individual standings with a 1360 pinfall and a 151.11 average.
Weston Souza (100-130-132) and John Rommel Gawaran (162-151-109) contributed to the Waimea scoring.
The Kaua‘i boys, after finishing tops in the first two games of the KIF series were led by Ammon Ho‘opi‘i-Akau’s 187, its scores spread over 11 redshirts.
Ho‘opi‘i-Akau is the top Raider in the individual standings, holding a 1269 pinfall over eight games for a 158.63 average. Raider roller Kyle Balisacan follows in the individual standings with an 1159 pinfall over seven games for a 165.57 average, his season-best being a 188, but rolling a 146 during the last outing.
Despite the loss, Kaua‘i boys still hold a 2-1 edge over Kapa‘a in the season with three more games on tap.
Kaua‘i’s girls picked up its third straight win with a 2200 pinfall to Kapa‘a’s 1910 and Waimea’s 1847.
Darcie Vea (144-189-193) topped the Kaua‘i girls’ scoring and currently leads the individual standings for girls with a 1529 pinfall over nine games for a 169.89 average. Kaua‘i’s No. 2 wahine roller went to Jorden DeCosta-Caalim who rolled a 177-156-136, ending the week No. 4 in the individual standings with an 1109 pinfall over eight games for a 138.63 average.
Petite Angelika Questin, a Kapa‘a sophomore, is in the No. 2 spot with a 1153 average over eight games for a 144.13 average.
She was the solid No. 1 bowler for the Warrior wahine, rolling a 157and 158 to open Thursday followed by Junelle Cacal (140-184), Reggie McCabe (120-149) and Ta’ashi Napoleon (112-122).
Lacie Montemayor took the lead spot for Waimea’s girls, rolling a 150-135-163, Thursday followed by Kimberly Hoeckmann-Percival (105-114-141) and Summer Stulpe (115-130-136). The 150 opener for Montemayor is her season-best to date.
Montemayor is the highest Menehune in the individual standings at No. 7 with an 826 pinfall over six games for a 137.67 average, just eight pins ahead of Aniase Soltren of Kaua‘i who holds an 818 pinfall over six games and a 136.33 average.
The public is invited to view the competition as the KIF series continues Thursday at the Lihu‘e Bowling Center starting at 5 p.m.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
