Jessica Tangalin and Kristyn Yamamotoya topped the Girls 2012 Air Riflery All-Stars, which was released by the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation Wednesday.
On the boys team, Jaron Parongao and Brandon Chun topped the all-star roster, which included three shooters from Kaua‘i High School, the KIF championship boys team, two from Waimea High School and one from Island School.
Parongao of Waimea High School was joined by Kristopher Toma, both Menehune shooters running pretty consistent records through the KIF air riflery season and expected to return because they are juniors.
Kaua‘i High School senior Matthew Kawamura, the Red Raider boys’ team captain, was joined by junior Brandon Chun and sophomore Hikari Oberman.
Marcus Punua was the sole selection from Island School, the senior marksman leading the Voyagers throughout the season as they stayed close in the competition.
The Kapaa‘a Warrior boys, although fielding some strong marksmen throughout the season, faltered as they failed to make the minimum number of boys for team scoring.
Tangalin, a first-year shooter, is a senior for Waimea High School, being joined by sophomore Kayla Ishida and team captain Jackie Taylor, another senior.
Waimea coach Victor Aguilar praised the strength and consistency of the first-year shooter during the shootoff against Kaua‘i, an event the Menehune dropped to Kaua‘i at the Island School range.
“We’ve had other seniors who only turned out to shoot during ther final year,” Aguilar said. “We could have used them when they had room to develop, but the important thing is they did come out, even if for just a year.”
Aguilar said he is looking forward to next year when he welcomes back his experienced underclassmen for both the boys and girls team.
Yamamotoya was the consistent leader for Kaua‘i High School throughout the season, ending the season in that spot and leading the girls to its KIF title in the shootout.
Joining her are junior Sara Koide, another consistent shooter in the mid-scoring lineup and Meghan Leary, another junior, who brings her shooting strength in the mid-scoring range, sometimes getting help from her sister Emma.
The KIF representatives, including the all-stars, will be on the Big Island Tuesday when the Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association hosts the Civilian Marksmanship Program State Championships at the Kamehameha Schools-Hawai‘i Island campus.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
