Mokihana Aquatics head coach Orlando “O” Anaya said he was at the “Sparky” Kawamoto Swim Stadium on the Big Island, but has a hard time grasping the events that took place. “When you see me, pinch me, because I’m not
Mokihana Aquatics head coach Orlando “O” Anaya said he was at the “Sparky” Kawamoto Swim Stadium on the Big Island, but has a hard time grasping the events that took place.
“When you see me, pinch me, because I’m not sure this weekend really happened,” Anaya said “I can’t think of any phrase, word, or statement that can describe this year’s showing of our three Mokihana Aquatics swimmers over the weekend.”
Kamaira Silva, 11, finished with a first and two seconds during the Charles “Sparky” Kawamoto ABC Meet that wrapped up Sunday on the Big Island.
In the swim, Silva emerged with five new best times, her strongest showing coming in the 50 butterfly where she touched at 38.20 seconds for a third-place finish, but taking 3.21 seconds off her seeded swim.
“Kamaira just recently aged up to the 11-12 age group and was most likely the youngest in her age group,” Anaya said. “She also just got back from an extended family vacation. That would have spelled diaster for most swimmers. But not her — she made best times in five of eight races and pocketed her first Hawaii AA time standard in her new age group.”
Silva’s HIAA swim popped up in the 50 freestyle where she touched the wall at 31.09 for a first finish as well as a 1.00 improvement over her seeded swim.
Ian Raquel, 10, experienced his first travel meet, meeting and competing with complete stangers.
He finished the meet with five firsts and three seconds over eight events with his strongest showing coming in the 100 butterfly where he touched the wall at 1:43.95 for a first finish and a 10.75 second improvement over his seeded swim. That swim was also one of five HIAA time standards he pocketed during the meet which Anaya described as “the most competitive field.”
Tyler Tanaka, 11, also lit up the Mokihana Aquatics cheering section, finishing with seven firsts and one second over eight events.
Tanaka’s best swim came in the 100 backstroke where he touched the wall at 1:24.07 for a first finish and an improvement of 6.82 over his previous swim.
With strong showings demonstrated by the trio of Mokihana Aquatics, Anaya was pressed for naming his traditional Swimmer of the Meet award.
“As over-the-top as our swimmers were, their parents took team support to the heavens, and beyond,” Anaya said. “That is why, for only the second time in Mokihana’s 34-year history, all attending parents are our Mokihana Aquatics’ Swimmer of the Meet, even if they did not swim.”
Anaya said, “These parents were not there for their own swimmers — they were there for their swimmer’s entire team. You could not tell who their swimmers were as every time any Mokihana swimmer swam, all of the ‘fantastic six’ were on the edge of their seats cheering as loud as any parent there.”
