Chloe Inouye, 11, grabbed the title of state champion in the 50 breaststroke during the Hawaii Age Group Long Course Championship that wrapped up Sunday at the Veterans Aquatic Memorial Center in Waipahu, Oahu.
In addition to the state title, Inouye’s performance helped Swim Kauai Aquatics’ contingent of 14 swimmers finish the four-day meet in 12th place with 113.5 points, edging out the Kona Dolphin Swim Club who finished with 113 points to tie the Aloha Aquatics Association. The SKA performance kept it just nine points out of the state meet’s Top 10 spot that was captured by the Maui Swim Club (122.5 points). The overall meet was topped by the Kamehameha Swim Club which tallied a commanding 2,376 points.
Led by Inouye’s performance in Waipahu, SKA swimmers picked up 38 best times, said SKA coach Curt Colby.
Inouye picked up her state title on a swim of 36.45 seconds, and continued to finish in the top eight in all six events she participated in, collecting 29 points for the team.
Zach Safford, 18, heading to Notre Dame following his graduation from Kauai High School, followed in the point count led by his performance in the 100 butterfly (58.96) where he finished second. He continued the state meet by finishing in the top eight in five of his six events.
Akira Williams, 17, a senior at Kauai High School when doors open in August, added 18 points to the total led by his pair of second finishes in the 50 freestyle (24.81) and the 100 freestyle (53.75).
Kamaira Silva, 13, finished in the top eight in five of her six events, picking up best times in all her swim and leading with a 1:03.45 swim in the 100 freestyle for sixth place.
“Ryden Williams, 14, was determined to score in finals this summer,” Colby said. “He succeeded by placing sixth in three events — the 50, 100, and 200 freestyle swims. His crowning glory was the 59.56 touch in the 100 freestyle, breaking the one minute barrier for the first time. He also had a perfect meet with six best times.”
Trevyn Nishimura, 12, also posted a perfect meet during his performance that added five individual points and another two points as a member of the 11-12 boys 400 freestyle relay team. He dropped a total of 15 seconds in all of his events.
Tematahira Perreira, 12, had his best performance in the 200 backstroke (2:44.95) where he finished fourth for a nice 12.85-second improvement.
“Both of these boys, Nishimura and Perreira, will be heading to Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama,” Colby said. “We are very proud of them.”
Tyler Tanaka, 14, missed a perfect meet by .012 second despite placing in the top eight in two events — the 200 breaststroke (2:47.35) and the 1,500 freestyle — which were significantly faster swims for him, the SKA coach said.
“Talen Koerte, 11, had a perfect meet, and scored points in the 200 butterfly (3:04.55),” Colby said. “Not an easy event for an 11-year-old. One of his best races was the 100 butterfly where he dropped 5.75 seonds by touching the wall at 1:19.36.”
Maddie Hoesel, 16, dropped more than 10 seconds over four of her five events led by performances in the 200 backstroke (2:43.76) and the 200 freestyle (2:18.06).
Isaac Vallance, 15, dropped more than 57 seconds over three distance events with the 1,500 freestyle being his best swim where he touched at 18:13.81 for a drop of nearly 25 seconds.
Kai Mottley, 13, participated in his first-ever state meet, just missing the finals in the 200 butterfly (2:40.82), but picking up best times in all four of his swims.
Hayley Kaeo, 15, posted two best times — the 50 freestyle (29.58), and the 100 breaststroke (1:26.89).
“Our only relay scoring points was the 11-12 boys 400 freestyle relay (Nishimura, Perreira, Vallance, and Koerte),” Colby said. “The team improved to fifth place after being seeded ninth in the event by touching the wall at 2:44.”
SKA coaches Colby and Whitney Mitchell were pleased with the swimmers’ showing at the state meet.
“There were thrilling races, great execution and just tough swimming,” Colby said. “Half of the swimmers were on the young side of their age groups and will surely place higher next year. It was a long four-day meet, but the swimmers stayed strong for all four days.”
Colby said parents are a big factor in the swimmers’ strong showing.
“As always, our parents were a great support by cheering, feeding, and driving the swimmers back and forth over four days,” he said. “On top of that, they performed volunteer jobs so essential to all of our swimmers’ meets. Being a swimming parent is a big commitment. A big mahalo to our board of directors, including new president Stacie Nishimura, and parents, coaches and the kids. We, including coaches Kathleen Littlefield, Kailee Mu, Shannon Wigent, Abi Dawn and Missey Hoesel, all work as a team running our team of around 100 swimmers.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
