LIHUE — Kapaa High School boys bowler Zylan Pa-Conant rolled a Kauai Interscholastic Federation bowling season high 276 game led the Warrior team to the top of the third week with a 2,557 pinfall.
On the girls’ lanes, the Waimea High School lady bowlers pushed five of its kegglers into the Top 10 averages in preserving its third consecutive win with a 2,129 pinfall after coming back from an 80-pin deficit to take the third match led by Crystal Kamakea rolling a 174.
“We’re already halfway through the KIF season,” said Waimea coach Todd Ozaki. “There were several outstanding performances at this Week No. 3, including Coach Keiko Sagawa-Pananganan and the Menehune 3-0 girls. The Kapaa boys are 2-0, and the Waimea boys are 1-0.”
Ozaki noted that school spirit also added to the loud environment of Kauai Bowl where the KIF rollers were moved to the snack shop end of the bowling center because of mechanical issues.
“Sometimes, other schools’ team spirit can be audibly overwhelming,” Ozaki said. “But Jana Sheatz’s leadership and positive attitude was evident as she led her Kauai Christian Academy’s girls’ team in cheers throughout the night. Best of all, the sportsmanship and enthusiasm Jana displayed toward the Kapaa High School girls, KCA’s adjacent lane opponents for the night, was encouraging and just fun to watch.”
KCA athletic director and coach Chris Cullen agreed, noting how he was surprised Sheatz, a senior, still had her voice following the night’s bowling.
Pa-Conant, rolling his 276 in Game 3, and getting help from Callum Meredith rolling a 223, led the Warrior boys to wins in Game 1 (826) and Game 3 (921) towards the team’s 2,557 pinfall for its second win in the season.
“I just told them to relax and have fun out there,” said Kapaa coach Joe Young, Sr. “If they have fun, they’re going to do well.”
Ozaki noted that Meredith’s performance, including rolling a 190 in Game 1, moved the Warrior to the No. 6 spot in individual averages, an improvement from his previous No. 10 standing.
“Congratulations to the Kapaa boys, the defending 2018 KIF champs, on another strong showing, coached by Joe Young, Sr.,” Ozaki said. “Team captain Kalani Young always seems to do his job in the No. 5 anchor position, making quality first shots and consistently converting his spares. Spare shooting is key. Strikes can win games, but spares will win championships.”
Second place in the boys’ bowling belonged to the Kauai High School team who captured Game 2 at 898 en route to its 2,572 pinfall topped by Kaikoa Carvalho’s 254 high game.
“Kauai High School freshman, Kaikoa ‘Kaiki,’ coached by Bernard Almarza, increased his individual average lead to an outstanding 215 following nine games,” Ozaki said.
Deiton Otoman posted a high game 201 to lead the Menehune boys to a 2,275 pinfall for third place, and Nick Beydler had the high game for KCA at 105. KCA did not field enough bowlers for team consideration.
On the individual averages, Carvalho is followed by Pa-Conant (Kap) 202, Otoman (Wai) 185, Kalani Young (Kap) 183, Shayden Peralta (Kau) 183, Meredith (Kap) 179, Kobe Aguilar (Wai) 169, Jozaiah Sarmiento (Kau) 166), Draxton “Malu” Campos Banasihan (Wai) 164), and Kyllie Sasaki (Kau) 162. Kevin Diehl is the top individual average holder for KCA at 102.
With five of the Menehune girls in the Top 10 of individual averages, the Waimea girls went to the high game rolled by Naomi Toki at 182 to secure its third consecutive win at 2,129 pinfall after securing Game 3 with a 783. Toki rolled her high game in the first game, but the effort came up short as Kapaa High School, rolling behind strong performances of Jennifer Hayakawa (161) and Dana Murata (160), took the game by a mere three pins.
Kauai High School girls, getting Game 2 on a 753 pinfall behind the high game of Luis Sommer (202), settled in second place at 2,068 followed by Kapaa High School at 1,928 pinfall, and KCA rounding out the leaderboard at 1,561 led by the high game rolled by Heidi Eiseman (132) in the second game.
Murata from Kapaa tops the individual averages at 171, followed by Sommer (Kau) 164, Toki (Wai) 143, Chloe Kamakea (Wai) 142, Crystal Kamakea (Wai) 141, Taylor Kusaka (Kau) 141, Tavia Rapozo (Kau) 140, Hayakawa (Kap) 139, Alysha Palacio (Wai) 135, and Jaelynn Munar (Wai) 135. Sheatz is the highest KCA girls individual average at 117.
The next KIF bowling match rolls at the Kauai Bowl Thursday with the first balls getting off the line at 5:30 p.m.
