LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i High School boys bowling team, and the Kapa‘a High School girls bowling team won their division play, Thursday when the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation rolled the first balls at the Kaua‘i Bowling Center following the pandemic shutdown.
“Last year, due to COVID-19, spectators were not allowed,” said Todd Ozaki, assistant coach at Waimea High School. “It was nice to see parents and fans cheering the teams on, again. You can tell it makes a difference for the athletes, too. It’s more fun. The bowlers look for their fans’ approval with pride following a good shot, and hide following not-so-good ones.”
The Kaua‘i boys, under coach Kyrie Sasaki, and defending KIF boys champions, opened with strong showings in all three sets, taking the opening match on a 2,766 pinfall led by the high game from Kaikoa Carvalho rolling a 223.
The Waimea Menehune, under new coach Nick Pananganan followed with 1,932 pinfall led by Jericho Gudoy’s high game of 180. Kapa‘a, with Coach Kevin Gusman, rounded out the field, finishing with 1,605 pinfall led by Anucha Kawamura’s high game of 133.
“I pulled my husband out of retirement,” said Waimea coach Keiko Sagawa-Pananganan. “Fire Capt. Nick Pananganan is a former KIF bowler himself, and he didn’t object. In fact, he kind of likes the experience.”
On the girls’ lanes, defending KIF champions Kapa‘a High School showed strong with Skye Tadani, rolling a high game of 208, leading the Warrior ladies to a 2,270 pinfall for the first win of the KIF season.
Waimea coach Keiko led her Menehune to an 1,841 pinfall for the runner-up position behind the high game of Irish Oriente who rolled a high 183.
“Kaua‘i High School girls has a new coach in Linda Alfiler, a teacher at the King Kaumuali‘i Elementary School,” Ozaki said. “She’s one of Kaua‘i’s top league bowlers.”
Under Alfiler’s coaching, the Red Raider ladies rolled to a 1,689 pinfall and 5 points after bumping the Menehune in the third set with a 590 pinfall led by the set’s high game of Mikayla Pacheco-Villanueva at 171. Waimea finished the third set with a 563 pinfall led by the high game of 138 from Irish Oriente who went on to lead the Menehune wahine on a high game of 183 toward the overall Waimea 1,841 pinfall in the match. With the bump in the third set, Waimea wahine finished with seven overall points.
“A big thank you goes out to Adam Apo and the staff at Kaua‘i Bowl for their unwavering support of Kaua‘i youth bowling,” Ozaki said.
The next KIF bowling series is scheduled for Sept. 8 with the first rolls inked in for 4 p.m. at Kaua‘i Bowl.
Boys Results
• Kaua‘i: Kaikoa Carvalho-Kiilau (223 first, 204 second, 202 third), Sage Cua (-, 150, 221), Aaron Juliano (191, 165, -), Raiden Ragasa (160, – , 122), Trestyn Reis (-, 217, 159), Kyllie Sasaki (180, -, 182), Shayne Shibuya (202, 188, -).
• Total: 956 (3 pts), 924 (3 pts), 886 (3 pts), 2766 (3 pts), 12 points.
• Kapa‘a: Aaden Aquias (110, -, 106), Cheyne Carillo (-, 108, 69), Anucha Kawamura (131, 128, 133), Jeffrey Montemayor (-, 63, -), Colten Nagahisa (93, -, 90), Kalahikiola Velasco (108, 112, -), Kia‘aina Velasco (129, 127, 98).
• Total: 571 (1 pt), 538 (1 pt), 496 (1 pt), 1605 (1 pt), 4 points.
• Waimea: Jericho Gudoy (174, 180, 169), Enoka Mose (93, -, 102 sub), Richard Palacio (161, 170, 131), Ralph Punzalan (95, -, -), Connor Purisima (-, 117, 106), Kymane Sagawa-Pananganan (110, 112, 123), Tyren Sasil (-, 89, -).
• Total: 633 (2 pts), 668 (2 pts), 631 (2 pts), 1932 (2 pts), 8 points.
Girls Results
• Kaua‘i: Althea Ballesteros (77, -, 87), Kaori Koerte (I107, 116, 124), Mikayla Pacheco-Villanueva (86, 177, 171), Mackenzye Palalay-Mariano (120, 138, 117), Mikaelah Ragus-Valmoja (-, 104, 91), Anna Valdez (94, 80, -).
• Total: 484 (1 pt), 615 (1 pt), 590 (2 pts), 1689 (1 pt), 5 points.
• Kapa‘a: Keahilani Bacon (152, 133, 133), Kailee Gorospe (134, 144, 131), Jennifer Hayakawa (178, 197, 163), Anjoelina Miyashiro-Catbagan (-, -, 85), Skye Tadani (150, 159, 208), Rian Yamamoto (173, 130, -).
• Total: 787 (3 pts), 763 (3 pts), 720 (3 pts), 2270 (3 pts), 12 points.
• Waimea: Andrelyn Acoba (86, 103 sub, -), Erich Borbos (163, 139, 149), Ekena Mose (-, -, 76 sub), Irish Oriente (183, 148, 138), Schasie Sasil (83, -, -), Elizabeth Toki (116, 119, 81 sub), Cresa Valenciano (-, 132, 119).
• Total: 637 (2 pts), 641 (2 pts), 563 (1 pt), 1841 (2 pts), 7 points.
