WAIMEA — Less than two points separated the first- and second-place finishers on Tuesday night during the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation cheer championships contested at the Clem Gomes Gym on the Waimea High campus.
With the smallest squad, just seven members, in the competition field, Kapa‘a’s squad under the coaching of Rosey Jerves, Chelsey Alfiler, Lani Cummings, Jakey DePeralta and Jackie Souza, was issued a total score of 72.83 points by the judging panel that viewed the competition via live streaming provided by the Menehune.
One spectator in the near-capacity audience commented on how small the squad was, but that size prevented the group from doing elaborate routines and forcing the group to concentrate on basic moves and being “clean,” or error-free, in its 2-minute, 30-second routine.
The Kapa‘a cheer squad is made up of two seniors, Kayana Goias Jerves and Jaylee Souza Yim, a junior, Jaedyn Miller, two sophomores, Kassy Ell and Sonya Ell, and a pair of freshmen, Dustin Jerves and Lilinoe Jerves.
Less than two points back, the Kaua‘i High School Red Raiders, the biggest squad in the KIF competition, tallied 71.27 points in its total score. Waimea High School, previously the KIF champion, rounded out the night with 68.9 points.
During the evening, senior members of each school’s squad were recognized, and the KIF took the opportunity to unveil its Cheer All-Stars that included five members coming from the championship team, three members from Kaua‘i High and a pair from Waimea High School.
The KIF Cheer All-Stars are Shyla Bagaoisan Rita, Maeani Arbilera, Kate Nakamura, Janessa Parrallaa, Khiani Garcia, Kayana Jerves, Jaylee Souza-Yim, Lilinoe Jerves, Kassy Ell and Sonya Ell.
With the KIF cheer championship in hand, Kapa‘a is sole KIF representative at the 2022 Zippy’s Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association Cheerleading Championships that will be held at the Stan Sheriff Center on the campus of University of Hawai‘i at Manoa on Nov. 8.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
