LIHU‘E — Armed with 14 swimmers, Swim Kaua‘i Aquatics did well by finishing sixth out of 20 teams participating in the 2023 Hawaiian Long Course State Championships that wrapped up on July 17 on Maui.
“SKA had Linnea Mack, a professional swimmer who represents SKA, hold a clinic two weeks before states that helped a lot,” said SKA co-head coach Brad Meacham. “The swimmers stepped up their competition with some really great races.”
Copping state championship honors, Brandon Lin took six of his eight races with two second place finishes. During the competition, Lin broke two Hawaiian state records, and took High Point honors for his age group.
The 14-year-old swimmer broke an 11-year state record by touching the wall in a time of 2 minutes, 24.66 seconds in the 200 breaststroke. The swim is also a Junior National time standard. Lin also won the 200 backstroke, 200 butterfly, 200 IM, 400 IM, and finished second in the 200 freestyle and the 100 butterfly.
Griffin Lin won the 100 breaststroke, and the 50 butterfly, finishing the meet in third place for High Point honors.
Addy Mottley, 12, took two events, the 200 backstroke and the 200 Individual Medley (IM) events to finish in third for High Point honors. She also competed in the 100 backstroke where she finished second, the 200 freestyle where she finished second, the 50 backstroke where she copped fourth place honors, the 100 freestyle for third place, the 400 freestyle where she finished second, first place finishes in the 200 backstroke and 200 IM and sixth place in the 50 freestyle.
Other SKA performers included Max Mottley taking the 200 butterfly and Talen Koerte taking the 200 backstroke.
“Shealee Moises just aged up into the 13/14 age group,” Meacham said. “Moving up into the 13/14 age group is tough, but she had some great swims — third in the 1,500 freestyle, eighth in the 400 freestyle, seventh in the 200 butterfly, 11th in the 400 IM and the 200 freestyle — she did great.”
Liam Juvan, 14, has been working very hard, Meacham said. He picked up fourth in the 1,500 freestyle, seventh in the 200 freestyle, fourth in the 100 freestyle, 12th in the 200 IM, sixth in the 400 IM, eighth in the 50 freestyle, seventh in the 200 butterfly and fourth in the 400 freestyle.
Kohlton Sanchez, 14, picked up third place in the 100 breaststroke, third in the 200 breaststroke, fourth in the 100 backstroke, sixth in the 200 IM, ninth in the 200 backstroke, 11th in the 100 butterfly and 14th in the 200 butterfly.
Jayna Sams, 15, qualified for her very first state championships just two weeks ahead of the Maui meet, Meacham said. Sams was also the sole female swimmer for Waimea High School during the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation meets earlier in the year.
“She did a great job representing SKA by finishing 16th in the 200 backstroke, 14th in the 100 butterfly and 24th in the 100 freestyle,” Meacham said.
“Awesome job,” Meacham said. “SKA also had the 11/12 Boys taking two relays, the 400 freestyle relay and the 400 medley relay.”
The co-head coach said for Peyton Koerte, who is just 10 years old, it was her first time qualifying for state championship swim. She participated in the 200 freestyle, finishing 12, the 100 freestyle finishing 14th and the 200 IM where she ended in ninth place.
Griffin Lin, just 8 years old, was the sole 8-year-old in his events that included the 50 butterfly where he finished in first place, the 100 backstroke where he settled for bronze and the 50 breaststroke where he finished second. In the 50 backstroke, he stopped the clocks in third place. In the 100 breaststroke, he beat 9- and 10-year-olds for a first finish. He as also fourth in the 200 IM, sixth in the 50 freestyle and third in the 100 butterfly.
Sean Lottermoser, 12, also qualified for states for the first time, swimming as part of the two state relay wins, as well as finishing second in the 200 medley relay. Individually, Lottermoser finished seventh in the 200 freestyle, 10th in the 50 backstroke, ninth in the 100 freestyle, 10th in the 400 freestyle and fourth in the 50 freestyle.
Ryder Lin, 11, was also part of the two state relay wins and the second place finish in the 200 Medley Relay. Individually, Ryder, moving into a new age group, picked up 11th place in the 50 butterfly, third in the 100 backstroke, fourth in the 50 breaststroke, seventh in the 50 backstroke, third in the 100 breaststroke, ninth in the 400 freestyle, third in the 200 IM and fourth in the 100 butterfly.
Max Mottley, 11, also moved into a new age group, picking up eighth place in the 50 butterfly, ninth in the 200 freestyle, first in the 200 butterfly, 13th in the 50 backstroke, 12th in the 100 freestyle, sixth in the 200 IM, eighth in the 50 freestyle and sixth in the 100 butterfly. He also lent his talent to the two state relay wins and the second place 200 Medley Relay.
Hannah Hovland, 15, rounded out the SKA “great swims,” picking up 14th in the 200 backstroke, 11th in the 100 backstroke and 17th in the 400 freestyle.
“Swim Kaua‘i Aquatics had a great state meet,” Meacham said. “It only happens twice a year, and it takes lots of determination and hard work getting to these meets. We are all so proud of this team. It’s what we love to do.”
