LIHU‘E — Makanani Mersberg and Grace Stokes had perfect meets and despite one disqualification, Kawehi Tamashiro was named the Mokihana Aquatics Swimmer of the Meet, Sunday. Mokihana Aquatics hosts the annual two-day Fun Meet as its major fundraiser, this year
LIHU‘E — Makanani Mersberg and Grace Stokes had perfect meets and despite one disqualification, Kawehi Tamashiro was named the Mokihana Aquatics Swimmer of the Meet, Sunday.
Mokihana Aquatics hosts the annual two-day Fun Meet as its major fundraiser, this year the field growing to nine teams from around the state and three from the Mainland.
“We got a late start Saturday because one of the teams showed up from the Outer Islands and there was no paperwork,” said Mokihana Aquatics coach Orlando “O” Anaya. “But we took care of them, got the lineups readjusted and the meet started. Those are good kind of problems.”
Mersberg, 11, emerged as the only swimmer from the host Mokihana program to finish with a perfect meet, posting improvements in all seven of the events she swam in.
Her biggest improvement came in the 11-12 100 Yard Individual Medley where she stopped the clock at 1:36.73, an improvement of 10.90 in her seventh-place overall finish.
Mersberg did tally a first place in the 11-12 50 Yard Breaststroke, where she touched at 46.51 for a 3.65 improvement and the gold. She also piled up two second finishes in the 50 Fly (45.45) and the 50 Back (47.55), where she posted improvements of 3.09 and 6.27 seconds, respectively.
“Mokihana Aquatics swimmers always shine at this time,” Anaya said. “Mersberg was perfect and Grace Stokes did some amazing things. Most of the swimmers were above 50 percent best times. Insane!”
Stokes, 11, posted improvements in 10 of the events she swam in, the greatest showing coming in the Female 200 Yard IM where she stopped the clock at 3:21.59 for an improvement of 49.87 in an 11th place overall finish.
Stokes piled up four first places in the 100 Free (1:14.16), the 50 Fly (43.85), the 50 Back (40.85) and the 50 Free (33.71) with personal best times in each of those events.
Following the 200 IM, Stokes’ next best showing was in the 100 Fly (12:37.50) where she shaved 29.00 off her seeded time, and the 100 IM (1:30.79) where she cut 26.42 off her previous best swim.
But the talk centered around Tamashiro, who was swimming her first-ever meet, Anaya said.
After discussion with Mokihana coach Bo Domingcil, Tamashiro became the second swimmer to be acknowledged as Swimmer of the Meet despite a DQ. But Anaya said Tamashiro, 10, becomes the first Mokihana swimmer to earn the award on her very first meet, and the first to earn the honor at a Fun Meet.
In the swim, Tamashiro picked up a first, two second places, and a fourth and fifth place finish scattered among her 10 events.
“Kawehi was speechless when she told me she was chosen as the ‘Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet,’” Soncy Tamashiro, Kawehi’s mother, said in an e-mail to the MokiOhhana. “She really wasn’t sure what it all meant, but she was definitely smiling all the way home. This whole experience has been nothing but a positive in her life. Her older teammates are the best big brothers and sisters, and on many occasions, have shown her how much they really care and mentor the younger swimmers. She has finally found a sport she truly loves, and for that, we are truly grateful.”
Anaya said the event can only take place because of the tremendous support and help he gets from the MokiOhana, the parents, relatives and friends of the swimmers.
“I am in awe of how this team works,” said Stephanie Funtanilla, whose daughter Sara, 8, is one of the Mokihana swimmers. “Everyone is so welcoming and helpful. Hats off to the food booth people, the games people, the swim shop people, the timers and officials, all the coaches and all the swimmers. All of us, my mother, my son, my daughter and my husband and I, really enjoyed this event.”
Visit www.mokihanaaquatics.com for more information.
