Agena finishes school career in 1st

Kapa‘a’s Mindi Agena stirred the pot and the Kaua‘i boys team took care of business early to bring an exciting end to the 2008 Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation bowling season Saturday.

Agena, a senior at Kapa‘a, broke her first season 200-game and rolled her season-best 212 in the final game of the three-game series at the Lihu‘e Bowling Center to overtake former leader Tiffany Lum of Waimea, who had been leading the KIF season for the past several weeks.

Agena, who had been a strong challenger to Lum each week, finished first for the girls individualists with a 177.22 average over Lum’s 171.89 average following Saturday’s matches.

Third place for the girls individualists went to Kaua‘i’s Jessica Iwata, who finished with a 163.33 average, just .33 better than Waimea’s Bronte Acosta with a 163 average. Fifth in the girls individualists went to Kaua‘i’s Aimee Palaroan with a 157.78 average.

Kaua‘i leaders Benjie Bersamira (187) and William Balbin (175) took care of business early to clinch the KIF boys title by rolling to a first-place finish in Game 1, 807-754 over Waimea who got strong showings from Harold Shimono Jr. (171), Brandon Simpliciano (150), Joshua Ponting (149) and Darrel Nonaka (148).

From there, the Red Raider boys dropped to a second- and third-place finish, resulting in a 9-point outing. The Raiders tied with Waimea boys, who finished with three second-place finishes and a point better than Kapa‘a, which notched two third places and a first place for 8 points.

Aaron Belmonte, who finished first for the boys individualists with a 186.22 average following Saturday’s series, paced Kapa‘a in Game 3 with a 191 after rolling 137 and 135 in his first two games, respectively.

That pushed Kapa‘a to a 727-700 over Waimea, which was led by Nonaka’s 167 and Matthew Haack, adding 148. Kaua‘i finished third at 569 led by Kelii Gonsalves’ 178.

Following Belmonte in the overall boys individualists, Kaua‘i’s Gonnsalves finished the season with a 184.11 average for second place followed by Waimea’s Haack finishing with a 179.89 average for third. Fourth place went to Kaua‘i’s Balbin (175.78) and fifth overall went to Waimea’s Shimono Jr. (171.00).

Lum rolled a 175 Game 1 and a 182 in Game 3 to lead the Waimea girls to two first-place finishes and a second place to take the Saturday series with 11 points followed by Kaua‘i ending with a second, first- and third-place finishes for nine points and Kapa‘a with a second, first and third finish for 7 points.

In Game 1, Waimea was 710-586 over Kaua‘i girls with Kapa‘a finishing at 586.

Kelsey Cadiente rolled a 161 in Game 2 to lead Kaua‘i to a 733-633 first place. Her 160 Game 1 led Kaua‘i to second place despite a strong showing from Sherri Cubangbang, who added 157. Kapa‘a was third with 548.

Game 3 saw Lum’s 182 lead the Menehune to a 664-638 win over Kapa‘a, which got 212 from Agena. Kaua‘i finished third at 520 led by Cubangbang’s 165.

Megan Perius represented Island School with rolls of 142, 98 and 99.

Larry Miller, rolling 113, 108 and 115, led the Island School boys.

With the completion of the KIF season, Kaua‘i High School will be sending its boys and girls team to the Billy Tees Boys and Girls Hawai‘i Bowling Championships Thursday and Friday at the Lihu‘e Bowling Center.

Balbin (175.78-4th), Bersamira (160.56-7th), Gonnsalves (184.11-2nd), Brad Russell (159.11-9th) and Michael Tabata (135.89-14th) will be on the boys team.

Belmonte (186.22-1st) of Kapa‘a and Haack (179.89-3rd) of Waimea will represent two individualist slots for the KIF boys.

Wailana Borrero (138.44-11th), Kathleen Cadiente (155.56-6th), Kelsey Cadiente (152.22-t8th), Cubangbang (152.22-8th), Jessica Iwata (163.33-3rd), Aimee Palaroan (157.78-5th) and Alexis Peterson (135.11-13th) will make up the Kaua‘i girls’ team.

Agena (177.22-1st) of Kapa‘a and Lum (171.89-2nd) of Waimea will fill in the KIF girls individualist slots.