LIHU‘E —The Waimea High School boys canoe-paddling team placed third at the Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association state championships this year, and the success of the group reflected in the number of members selected for the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation all-stars team.
Two of the six players from the HHSAA third-place team were named to the all-star team. Both competitors, Kanaan Ephan and Keanuwaiola Fernandez, are juniors, and are expected to be back on next season’s roster.
The Kapa‘a girls team finished seventh overall in the HHSAA state finals this year, and the Waimea High School varsity team finished seventh in the HHSAAA mixed finals.
Both teams are well-represented on the KIF All-Star list.
Three of the six girls selected to the KIF All-Star team, as chosen by the KIF coaches, aere Kapa‘a Warriors.
Kapa‘a’s Nai‘a Blagg-Noblisse and Ashley Crawford, both seniors, were named to the All-Star team, while their teammate, sophomore, Jessica Crawford, also made the roster.
The Menehune mixed team reflected the success they had in the regular season. Waimea High School seniors Kaleikaumaka Makua and Devyn Abergas both were named KIF All-Stars.
KIF paddling All-Stars
Boys:
Kanaan Ephan, junior; Waimea
Keanuwaiola Fernandez, junior, Waimea; Kaipo Fulton, junior, Kapa‘a; Keanu Gutierrez-Kelley, senior, Kapa‘a; Brent Torres, senior, Kaua‘i High; Bartolome Miranda, junior, Island School
Girls:
Nai‘a Blagg-Noblisse, senior, Kapa‘a; Ashley Crawford, senior, Kapa‘a;
Jessica Crawford, sophomore, Kapa‘a; Lacy Wakano, senior, Kaua‘i High; Ava Lagundino, junior, Kaua‘i High; Rylin Pasion, senior, Waimea
Mixed:
Kahyalei Hepa, junior, Kaua‘i High, female; Jonathan Tejada, senior, Kaua‘i, male; Ella Beck, junior, Island School, female; Asa Chelius, junior, Island School, male; Meleana Keawe, junior, Kapa‘a, female; Micheal Perry, junior, Kapa‘a, male; Kaleikaumaka Makua, senior, Waimea, female; Devyn Abergas, senior, Waimea, male.
