HONOLULU — Kaua‘i High School freshman Brandon Lin, fresh off quality performances at the Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association state meet, won five of the seven events he swam in as the Swim Kaua‘i Aquatics team placed seventh out of 23 teams at the 2023 Hawai‘i Age Group Short Courst Championship meet that wrapped up Feb. 19 on O‘ahu.
Lin, racing in the 13-14 age group, was first in the 100-yard breastroke, 200 individual medley, 400 individual medley 200 butterfly and 200 breaststroke, and was second in the 100 butterfly and third in the 200 backstroke.
“Brandon’s swims were impressive, but, what’s more impressive is that he got stronger and faster as the meet went on,” SKA coaches Brad Meacham and Curt Colby said.
“Our SKA swimmers worked very hard over the past five months, both in the water and out of the water with our dryland program,” said Meacham.
“Almost all swimmers scored points for SKA, and had swims that were beyond our expectations. Many of our swimmers jumped to new and unexpected levels within our sport,” Meacham said.
“SKA swimmers had 78 individual swims, with 85 percent of those swims being best times. SKA had four 11/12 girl relays that finished with best times. These relays earned second in the 400 freestyle relay, and in the 400 medley, and in the 200 freestyle relay. The team that included Addy Mottley, Maiha Kjeldsen, Shealee Moises and Moana Riddell, which also finished third in the 200 medley relay.”
Mottley who finished all eight of her events with personal bests, including championship swims in the 100 backstroke, where she dropped 4.30 seconds, and in the 500 freestyle and 200 backstroke.
“An absolutely amazing meet for Addy,” the SKA coaches said. “Maiha Kjeldson was six of six best times, including state champion swims in the 50 butterfly, the 100 freestyle and the 200 butterfly, where she dropped 5.02 seconds. Maiha is a true athlete, and competition comes natural to her.”
“Shealee Moises had a meet that was beyond our expectations. She finished the meet with seven of eight best times, including a second-place finish in her 200 freestyle, where she dropped 7.17 seconds.”
“Moana Liddell was a member of the 11/12 girls relay team, who killed it,” the coaches said. “She crushed her 200 backstroke by dropping 5.15 seconds.”
Hannah Hovland, a high school freshman, made her first swims in the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation this season. “Hannah was four of four best times,” the SKA coaches said. “She did great for her first states competition, even though she was a bit nervous.
The meet on O‘ahu wraps up the short-course season for Swim Kaua‘i Aquatics.
“We are looking forward to our long-course season,” the coaches said. “Even though we swim and compete year-round, these championship meets are where we all strive to be. Swim Kaua‘i Aquatics continues to improve and reach new levels.”
Results
Girls
Addy Mottley: 12, champion 100 backstroke (1:04.82), champion 500 freestyle (5:39.56), champion 200 backstroke (2:20.03), 2nd 200 individual medley, 50 backstroke, 3rd 200 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 5th 50 freestyle;
Maiha Kjeldsen: 12, champion 50 butterfly (29.43), 200 butterfly (2:24.68), 100 freestyle (57.49), 2nd 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly , 7th 100 individual medley;
Shealee Moises: 12, 2nd 200 freestyle (2:07.39), 500 freestyle (5:51.15), finals 200 breaststroke, 100 freestyle, 200 individual medley, 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly;
Moana Liddell: 11, 200 backstroke (2:41.78), 6th 500 freestyle, 8th 100 freestyle;
Hannah Hovland: 14, 7th 1,650 freestyle (20:53.91), best time 200 backstroke (2:24.55), top 10 100 backstroke, 500 freestyle.
Boys
Brandon Lin: 13/14 2nd 100 butterfly, 3rd 200 backstroke, 1st 100 breaststroke (1:00.49), 200 individual medley (2:00.81), 400 individual medley 4:21.88), 200 butterfly (1:58.69), 200 breaststroke (2:09.87);
Ryder Lin: 11, Top 10 200 breaststroke (2:54.521), 100 individual medley (1:10.00), 100 breaststroke (1:20.52), 500 freestyle (6:20.89), 200 individual medley (2:34.39), 100 butterfly (1:11.13);
Max Mottley: 1o under, 2nd 100 butterfly (1:09,07), 3rd 50 butterfly (32.08), 200 freestyle (2:19.87), 100 freestyle (1:04.33), 4th 100 individual medley (1:13.74), 50 freestyle (29.13);
Griffin Lin: 8, 2nd 50 breaststroke (39.49), 100 breaststroke (1:23.96), 4th 100 butterfly (1:15.30), 200 individual medley (2:38,70), 5th 100 individual medley, 6th 50 butterfly, 7th 50 backstroke;
Kohlton Sanchez: 13, best times 200 freestyle (2:00.99), 7th 200 breaststroke (2:23.51);
Liam Juvan: 14, finals 200 freestyle (1:59.42), 100 freestyle (53.72), 50 freestyle (24.67);
Talen Koerte: 16, best times 500 freestyle (5:07.63), 1,000 freestyle (10:41.18), 200 backstroke (2:01.02), 200 butterfly (2:01.90).
Jake Rich: 17, 100 backstroke (58.49), 200 backstroke (2:07.14).
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
