LIHUE — Council Chair Mel Rapozo said on Wednesday to ask Griffin Lin, 10, about his national ranking in swimming.
Swim Kauai Aquatic Coach Ricky Rascon said that at one point, Griffin was ranked No. 1. But he aged out and is now ranked No. 5 in his age group.
“If he keeps swimming at his current rate, he’ll be back to No. 1 again,” Rascon said.
The Kauai County Council paid tribute to SKA and its 18 athletes who participated in the 2025 Short Course Hawaii State Championship Swim Meet that was held in Kona from Feb. 27 to March 2. SKA finished in eighth place overall, sixth in the women competition, and ninth in the men division.
Of the group, four swimmers — Griffin Lin, Max Mottley, Adelaide Mottley and Shealee Moises — were lauded for their individual performances.
Lin, at 10, dominated by winning all eight of his events, and broke his own Hawaiian record in the 100 Yard Breaststroke by nearly three seconds. His other events included the 50 Breaststroke, 100 Butterfly, 100 and 200 Freestyle, 100 and 200 Individual Medley, and 100 Backstroke.
Max Mottley, 12, found victory in the 200 Butterfly, medaled by finishing second in the 100 Backstroke, third place in the 100 Butterfly, fourth place in the 200 Freestyle, and fifth places in the 50 and 500 Freestyle.
His sister, Adelaiode Mottley, 14, triumphed in two of eight events, winning the 100 and 200 Backstroke, and medaling with second place finishes in the 500 Freestyle and 1,650 Freestyle, third place in the 400 IM, fourth place in the 200 Freestyle, and seventh place in the 100 Butterfly.
“Is that in yards?” Rapozo asked. “What? A mile? Swimming for a mile?”
Moises, 14, prevailed in the 1,000 Freestyle, and medaling with a second place in the 200 Butterfly, third in the 1,650 Freestyle, 500 Freestyle, and 200 Freestyle, fourth place in the 100 Butterfly, and fifth place in the 400 IM.
The County Council certificate also notes other “notable performances,” including Addison Tataipu, 10, who qualified for Spring States for the first time and medaled in three events; Payton Koerte, 11, medaled in three events and significantly improved her 100 Backstroke time; Dylan Lucy, 12, participated in his second state swim meet, improving 16 seconds in the 200 Breaststroke; Naia Lucy, 12, qualified for states for the first time and shaved 10 seconds off in her 200 Breaststroke; Charlie Rapp, 13, anchored the 13-14 Girls 200 Freestyle Relay, helping her team secure third place and medaled in one event; Ryder Lin, 13, achieved medals in six events; Sean Lottermoser, 14, achieved second place in the 50 Freestyle while medaling in another six events; Eva-Rose Rapp, 14, contributed to the 13-14 Girls 800 Freestyle relay’s third place finish and medaled in three individual events; Isabella Ranis, 14, played a crucial role in the 13-14 Girls 400 Freestyle relay that finished fourth; Tyler Cole, 14, contributed to the 13-14 Boys relay’s fourth and fifth place finishes in the 400 and 200 Medley Relays; Hannah Hoyland, 16, improved her 200 Backstroke time by two seconds, advancing four spots in her swimming rank; Liam Juvan, 16, impressively dropped by more than eight seconds in his 500 Freestyle; Brandon Lin, 16, achieved second; and Jayna Sams, 17, reduced her 100 Butterfly time by nearly two seconds.
Founded in 2006 to encourage everyone to “Be the Best You Can Be,” and guided by values that strengthen the character of its swimmers as well as coaches, leadership and extended swimming family. These values include accountability, commitment, work ethic, inclusiveness, respect, balance, self determination and, of course, fun.
SKA coaches include Ricky Rascon, Kelsey Tanaka, Jane Roe, Jenna Budke, Christopher Mottley and Kailee Mu.
