No travel this time, and as usual no last-second cramming for Waiakea ahead of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association air riflery championships.
The Warriors never shoot the day before meets, so they ditched practice Monday.
It’s a motivational tool that coach Terence Moniz picked up along the way.
“It gets the shooters hungry. You starve them a little bit,” he said. “Here’s an analogy: I also race pigeons. If you cut their food back, they come home a lot faster.”
The strategy has always paid off in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation — Waiakea had won every boys and girls team title — and the Warriors have made their mark at states the past two years as well in Honolulu.
The boys team ended Punahou’s five-year title run two years ago, and Kellie Iwasaki became the first neighbor island girls champion last season.
“You’re shooting at home,” Moniz said. “You should feel no pressure. The other schools have to travel.”
Iwasaki is back to defend her crown — the girls shoot first at 8:30 a.m. today at Kamehameha-Hawaii’s Koaia Gym — but she’s taken a back seat to some of her teammates this season, finishing fifth Saturday at BIIFs.
“The target is still on her back,” Moniz said. “She can’t get that target off her back. They’re gunning for her now. She hasn’t been able to shake it off.”
Punahou and Sacred Hearts have dominated the team competition, combining to win all 13 state meets.
Led by BIIF champion Megan Kimura and runner-up Karise Kuroda, Waiakea returns three of the four shooters who teamed up to finish second behind the Buffanblu in 2011.
“I have no doubt that we’re going to place at states,” Kimura said. “Our team is really strong. There should be no reason why we don’t place.”
Punahou is the defending boys champion, and Moniz points to Pearl City as another favorite. The Chargers return the lineup that finished just six shots behind Waiakea in 2010.
The Warriors started over this season, but they received a big boost from junior Justin-Joe Gray, the BIIF champion.
There will be a new boys individual winner. Kamehameha-Oahu’s Keanu Paikai graduated after winning his second straight title last year.
BIIF state qualifiers
(Bases on season average)
Boys
Tyler Aburamen, Waiakea 262
Justin-Joe Gray, Waiakea 259.67
Abraham Sylvester, Waiakea 257.33
Cody Silva, Kealakehe 251.33
Cody Yamada, Waiakea 250.67
Brentson Kinoshita, Waiakea 250.67
Michael Raiano, Konawaena 249
Alternate
Edgar Barclay, St. Joseph 245
Cameron Gomes, Konawaena 244
Girls
Lindsey Kimura, Waiakea 264
Karise Kuroda, Waiakea 255.33
Kellie Iwasaki, Waiakea 255.33
Crystal Rances, Waiakea 252.6
Jamie Ikeda, Waiakea 252.33
Karyl-Lin Yamakawa, Waiakea 251.33
Caryn Okamoto, Hilo 250
Alternate
Kealapua Bernabe, Kamehameha 247.33
Mary Kimura, Waiakea 247.33
