Waiakea air riflery coach Mel Kawahara does his best to even out the competitive playing field, opening up offseason training to all schools.
But try as Kawahara might, the Warriors girls once again have shot to the top. Waiakea accounts for eight of the top-10 ranked shooters heading into Saturday’s BIIF individual championships at 10 a.m. at Hilo High.
Junior Mekayla King is the top seed, posting the top score at two meets early in the regular season, and she’s followed closely behind by senior teammate Amber Nagata, who shot a season-best 267 on Sept. 5.
“I’m not surprised with how Mekayla did as much as I am impressed,” Kawahara said. “Amber, as a senior, we expected her to do well.”
The only non-Waiakea shooters in the top 10 are Kamehameha’s Cobi Broad, who’s seeded third, and Hilo’s Ammina Galdones (N0. 9). Both have spent time in spring practices set up Kawahara.
“I’m really happy for both because they put to work in,” Kawahara said.
Broad topped the field in the last two shoots of the season and will try to outgun juggernaut Waiakea much like Kamehameha’s Kealapua Bernabe did in winning the title two seasons.
It won’t be easy considering the Warriors’ depth. If King and Nagata don’t deliver, Waiakea still has a host of contenders, including senior Taylor Nishimura, junior Tiara Pacheco and sophomores Laryssa Takiue, Anne Nakamoto, Jeanette Tajiri and Shaye Nishimura.
All have qualified for the HHSAA tournament. The top nine BIIF boys and girls earned trips to states along with two alternates, and a shooter from outside the top 11 could bump the final alternate by winning BIIFs.
Since the league sanctioned the sport, Waiakea winning the team title has been a foregone conclusion. This season, Kawahara said the boys team scored a “tight” victory ahead of Kamehameha.
Kamehameha’s Logan Aruga defends his title as the second seed. Waiakea’s Dillon Jon-Gabriel shot a season-high 273 to finish with a higher average.
“Dillon shot at states last year and has really blossomed,” Kawahara said.
There is more parity on the boys side, with St. Joseph’s Mark Nemeth and Konawaena’s Andruw Nakamura having secured state berths, but the rival Warriors are still well-represented.
Seniors Guy Yokoe and Tre Soutz are four-year shooters for Waiakea, while Kamehameha’s Preston-Lee Ching and Kahekili Donner each rank in the top five.
“About only eight or 10 points separate the top-eight shooters,” Kawahara said. “It’s a lot more closer than it’s been in a number of years.”
Boys
x-qualified for state tournament
a-alternate at state tournament
x-1. Dillon-Jon Gabriel, Waiakea
x-2. Logan Aruga, Kamehameha
x-3. Guy Yokoe, Waiakea
x-4. Preston-Lee Ching, Kamehameha
x-5. Kahekili Donner, Kamehameha
x-6. Tre Soultz, Waiakea
x-7. Mark Nemeth, St. Joseph
x-8. Bradon Miyake, Waiakea
x-9. Andruw Nakamura, Konawaena
a-10. Isaiah Gali, Hilo
a-11. Damien Saberon, Hilo
12. Devez Aniol, Kamehameha
13. Nainoa Kalaola-Maruquin, Kamehameha
14. Bryson Nakao, Waiakea
15. Jonah Kim, Hilo
16. Kawika Aguiar, Christian Liberty
17. Logan Sato, Waiakea
18. Devon Morimoto, Waiakea
19. Brook Jones, Konawaena
20. Daniel Honda, St. Joseph
21. Jaron Ye, Christian Liberty
22. Ethan Lee, Kamehameha
23. Kamaka Davis-Kaiwi, Konawaena
24. Hanalei Akazawa, Kealakehe
Girls
x-1. Mekayla King, Waiakea
x-2. Amber Nagata, Waiakea
x-3. Cobi Broad, Kamehameha
x-4. Tiara Pacheco, Waiakea
x-5. Laryssa Takiue, Waiakea
x-6. Anne Nakamoto, Waiakea
x-7. Jeanette Tajiri, Waiakea
x-8. Taylor Nishimura, Waiakea
x-9. Ammina Galdones, Hilo
a-10. Shaye Nishimura, Waiakea
a-11. Iceley Andaya, Kamehameha
12. An Sasaki, St. Joseph
13. Janae Pacheco, Christian Liberty
14. Iliana Godoy, Kamehameha
15. Pisila Sipinga, Kamehameha
16. Bethany Maldonado, Christian Liberty
17. Meghan Wong, Kamehameha
18. Lois Taylor, Kealakehe
19. Alisa Leung, Hilo
20. Mana Nagata, St. Joseph
21. Jessica Snell, Christian Liberty
22. Eve Nagareda, Kamehameha
23. Ariana Kaneshiro, Kealakehe
24. Caysie Calpito, Konawaena