KAILUA-KONA — For most of the season, Konawaena has been treading water, struggling to find consistency or flow in the pool.
But the Wildcats flipped the switch on Saturday at Kona Aquatic Center, roaring to life with a pair of big wins to double their win total for the season and take a giant leap in the standings.
Konawaena knocked off Kealakehe 9-8 in the morning matinee, and followed that up with an 11-6 win over Waiakea. The games were near must-wins for Konawaena (4-6), which is battling the Waveriders (5-3), Warriors (4-7) and Hilo (4-7) for playoff position.
“We were struggling there in the beginning of the season, but they are coming around now,” Konawaena head coach Michael Godden said. “I knew they had it in there somewhere. I’m proud of them”
The play of senior Bailey Walters and sophomore Jalen Gambee were among the factors Godden credited for the turnaround. The duo combined for 14 of the team’s 20 goals on Saturday.
Against the Waveriders, Walters helped stifle a Kealakehe comeback effort with two fourth quarter goals, which ultimately ended up being the difference. She also had two late tallies against Waiakea to put the game out of reach.
“We are all working better together. I feel like we have clicked,” Walters said “Jalen and I really know how each other play. I know where she is going to be and she knows where I will be, so it makes it easier to get good shots on net.”
Now, the Wildcats have a good shot at a spot in the league’s four-team playoffs, but a lot of it depends on what shakes out during the final weekend of games in Hilo. However, beyond just making the playoffs, the bigger goal on the horizon is getting back to the HHSAA state tournament, which hasen’t happened for Konawaena since 2015. The BIIF’s two spots are reserved for the champion and runner-up.
“We haven’t gone since my sophomore year, so it has been our goal to get back there,” Walters said. “But this next weekend will be a big one for us.”
Waveriders make some noise
A loss against the Wildcats was a little bit of a shock for Kealakehe, especially considering the previous outing for the Waveriders.
In a mid-week matchup, Kealakehe pushed Hawaii Prep to the brink before eventually losing in overtime 12-9 on Wednesday. It was the closest Kealakehe had come to beating the Waimea powerhouse in quite some time, and although it went down in the loss column, the game served as a nice motivator and reminder that anything is possible once they get in the pool.
“It blew my mind. They got into this zone and were really dialed in,” first-year Kealakehe coach Chris Chang said. “They worked together and surprised even me.”
The Waveriders have been helped by the arms of Skylar Hudson and Hannah Tomlinson. Both have a penchant for finding the back of the net in bunches. Goaltender Helen Remke rounds out the leadership trifecta for the Waveriders.
“We have a lot of new faces, but the returning players have taken on a big leadership role, especially those three,” Chang said. “As a coach, that helps a lot.”
Kealakehe gets another chance against Hawaii Prep on Wednesday in Waimea.
“I think the close game motivated them and they are looking forward to that next one,” Chang said.
In the other games on Saturday, Hawaii Prep (8-1) remained towards the top of the standings with a pair of convincing wins over Hilo — 19-6 — and Keaau —19-2. For the season, Ka Makani have racked up 125 goals for to just 39 goals against.
To close out the day, Hilo edged Waiakea 8-7.