KEAAU — Michelle Axelson had four gold medals around her neck – one all the shinier because it came with a BIIF record – after playing the headlining role as Kealakehe swept the team titles at the BIIF swimming and diving championships for the first time.
“I mean, this is my first season,” the sophomore said. “I am so full of joy.”
But like any good competitor, she wanted more: a little notoriety for everyone else who swam with her Saturday at Naeole Pool.
“The girls need more recognition,” Axelson said.
Can do:
• Kealakehe’s Daisy Marquardt and Jayden Hall each claimed three golds as the Waveriders obliterated the team race, 206-93 over Hawaii Prep. Their medal hauls included one relay win with Axelson and one without, and each claimed an individual title. Marquardt, a senior who signed last week to swim at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, Calif., dominated the 200-yard individual medley, while Hall, a junior, led a one-two Kealakehe finish in the 200 freestyle, finishing ahead of Diana Garcia.
• Senior Ava Bandt was a member of two relay wins and brought home two silvers in the freestyle sprints.
• Sara Vila Leonard claimed the 500, Kawena Haserot stepped up with two bronze and Jada Keen was a member of two of Kealakehe’s three relays wins.
How is that for notoriety?
“All the girls, they all need more recognition,” Axelson said. “I never read anything about them. They just need more.”
We’re sorry:
• Keaau senior Ailidh Carroll made her mark in 100 free, becoming the first Cougars swimmer to take BIIF gold.
• Kamehameha freshman Oliliu Wise rocked in the breaststroke, leading one-two Warriors fininsh (Ka’iulani Rocha got silver).
• Waiakea’s Courtney Kim outtouched Marquardt in the butterfly and behind her for silver in the 200 free.
There’s more, but Axelson was the undeniable showstopper, becoming the first BIIF girl to break 24 seconds (23.90) in the 50 free. Swimming for Hilo High five years ago, Shea Tsuha went 24:18.
“I’m kind of mad at myself,” she said. “I didn’t get the state record, which I wanted, but I did get a (BIIF) record, and I also did beat my time, finally below (24). I’m definitely not done.”
Axelson can go after the state record (23.26) when she returns to Naeole Pool for the HHSAA championships March 4-5.
“That’s what I’m planning,” she said.
Kira Parker’s BIIF record in the backstroke – 57.43 for Hawaii Prep in 2017 – is safe for now, but Axelson’s charging hard. She outperformed her best time by nearly three second in the final, winning in 58.69.
Kealakehe coach Randy Willis lauds Axelson for her work ethic, and she credits her father for instilling her with drive.
“My dad really pushes me, he’s the No. 1 reason,” she said, “He tells me to always get to (practice) on time, always be first.”
All that attention to detail goes out the window when it’s time to swim.
“When I’m up on the blocks, I don’t pay attention to what’s going on it that race,” she said. “Nothing is around me. I’m the only person in that trace, and just go all out.”
Carroll’s crown
Carroll didn’t shy away from Axelson, entering the 50 free and taking bronze.
In the 100, she outpaced Bandt and Garcia with a personal-best of 53.95.
“I definitely pay attention to the competition,” she said. “When I saw the two people next to me in (the 50), I said, “I got to go, I gotta go.
“(Bandt) was right on my tail (in the 100). It was very much getting me to go, faster, faster.”
Happy to bring Keaau its first gold, she’s also grateful to Kamehameha and coach Kaena Horowitz for, in essence, “adopting her.”
“They brought me to their side and let me practice with them,” she said.