This year’s BIIF water polo season was defined by a back-and-forth rivalry between two powerhouse teams — Kamehameha Schools – Hawaii and Hawaii Preparatory Academy.
The pair each notched a victory over each other during the regular season before facing off in an overtime showdown during the BIIF Championship final, which ended in a 11-10 win for the Warriors.
However, this would not be their last meeting. After both teams lost their state quarterfinal matchups, they met again in the state fifth-place consolation round — where Ka Makani had the last word, winning 9-6.
“A rivalry like that is good for our sport on the Big Island,” KSH head coach Kaena Horowitz said. “We have half as many teams as they do on Oahu, so having more teams push each other like that and challenge each other is really good for the development of these athletes. It may have come down to us and HPA, but there were certainly other teams who gave us a run for our money.”
The dominant nature of HPA and KSH’s regular seasons was emphasized by the All-BIIF accolades released Wednesday night, which named Horowitz and HPA head coach Greg McKenna Co-Coaches of the Year.
“(Winning Co-Coach of the Year) really is a testament to the girls and their hard work,” Horowitz said. “Their passion and dedication is what made it happen. It’s for them really.”
KSH senior Waiahuli Akau was named Player of the Year. She led the Warriors through the state tournament with seven goals in three outings, notching a hattrick against Mililani High School in the fifth-place consolation semifinal.
Akau recently announced her intent to play water polo at Augustana College in Illinois.
“Waiahuli’s phenomenal,” Horowitz said, “passionate, dedicated, great leader in the pool. She’s an inspiration to her teammates, they really look up to her and she brings the team together. She’s a hard worker, and I know she’s gonna go on to do great things in college.”
Akau’s classmate, Hulali Weissman, shared Co-Goalie of the Year award with Waiakea High School’s Brianne Bartolome.
“Hulali is a great goalie,” Horowitz said, “a lot of passion, a lot of fire. You wouldn’t believe it from looking at her, but she picked it up last year. She’s unstoppable in that goal. She works hard, strong, fast, smart. Picks up everything real quick. Heart of the defense.”
Three HPA players made the All-BIIF First Team — Lia Craven, Maile Imonen and Ali Wawner. The trio had a massive state run, combining for 34 goals.
Imonen, a sophomore, was ranked as the No. 29 scorer in the state by ScoringLive— scoring a season high of six goals against Baldwin High School at the state tournament and a hattrick against Roosevelt High School in the tourney’s first round.
In that same game against Baldwin, Wawner demolished the Bears with a whopping seven goals — her season high, while Craven notched a hattrick.
Wawner also recorded hauls against KSH and Roosevelt.
Akau was also named to the First Team, along with Waiakea’s La‘akea Grace Nakoa-Oness and Hilo’s Lorielle Henline-Enriquez.
Nakoa-Oness was the Warriors’ top scorer and a considerable threat during the regular season, scoring five goals in an April outing against KSH before notching a haul the next day against Keaau High School.
Honorable Mentions
Kaopualani Puniwai-Ganoot (Waiakea)
Marisa Oishi (Hilo)
Mehana Resetnikov (Kealakehe)
Kiana Wiley (Kealakehe)
Dalilah Martin (Keaau)
Martina Guerra Bovea (HPA)
Caylee Cook (KSH)
Taylor Furstenwerth (KSH)
Uakea Moleni (KSH)
Kai’ulani Rocha (KSH)