Red Raider, Surfrider Teams Ready For State Competitions Windward Oahu Sports
When it comes to the OIA, the Kahuku girls water polo team practically can sign its own figure to the conference checkbook, having won 10 of 11 titles since the sport became sanctioned.
The Red Raiders recently captured their fourth OIA crown in a row with a hard-fought 6-4 win over Kapolei. The only milestone they haven’t reached to date is a state title – something they hope to change this week at the girls water polo state championships.
Since the Hawaii High School Athletics Association began a sanctioned state tournament in 2004, Kahuku has made the final round of four in each year, earning state runner-up in 2005, 2006 and 2007, and placing third in each of the last three state tourneys.
As in past years, the current team will enter this one still undefeated, having gone 15-0 versus OIA teams. It has one of the deepest and most explosive teams in the field, and features the state’s top scorer in Nohea Kahaulelio (41). A senior, she scored in every game for this season, including tallying a season-high five goals on three separate occasions. Kahea SaylesKahaulelio is currently 10th in the state in scoring with 24 goals, along with teammates Jake Anderson (21), Kaena Gilman (19), Paulina Germain (18), Ellie Williams (18), Kalani Richeson (14), Lilli Lindgard (12) and Ariel Peterson (11).
Pairings for the championships, which run Tuesday-Saturday at the UH Manoa Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex, were to be released Sunday evening.
Kailua ready for state baseball tournament Kailua enters this week’s Division I state baseball tournament at Iron Maehara Stadium with plenty of momentum, having won seven of its last eight games, including a third-place finish at the recent OIA tourney. A look at the Surfriders’ prospects for this week follows. (Pairings for the state tournament, which runs Wednesday-Saturday, were to be released late Sunday.)
Regular-season record: 10-5 overall (8-1 at home, 2-3 on the road, 0-1 on a neutral field)
How they got here: Seeded second from the East, they beat West No. 3 seed Pearl City 2-1 in the quarterfinals before dropping a 3-0 decision to eventual champion Campbell in the semifinals. A win over Leilehua (8-4) in the third-place game followed.
Signature wins: Over Kaiser (2-1) Feb. 27; over Moanalua (3-2) March 14; over Castle (18-1) April 12; over Pearl City (2-1) April 25 Players to watch: Corey Louis-Soares, Kahaku Iaea, Wyatt D’Alessio, Bryce Ah Sam, Keola Himan
Kailua notes: The Surfriders is the only team from the OIA East to earn a berth in this week’s state tournament, as West schools (Pearl City, Mililani, Leilehua, Waipahu) held the other four spots. Kailua’s longest win streak of the season was five, which included wins over Kalaheo, Kalani, Moanalua, Castle and Pearl City and which covered 22 days from April 3 to 25. Kailua has now won six OIA titles in addition to the 2001 state title it captured under head coach Corey Ishigo. Kailua’s last appearance in the DI state title game was in 2009 when it lost 3-2 to Punahou.
