Waialua High School Riflery Team Logs Program’s First Win

Aezar Curammeng, Maria Garcia, Natalie Koch, Jesse Dicion, Sonja Lausterer, Reginald Atchazo and Nathan Jay Bala take aim at their targets. Photos from Jonathan Knox.

Tucked away on the campus of Waialua High School is a team many know little about. Using old and outdated equipment, hidden near the old tennis and basketball courts, the air riflery team practices with a combination of concentration and calm necessary to compete in the precise sport.

It hasn’t been easy for the team made up of band musicians, junior varsity football players and academic club members. But the students are building a program that until this year, could not fill a complete boys and girls team.

The Bulldogs are in their first season as a full-time sport, and as expected they’ve taken their lumps. Just how much, no one is sure. As mostly a part-time activity, no data exists that records their history. But with hard work and careful practice, that has changed.

On Sept. 14, the team scored its first overall and category win. Waialua swept all categories with senior and co-captain Khriscel Mina taking top honors at the Postal Air Rifle Match, including highest score for girls (365), high scorer – dual match (365) and the girl’s team victory (1,312).

Mina, one of only two returning team members, is excited about the growth of the team.

“It is really good to have more students come out for air riflery,” she said. “It is great that we have enough girls so we also can compete on team points.”

Coach David Warman said the senior leadership of Mina and co-captain Sonja Lausterer has been an important and ongoing step, in the team’s future successes.

“They are the ones that the team will look up to. Not only will the new members look to them as team co-captains, but as leaders with experience.”

Lausterer leads the overall air rifle team points for Waialua High School with 970 in three recorded matches.

The day was more than a celebration of girl power as the boys also won their team match with 1,023 points.

Freshman and boys team captain Aezar Curammeng led the way with a high score of 321 points. Curammeng is the season points leader for the boys with 664 points in three matches.

But regardless of the results, it’s the camaraderie and experience that matters most, said Warman.

“It’s all about having fun, just go out there and do your best, but remembering safety is a priority.”

The Waialua boys riflery team members are Curammeng, Elijah Cornwell, Reginald Atchazo, Nathan Jay Bala, Marcus Pao, Jesse Dicion and John Villanueva.

The girls are represented by Lausterer, Mina, Maria Garcia, Natalie Koch, Chalseah Shane A. Pascua and Cheryl Crabb.