It wasn’t too long ago that the Kona Dolphins were an afterthought when it came to medal counts at state swimming meets.
With an influx of talent, matters have certainly changed.
Maile Lawson was the high point finisher in the ages 15-16 division at the Hawaii age group long course championships on Oahu last weekend, grabbing four gold medals, while Shea Tsuha grabbed two golds in the oldest division.
Lawson, formerly of Kona Aquatics, placed first in the 100-meter breaststroke (1 minute, 12:39 seconds), 200 breast (2:35:20), 200 IM (2:23:22) and 200 butterfly (2:22:09). Tsuha, who used to swim for Hilo Aquatic Club, claimed the 200 breast (2:45:48) and 100 breast (1:14:58) in the 17-18 division.
Tsuha was a double BIIF gold medalist for Hilo Hilo in 2017, but she’s set to attend Kealakehe for her senior season.
The Big Island’s biggest winner on the boys side was Academy Swim Club’s Kanoa Birdsall, who took home three freestyle golds: 1,500 (17:19.78), 800 (9:12.08) and the 400 (4:24.78). Birdsall was the third-highest point scorer in the 13-14 division.
Masau Lee, 10, delivered two victories for Hilo Aquatic, winning the 100 breaststroke (1:30.34) and 200 individual medley (2:58.85).
Another double gold winner was 16-year-old Brock Imonen, who captured the 800 and 1,500 free (8:46.98, 17:00.52). Imonen, who won the BIIF 500 free final last season for Hawaii Prep, was swimming unattached for Oahu’s Kamehameha Swim Club.
Warrior Aquatic Club’s Mina Poppas, 17, claimed the 400 free in 4:42.07, and the Dolphins’ Ku‘ulei Patterson, 16, won the 100 free (59.86).
Also deserving a gold star of sorts was Hawaii Island Swim Club’s ’olili’Uwelaakawahin Wise. The 10-year-old recorded five top-three finishes and was the third in her division.
With Lawson and Tsuha technically swimming attached, Kona Aquatic led the island team race, finishing seventh. Hilo Aquatic was 11th with the Dolphins 13th and Academy 15. As usual, Kamehameha (2,376) dominated, dwarfing runner-up Punahou (1017.5).
Before school starts, many swimmers’ next stop is the mainland.
Lawson, an HPA senior, will be attending the junior nationals in Irvine, California, July 31-Aug. 4, while Tsuha is among the swimmers heading to Futures event in Santa Clara, California, Aug. 2-5. Also in tap in August in a West Zone meet.
13-14 800-meter freestyle relay
3 Kona Aquatics, 9:08.61 12, 1) Becker, Duke 13; 2) Morton, Nolan 13; 3) Morton, Finn 14; 4) Ankrum, Aiden 13
Boys 13-14 1,500 freestyle
1 Birdsall, Kanoa 14 Academy Swim club, 17:19.78
Boys 15-16 1,500 meter freestyle
1 Imonen, Brock 16 UNKSCI, 17:00.52
Girls 11-12 200 breaststroke
2 Jeong, So Myong 12 Kona Aquatics, 2:57.15 7
Girls 10-under 50 butterfly
3 Wise, ‘olili’Uwelaakawah 10 Hawaii Island Swim Club 34.26
Girls 10-under 50 breaststroke
2 Wise, ‘olili’Uwelaakawah 10 HISC, 41.04
3 Rose, Ana 9 Kona Dolphins, 42.60
Girls 15-16 400 meter IM
2 Lawson, Maile 16 unnattached-Kona Dolphins, 5:17.30
Boys 13-14 400 IM
2 Becker, Duke 13 KONA, 5:01.57 7
Boys 15-16 400 IM
3 Foo, Weylin 16 UNPHI, 4:56.95
Boys 11-12 50 butterfly
2 Haserot, Keaulana 12 KONA, 31.00
3 Rose, X 11 PHIN, 32.06
Girls 13-14 100 breaststroke
3 Haserot, Kawena 14 KONA, 1:20.53
Boys 13-14 100 breaststroke
2 Allred, Aidan 13 Warrior Aquactic Club, 1:12.76
3 Becker, Duke 13 KONA, 1:13.00
Girls 15-16 100 breaststroke
1 Lawson, Maile 16 UNPHI, 1:12.39
Girls 17-18 100 breaststroke
1 Tsuha, Shea 17 UNPHI, 1:14.58
Girls 11-12 50 breaststroke
3 Jeong, So Myong 12 KONA, 37.85
Boys 11-12 50 breaststroke
3 Rose, X 11 PHIN, 36.95
Girls 15-16 100 butterfly
2 Patterson, Ku’ulei 16 UNPHI, 1:06.02
Boys 15-16 100 butterfly
3 Foo, Weylin 16 UNPHI, 1:00.04
Boys 11-12 200 freestyle
12 Rose, X 11 PHIN, 2:22.79
Boys 13-14 400 IM
2 Becker, Duke 13 KONA, 5:01.57
Boys 15-16 400 IM
3 Foo, Weylin 16 UNPHI, 4:56.95
Boys 13-14 400 medley relay
3 Kona Aquatics, 4:31.15, 1) Morton, Nolan 13; 2) Becker, Duke 13; 3) Morton, Finn 14; 4) Ankrum, Aiden
Girls 10-under 100 breaststroke
2 Rose, Ana 9 PHIN, 1:35.27 7
Boys 10-under 100 breaststroke
1 Lee, Masau 10 Hilo Aquatic Club, 1:30.34
Girls 10-under 100 freestyle
2 Wise, ‘olili’Uwelaakawah 10 HISC, 1:09.907
3 Minez-Cruz, Giselle 10 PHIN, 1:10.596
Boys 10-under 100 freestyle
2 Lee, Masau 10 HAQ, 1:12.47
Girls 17-18 800 freestyle
2 Poppas, Mina 17 WAC, 9:47.99
Boys 15-16 800 freestyle
1 Imonen, Brock 16 UNKSC, 8:46.98
Girls 11-12 50 backstroke
3 Shurley, Bella 12 PHIN, 33.73
Boys 13-14 200 backstroke
3 Becker, Duke 13 KONA, 2:21.89
Girls 11-12 100 breaststroke
3 Jeong, So Myong 12 KONA, 1:21.84
Boys 11-12 100 breaststroke
3 Haserot, Keaulana 12 KONA, 1:23.44
Girls 15-16 100 freestyle
1 Patterson, Ku’ulei 16 UNPHI, 59.86
Girls 17-18 100 freestyle
3 Tsuha, Shea 17 UNPHI, 1:00.10
Boys 13-14 200 IM
2 Becker, Duke 13 KONA, 2:21.16
Girls 15-16 200 IM
1 Lawson, Maile 16 UNPHI, 2:23.22
Boys 15-16 200 IM
3 Foo, Weylin 16 UNPHI, 2:17.57
Boys 13-14 800 freestyle
1 Birdsall, Kanoa 14 ASC, 9:12.08
Boys 13-14 200 medley relay
3. Kona Aquatics ‘A’ 2:03.00, 1) Morton, Nolan 13; 2) Becker, Duke; 3) Ankrum, Aiden 13; 4) Morton, Finn 14
Girls 10-under 200 IM
2 Wise, ‘olili’Uwelaakawah 10 HISC, 2:51.75
Boys 10-under 200 IM
1 Lee, Masau 10 HAQ, 2:58.85
Girls 10-under 100 butterfly
3 Wise, ‘olili’Uwelaakawah 10 HISC, 1:21.21
Boys 10-under butterfly
3 Ng, Ethan 9 PHIN, 1:27.12
Boys 11-12 100 butterfly
2 Haserot, Keaulana 12, KONA, 1:12.30
Boys 13-14 400 freestyle
1 Birdsall, Kanoa 14 ASC 4:24.78
Event 113 Girls 13-14 50 freestyle
2 Domingo, Raven 14 HAQ, 28.67
Boys 13-14 50 freestyle
3 Birdsall, Kanoa 14 ASC, 27.31
Girls 15-16 50 freestyle
3 Patterson, Ku’ulei 16 UNPHI, 27.86
Boys 11-12 200 IM
2 Rose, X 11 PHIN, 2:35.28
3 Haserot, Keaulana 12 KONA, 2:41.76
Girls 15-16 200 butterfly
1 Lawson, Maile 16 UNPHI, 2:22.09
Boys 15-16 200 butterfly
2 Foo, Weylin 16 UNPHI, 2:11.78
Boys 13-14 100 backstroke
3 Becker, Duke 13 KONA, 1:06.86
Girls 15-16 100 backstroke
3 Tengan, Korrie 15 WAC, 1:09.49
Boys 11-12 100 butterfly
3 Haserot, Keaulana 12 KONA, 1:11.76
Girls 13-14 200 breaststroke
3 Haserot, Kawena 14 KONA, 2:56.23
Boys 13-14 200 breaststroke
2 Becker, Duke 13 KONA, 2:37.37
3 Weyrick, Kyle 14 ASC, 2:38.05
Girls 15-16 200 breaststroke
1 Lawson, Maile 16 UNPHI, 2:35.20
Girls 17-18 200 breaststroke
1 Tsuha, Shea 17 UNPHI, 2:45.48
Girls 17-18 400 freestyle
1 Poppas, Mina 17 WAC, 4:42.07
3 Tsuha, Shea 17 UNPHI, 4:48.31