Kamehameha got the one it wanted, but not the one it wanted to keep.
For those keeping score, it’s Kamehameha 1, Waiakea 1, with two more to go.
The rival Warriors each enter Saturday’s BIIF air riflery individual championships with a feather in their cap after splitting the team titles for the second consecutive season behind their big guns.
Kanani Araki and the Kamehameha girls scored one for the history books, finally capturing their first title by holding off a Waiakea program that had never finished second until now.
“I was pretty confident that they were going to be able to do it, and they didn’t let me down,” coach Tracy Aruga said.
Araki was steady shooter all season, boasting a 270 average, while McKenna Hewitt came on strong with a 267.67 average, giving Kamehameha the top two girls seeds at the BIIF finals.
Aruga’s boys program fell short in its first title defense, with Skylar Soultz leading the way for Waiakea. The team titles are calculated by adding the averages of a squad’s top four shooters during six regular-season meets.
Soultz’s league-best 272.33 was no surprise, coach Paul Soultz said, but Waiakea also got contributions from Devyn Capellas, Logan Balingit and Craden Astrande to account for four of the top seven scorers. Waiakea out-averaged Kamehameha 1,053-1,046.33.
“Logan and the other boys stepped up to the plate and made it happen,” Paul Soultz said.
Kamehameha’s Devez Aniol, the defending champion, is the second seed (271) and Hilo High’s Shayden Kang (268.67) is a strong third seed.
Waiakea’s Kiani Aburamen (266) is the third seed on the girls side.
“Our girls struggled during the year and finally posted good scores at the end,” Paul Soultz said.
Kamehameha owns four of the top seven averages, with Beyonce Corpuz (262.33) and Lehua Waianuehea (261.33) also contributing to the title. Kamehameha out-averaged Waiakea 1,061.33-1,055.
“It was just a matter of time,” Soultz said of Kamehameha’s breakthrough.
Aruga had hoped to make it a clean sweep with another boys championship. Of course, just a few short years ago, a Waiakea sweep was all but a foregone conclusion until Aruga took the helm at Kamehameha four years ago.
“I believe my boys were ready but they has a couple of mistakes that led them to the point where they couldn’t recover,” he said.
“That really hampered their ability to defend the title.”
All of the numbers and averages are wiped clean Saturday. The 3 p.m. competition at Waiakea features 24 girls and boys qualifiers looking to advance to a final round of eight.
Last season, then-Kamehameha senior Iceley Andaya joined Aniol in the winner’s circle.
So, while Kamehameha can’t go 4 for 4 for the first time, another 3-for-4 showing would be nice.
“That’s the goal,” Aruga said. “That’s what we’re shooting for.”
BIIF qualifiers
Boys
1 Soultz, Skylar Waiakea
2 Aniol, Devez Kamehameha
3 Kang, Shayden Hilo
4 Paleka, La’iku Kamehameha
5 Capellas, Devyn Waiakea
6 Balingit, Logan Waiakea
7 Astrande, Craden Waiakea
8 Rosehill, Dylan Kamehameha
9 Sako, Adam Christian Liberty
10 Maldonado, Jared Christian Liberty
11 Matsuura, Jonah Waiakea
12 Staszkow, Xavier Hilo
13 Corpuz, Mackenzy Waiakea
14 Souza, Nicholas Kamehameha
15 Kim, Ryan Waiakea
16 Ching, Johnathan Kamehameha
17 Puleo, Travis Hilo
18 Valente, Aipono Hilo
19 Terlep, Colby Kamehameha
20 Ellis‐Tingle, Kupaa Hilo
21 Jones, Garet Keaau
22 Leung, Kalif Hilo
23 Ichinose, Brendan Christian Liberty
24 Halemano, Judah Konawaena
Girls
1 Araki, Kanani Kamehameha
2 Hewitt, McKenna Kamehameha
3 Aburamen, Kiani Waiakea
4 Muranaka‐Ozeki, Jhordyn Waiakea
5 Carvalho, Madison Waiakea
6 Corpuz, Beyonce Kamehameha
7 Waianuhea, Lehua Kamehameha
8 Nakamoto, Megan Waiakea
9 Nishijima, Haylee Hilo
10 Carvalho, Nahulu Kamehameha
11 Hernando, Kelsey Keaau
12 Hironaga, Tori Waiakea
13 Ua, Dana Christian Liberty
14 Muranaka, Dakota Christian Liberty
15 Reed, Emma Keaau
16 Takayesu, Raelee Hilo
17 Sipinga, Pisila Kamehameha
18 Wong, Meghan Kamehameha
19 Rivera, Consuela St. Joseph
20 Matsuura, Bailey Waiakea
21 Rivera, Conchita St. Joseph
22 Salvador, Lilian St. Joseph
23 Grace, Bryana Keaau
24 Smith, Alexios Konawaena