Shayden Kang does not look like your typical BIIF shooter.
The strapping 6-foot senior attends an air riflery practice Tuesday at the Hilo High cafeteria, but he looks like he would fit in just as well across campus on the football field.
“I don’t really like to run a lot,” Kang said, flashing a knowing smile, “my asthma also plays a part. “
Instead, Kang chose a sport that he estimates is 30 percent physical and 70 percent mental. Instead of core strength, he relies on cerebral consistency.
“I’ve always been into shooting,” he said. “Always shooting for fun.”
And, as it turns out, a bit of BIIF history.
Kang absolutely, positively does not look like your typical BIIF boys air riflery champion – he wears Vikings blue and gold, not Warrior navy blue.
He had a few nervous moments Saturday, but in the end he could breathe easy. Kang overtook Waiakea’s Skylar Soultz in the final and held off Kamehameha’s Devez Aniol, becoming the first non-Warrior boys shooter to win a league shooting title. (Stephanie Chu won a girls title for Hilo in 2007).
“I was only focusing on me,” he said. “I was mainly thinking on how I could improve my scores. I didn’t pay attention to the big picture.”
One of the small snapshots first-year Hilo coach Rayner Galdones remembered from Saturday was a frustrated look coming across Kang’s face as he went through the three shooting positions in the round of 24. Only the top eight were going to advance.
“He felt he wasn’t doing good,” Galdones said, “I could see it.
His message: forget past shots, focus on the present.
Kang’s response: breathe.
“For me, I learn breathing techniques, and it’s kind of a common thing,” Kang said, “but the more you focus on your breathing, and you focus on things other than yourself; when focus on trying to stay still, it’s pretty hard, and you end up shaking more.”
Shooting next to Soultz, who had a five-shot lead and whom Kang had never outshot this season, in the final, Kang had the steadier hand, outscoring him 617.2-614.9 overall. Aniol, the defending champion and the second seed entering the day, was third at 607.5 at Waiakea’s gym.
“I practiced hard and I was consistent from how I shot all season to BIIFs,” Kang said. “Just stay consistent and hope others crack under pressure.”
That’s the attitude he’s used shooting under three different coaches the past three seasons – they’ve all helped him improve, he said – and he’ll take it with him to Oahu on Tuesday for the state shoot.
And despite his stout look, don’t expect to see him on a BIIF field of play after that.
“Just an easy senior year,” he said.
Shooters come in all shapes and sizes, of course – just like any other sport – but if Galdones sees a common trend among them it’s intelligence.
“The real smart one are the ones who come out and shoot,” he said. “It takes a lot of focus. Shayden is pretty intelligent.”
And, with the look of champion, he’s a role model Galdones will use to try to recruit others to grow his program.
“He’s the one who is going to start it off,” Galdones said. “He’s the springboard.”
Editor’s note: This story has been modified to reflect that Kang is first boys shooter not from other than Waiakea or Kamehameha to win a BIIF title. Stephanie Chu won a girls title for Hilo in 2007.