The Waiakea girls golf team was the best in the state last season and could have been better in 2020.
The coronavirus pandemic wiped out the Warriors’ chance to repeat at the HHSAA championships, which would have been held on Kauai.
This much we do know: Waiakea beat six-time defending champion Punahou by 10 strokes last May at Waikoloa.
The Warriors returned their top four players for 2020 in juniors Lacey Uchida and Kailey Oki and sophomores Kiersten Saludares and Elle Otani.
“I believe we could have repeated,” coach Bobby Perreira said. “Our four core girls would be pushed hard every week, not only in practices but matches. With Amy Huh (Makua Lani freshman) in the mix, she would have pushed our team hard and made us better.”
The spring sports shutdown robbed golf of several interesting scenarios: could Huh snap the BIIF’s most dominant streak to date and challenge for a state title?
Uchida, who finished third at states last season, is the defending BIIF champion, a string of 16 straight for Waiakea.
Huh and Uchida each shot a 1-over 72 to share BIIF medalist honors at Hilo Municipal in the season-opener.
Who knows if Huh’s length could have been the difference over Uchida’s stellar short game at the BIIF championships?
But one thing is certain. Uchida is the defending champion for a reason.
“Lacey is a tiger. She’s hungry and doesn’t like to lose,” Perreira said. “She’ll outwork everybody. She added 10 yards to her drive. She’s been doing work during the offseason. She’s the longest ball hitter on our team. She’s been doing a lot of hitting with her swing coach Troy (Tamiya) and her dad (Lance Uchida).”
It will be interesting how 2021 plays out at the state championships.
Leilehua’s Leia Chung, who won the state title as a freshman, will be back. Punahou’s top four scorers also return.
But the goal for Waiakea is to have the players advance to the next level.
“To play high school golf is great. We want them to win, be BIIF individual and state champs,” Perreira said. “But we want them to compete at the next level. That’s the goal, ultimately playing in college.”
Uchida has a good partner in Oki, who also goes to Tamiya as her swing coach.
Oki shot a 72-85—157 total, 10 shots higher than Uchida at states last year.
Saludares finished with a 158 total, and Otani posted a 164 total. Both hung tough as freshmen.
“Kailey’s not a long ball hitter, but she’s consistent and straight,” Perreira said. “If her putting is up, she can put up a 72. That put us 10 strokes ahead of Punahou.
“Kiersten and Elle are steady. They can put up low numbers. If their putts are falling, they can put up numbers under par.”
“It’s a bummer the season got canceled. But I’m glad none of the girls are seniors. Lacey puts in so much work, not only physically but mentally. She steps up and the rest of the team follows her lead. She pushes the team.
“We’re in good shape. But we have a target on our back. The only thing that could stop us is the pandemic. We’re going to be ready and fight for that title. It would have been nice to have three state titles, but I’ll settle for two.”
Perreira does his best to encourage his players. He texts messages and pictures.
He believes it’s the combination of talent, practice and hard work that leads to leaps in self-improvement.
Perreira sent a picture of chipped balls around a flag in his back yard. It was meant to show his players that he’s working hard, too.
Of course, he joked that he removed the balls that were far from the flag before he sent the picture.
