Kealakehe’s swimmers work hard, coach Randy Willis said, so it makes sense they play hard. And moments like Saturday’s 400-yard boys freestyle relay have been a long time coming.
Nolan Morton made up ground on Hilo High in the second leg, then he pounded the starting block as Duke Becker and Finn Morton brought home a victory that allowed the Waveriders to release a little pent-up emotion.
“Two of them are seniors (Becker and Finn Morton), and they didn’t get to swim last year,” Willis said. “We felt last year was a really good shot to compete for the title, boys and girls, but we didn’t get to because the season was stopped. I would say that just heightened their resolve.”
While the celebration at the Vikings’ pool was befitting of a championship one, the Kealakehe and Hilo boys teams used the second BIIF swimming meet of the season in part to qualify all three of their relay squads for the HHSAA championship.
Kealakehe’s 400 free team certainly passes the look test physically, and Levi Childers, a runner, is gaining swimming shape, said Willis, who will use the next few weeks to hold open competitions to mix and match his relay units.
“We’re kind of getting our legs under us,” Willis said. “Our training has been pretty hard.
“I’m just pleased with some of the swims because the kids are swimming tired without rest.”
Kealakehe teams took the top two spots in the 200 medley relay, but Hilo ruled the 200 free relay behind Maluhia Kaye, Kai Hayashida, Dakota Domingo and Quinten Fernandez. In the 400 free, coach Jon Hayashida subbed in Kobe Shimabukuro for Fernandez.
When asked if Hilo’s seven swimmers could compete for a BIIF title, he said, “I think we’ll be close, but I think Kealakehe has the numbers and the swimmers.”
Nolan Morton, a junior, was one of the standouts Jan. 8 at Hawaii Prep, winning all four of his events, but Kaye out-touched him Saturday in the 200 individual medley, winning in 2 minutes, 10.90 seconds. Morton won the breaststroke – though Kaye has best time this season – while Kealakehe’s Elijah Ng claimed the backstroke.
Kai Hayashida swept the distance freestyles, and his coach/father said he’s going after the BIIF mark set two years ago by HPA alum Kaden Parker in the 200 (1:43.95). To get there, the younger Hayashida will have to slice about seven-tenths of second off his best time.
“He’s a self-motivator,” Jon Hayashida said. “I wish I could take credit for that, but he has found his own way to find goals, and he’s really achieved a lot of them
In the boys 50 free, Domingo edged Becker with a personal best of 23:12.
Perennial BIIF contender Hawaii Prep was without its full complement of swimmers because of COVID-19 protocols, coach Mark Noetzel said, while Waiakea returned to the pool after missing the the meet because of protocols.
“Our 11 brand new swimmers did very well,” Warriors coach Bill Sakovich said.
Kealakehe’s Michelle Axleson swam the first leg of Kealakehe’s win in the 200 medley relay, and she claimed the 50 free and the backstroke for second consecutive week. At HPA, the sophomore went 4-for-4, also winning 100 free.
“She’s looking really strong,” Willis said.
Keaau’s Ailidh Caroll also pulled a daily double, winning the 100 and 200 free. At HPA, Caroll was second twice behind Axleson.
The meet this Saturday is at Pahoa as Puna transforms into a hotbed for swimming in Hawaii.
The BIIF finals are Feb. 18-19 at Kamehameha, which also will host the HHSAA championships March 4-5. Sandwiched in between are the Hawaii age-group championships at Pahoa.