In a sense, Kona Aquatics was just happy to be there.
But Maile Lawson, Aye Chan San Tun and Duke Becker did much more than just show up at Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center on Oahu.
“We were just really looking for time drops,” coach Steve Borowski said. “We weren’t really focused on winning.”
Why not do both?
The BIIF was shut out from gold at the HHSAA meet in February, but Big Island swimmers bounced back smoothly at the Hawaii long course age group championships.
Becker led a prolific showing from isle boys in the 10-and-under division by winning the points title, snagging four golds. Becker won the 100-meter breaststroke and the 200 IM and was a part of two relay victories.
“We hadn’t had a winner in years,” Borowski said. “I was really happy that we had depth to win the relays.”
Lawson surprised her coach by winning the women’s portion of the Kings’ Swim earlier in the month in Kailua-Kona, and she followed that up by bringing the most individual gold back to the island. A point out of third in the girls 13-14 division, Lawson won two races in the breaststroke, her specialty, and she also claimed the 200 individual medley.
“She’s a breast-stroker, but the nice thing is she can have success with a lot of disciplines,” Borowski said. “She’s got a great spirit.”
San Tun, who won the 100 butterfly in 2015 as a Kealakehe freshman, won the event again at states and added three silvers, finishing in the top eight in each event he entered. He tied for second in the boys 13-14 points race.
Kona Aquatics was fifth and Hilo Aquatic Club was 10th in a meet that Kamehameha Swim Club on Oahu once again dominated.
Borowski’s club qualified roughly half its eligible swimmers for the championships. The age group meet is held twice a year, with the short course championships running in December.
“Some of the Oahu clubs have 500 kids, 12 coaches and multiple pools,” Borowski said. “We don’t have that.”
Nor does any other Big Island club.
Borowski won’t get the chance to work with San Tun or Lawson at Kealakehe High next season.
The meet was the last in Hawaii for San Tun, who is moving to Florida for his sophomore year of high school. Borowski said Lawson was getting set for her freshman year at Hawaii Prep, which is the two-time BIIF girls champion.
It’s a little early to associate 10-year-olds with high school swimming, but the future appears bright for Becker, Kai Hayashida and Aiden Allred, who combined for seven golds.
“Duke is very coachable,” Borowksi said. “It’s his last year in the 10 division. The next group is like boys going against men. He’ll have to work his way up.”
Hayashida, the son of Hilo Aquatic Club coach Jon Hayashida, captured two butterfly golds and three silvers.
Allred of Warrior Aquatic Club relegated Becker to silver by winning the 100-meter backstroke. Allred was second behind Becker in the 100 breaststroke.
Becker, San Tun and Hayashida each posted six top-three finishes. Only Waiakea graduate Drew Holloway delivered more for a Big Island club. Swimming for Warrior Aquatic Club, Holloway claimed four silvers in boys 17-18 freestyle events to go along with three bronze.
Powered by four girls who helped HPA rule at BIIFs last season – Karly Noetzel, Taylor Doherty, Kira Parker and Janelle Laros – Academy Swim Club took bronze in the girls 15-16 200 freestyle relay. Noetzel had the highest individual finishes for the club, taking fourth in the 50 freestyle and fifth in the 100 free.
“We’re especially proud of our team because of the level of commitment our swimmers have from our (small-town) environment,” coach Mark Noetzel said in an email.
Noetzel figures to remain proud in the winter with Lawson in tow as the deep Ka Makani try for a threepeat.
Academy Swim Club
The Academy Swim Club had a strong performance at the Hawaiian Swimming Long Course Championships.
Karly Noetzel, a Hawaii Prep sophomore, finished fourth in the 50 Freestyle and fifth in the 100 Freestyle.Her time in the 50 Freestyle qualified her for USA Swimming’s Senior Sectional level of competition.
In the 15/16 Girls 200 Freestyle Relay, Noetzel, Taylor Doherty, Kira Parker and Janelle Laros finished strong on the final day of competition with a Bronze Medal performance.
Others on ASC’s State Team were: Koa Miche (Waimea Middle School), Kaden Parker (HPA), Kai Griley (Parker School), Matt Ostrem (HPA), Michael Duggan (HPA) and Kyra Hartley (HPA).
