Jon Hayashida may be the head coach of Hilo Aquatic Club and Hilo High swimming, but his son, Kai, found his way into the pool on his own.
The youngster used to favor basketball and soccer, but he dropped soccer at some point to focus on basketball and swimming, and these days he’s only worried about swimming.
“He wasn’t pushed (into swimming),” Jon Hayashida said.
But Kai Hayashida has begun to prosper.
Young swimmers such as him are the Big Island’s best bet to represent at the state age group short course championships, which run Friday through Monday at Kona Community Aquatic Center.
Competing in the 10-and-under division, Hayashida is the top seed (best state time in the past 12 months) in seven events, including both sprint freestyles and the 200 free.
“He’s gets amped up, and he’s really excited about this meet,” Jon Hayashida said. “He swims all the strokes.”
Hayashida doesn’t have to worry about which high school his son will swim for once the time comes – he’s going to be a Viking – but Kona Aquatic/Kealakehe coach Steve Borowski isn’t as lucky.
One of Borowski’s best pupils is Maile Lawson, who spends part of her training sessions with Hawaii Prep, where she swims as a freshman.
With three individual golds, Lawson was one of the big winners at the state long course championships in July on Oahu and she’s the top seed in the girls 13-14 200 breaststroke, which will be run Monday.
“She’ll have her hands full in the breaststrokes and individual medleys as usual,” Borowski said. “But she’s been tapering and should swim well.”
Borowski was happy that his club qualified approximately half of its 70-odd swimmers, but he doesn’t expect anybody to compete with Kamehameha Swim Club in the team race.
“They brought about 85 swimmers to the last state meet,” he said. “They have multiple pools. I have one.”
The show stopper at the meet figures to be Aulea Swim Club’s ‘Aukai Lileikis, who already owns six state records. The Punahou (Oahu) senior has qualified for the 2016 Olympic trials and has committed to the University of California-Berkeley.
The last time states was held at KCAC, Kona Aquatics’ Cara Jernigan set a state record in the 17-18 100 breaststroke, but if someone from the Big Island is going to set a mark this time around it likely will be a much younger swimmer.
In addition to Kai Hayashida, HAQ’s Na‘inoa Loo is the top seed in two 11-12 events and he’s second in six others.
“His strengths right now are the 50s and 100s,” Hayashida said.
Korrie Tengen of Warrior Aquatic Club is ranked in the top three in six 11-12 events, and HAQ’s Shea Tsuha, a Hilo High freshman, could start to develop a rivalry with Lawson.
“Maile and Shea will be swimming against each other for the next four years,” Hayashida said.
Big Island Swimming, which consists of all eight island swim clubs, is hosting the event, and Borowski said it could bring in about $500,000 worth of revenue for the island.
He’s been busy reassuring the clubs on the other islands that Kailua-Kona is open for business despite the threat of dengue fever.
“We’ve been emailing back and forth and they are all coming,” he said.
Schedule
Friday: Finals 2 p.m.
Saturday: Prelims/times finals, 8:45 a.m.; finals, 3 p.m.
Sunday: Prelims/timed finals, 8:30 a.m.; finals, 3 p.m.
Monday: Prelims/times finals, 8:30 a.m.; finals, 2:30 p.m.
