KAILUA-KONA – With the postseason on the horizon, the Waverider tennis teams are starting to hit their stride.
Kealakehe earned a pair of team wins on Wednesday’s senior day over Konawaena: the boys by default, and the girls by a 3-2 margin.
The Waverider girls were led by Maile-Lei Ji and Kristen Felte – who each notched 6-0, 6-0 victories, Ji at No. 1 and Felte No. 2 singles – and seniors Sabrina Lelm and Jasmin Kim, who won 7-6 (2), 6-1 at No. 3 doubles to lift the team to victory. On the boys’ side, Kealakehe senior Raphael Gadot did not play due to the Konawaena boys default. The Wildcats also celebrated their seniors Kira Edmondson, Emerald Umiamaka, Miwa Johnson and Tehani Grace.
“We really heavily leaned on our seniors to show some of the underclassmen what it was like to be a student-athlete, what the tennis team experience is like,” said Kealakehe head coach Sean Newton, noting how important senior leadership has been this year after a years-long break due to the pandemic. “Their experience and their leadership was really crucial in rebuilding the league this year.”
The Kealakehe girls’ team has now won six of their last seven matches after a tough 0-2 start against BIIF leaders Waiakea and Hawaii Prep. The boys have rebounded as well, now with a 5-3 conference record.
Newton is hoping that momentum will carry through into the postseason, where the Waveriders hope to earn spots at this year’s HHSAA Tennis Championships, set to be held at Maui’s Royal Lahaina &Kapalua Tennis Garden May 5-7.
“We, from day one, wanted to go out and win and be the best team on the island,” said Newton. “It’s been a fight all the way through, but it’s made them stronger.”
The BIIF Individual Championship is scheduled to take place next week. Newton likes where his players stand heading into the postseason, with a combined 26 spots – 7 each for boys singles and doubles and 6 each for girls singles and doubles – at the state tournament up for grabs.
“I like where they’re at right now, boys and girls,” said Newton. “Ready to compete against the other best players and hopefully qualify a number for state in Maui.”
Earlier this week, on Monday, the Hawaii Prep boys and girls teams each defeated Makua Lani to maintain their spot in the standings, just behind Waiakea.
