Kealakehe Girls Upset Waiakea in BIIF Championship Swimming

Waiakea's DQ in 200 Relay give 'Riders team victory

Five league records fell this past weekend and the Waiakea boys and the Kealakehe girls won team titles in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation Swimming Championships from the Kona Community Aquatics Center.

Waiakea came into the finals as the heavy favorites to win the girls crown for the second year in a row, but was upset by a determined Kealakehe squad when the Warriors suffered a disqualification in the 200 freestyle relay.

“It was a huge surprise for us to win the team title,” Waverider coach Steve Borowski said. “Our girls did a great job and they performed better than expected. I believe they peaked and tapered perfectly. The whole team did great.”

: Alyssa Foo

Kealakehe was led by Alyssa Foo who came up with big wins in the 100 butterfly and the 100 backstroke (new league record 59.84 seconds), along with teammate Madison Hauanio who won the 200 Individual Medley and finished second in the 500 free.

Foo broke the 100 back record that was set by fellow Waverider, Ashley Rose in 2001.

“I was in a really good mood,” Foo said of her record breaking event. “We didn’t really taper totally for the BIIF’s, so I think I can go even faster at the state championships if I continue to train hard.”

Foo was also happy that Kealakehe regained the BIIF team title.

“We won the team title in my freshmen and sophomore years, before losing it to Waiakea last year,” she said. “I was happy that we could do it again in my senior year with only nine girls.”

The public school Warrior boys pulled out a team victory over defending champions Hawaii Prep by a score of 148 to 116.

“Our boys came through,” Waiakea coach Bill Sakovich said. “Frank (Chi) was outstanding as usual and we got great relay races from David Sumada, Ryan Kawano, Grant Uekawa and Campbell Causey.”

Sakovich had high praise for many of his swimmers including Causey who won the 500 freestyle and finished second in the 200 free.

“All our kids did great and I am especially grateful to our coaches who helped us in getting these kids prepared for the finals,” Sakovich said.

“I’m a little disappointed that we didn’t repeat for the girl’s title, but it’s a meet and anything can happen at meets,” Sakovich said. “The Kealakehe girls did exactly what they were supposed to do and they did an excellent job.”

: Logan Borowski

In a much anticipated showdown between the best two swimmers in the 100 butterfly, Kealakehe’s Nicholas Garrett squared off against Hawaii Prep’s Logan Borowski showcasing the fastest fly stroke swimmers in the pool.

Garrett came into the event as the two time BIIF butterfly champion and BIIF record holder, as Ka Makani junior Logan Borowski began to close in on Garrett’s record during the later part of the season.

Borowski who had earlier in the day came away with the 50 freestyle title in a personal best time of 21.45 seconds and Garrett, the eventual winner of the 200 free, 1:46.22, met for the BIIF 100 butterfly title.

Borowski’s winning time of 51.59 seconds eclipsed Garrett’s previous record of 52.02 set last year.

“Nick is a really good swimmer and I knew I had to go out fast in the first 50, then try to hold him off,” Borowski said. “I wasn’t thinking about the record as I was just trying to win the event.”

: Frank Chi

Waiakea’s Frank Chi came into the finals wanting to break his own record in the 100 breaststroke for the fourth time this season.

Chi lowered the BIIF record to 58.7 seconds on Friday night and was determined to go even faster during the championship finals. On Saturday the senior again rewrote the league record books by clocking in at 58.61 seconds.

“I knew I could go hard and faster,” Chi said of his record breaking swim. “I just pushed myself both in practice and during the meets.”

Chi, who finished third in the state for the past two seasons in the breaststroke believes he can challenge for top honors this year.

“I can still go faster and I believe that if I work hard I can get my time under 58 seconds,” he said.

Ka Makani 200 boys freestyle relay team was back in the water, setting a new league record for the second time this season. Using all juniors in Kyle Katase, Kaikea Nakachi, Ryan Ross and Logan Borowski as the anchor the HPA foursome clocked in at 1:29.35 to break their previous record of 1:29.80.

: Kaikea Nakachi

“All four of us are going to swim the three relays as the state championship and we are only going to swim one individual race each,” Borowski said. “I plan on focusing on the 50 free at states.”

Nakachi defended his BIIF 100 backstroke title and claimed top honors in the 200 Individual Medley events.

Waiakea’s David Sumada, the defending BIIF champion in the 200 freestyle, was upset by Garrett but later rebounded with a victory in the 100 free.

“I’m really excited about my 100 free time,” Sumada said. “It was my fastest time this season, 48.6 seconds, and I know this might sound silly, but before the event I thought of my coaches smile (Justin Pierce) and that helped me to swim my best.”

Waiakea freshmen, Madisyn Uekawa became a BIIF champion in both the 100 free and 100 breaststroke.

“I was a little nervous going into the championships, but I think I swam well and I tried my best,” Uekawa said. “It felt good, but I think I should have gone out harder in both my races. I’m hoping I can do better at states.

The HHSAA swim championships finals will be held at Kamehameha-Hawaii on February 13.