After their performances this weekend at the KBXtreme center in Kona, there’s no other way to describe the Pearl City High boys and girls bowling teams.
They are a dynasty.
The Pearl City boys won their fifth consecutive state championship, and the girls captured their fourth straight title to solidy their reputations as the Hawaii prep alley kings and queens.
It was a Tiger, however, who was wearing the crown as the overall boys winner. McKinley junior Bryce Takenaka bowled a three-game series of 210, 204, 157 for a tournament total 1,712 to win the boys title by 70 pins over Alika Vendiola of Damien. Moanalua’s Jaren Apana was third at 1,638.
In the girls competition, Hawaii Baptist Academy’s Shelby Suzuki denied Pearl City junior Chelsi Morishige’s quest for a repeat.
Suzuki, also a junior, bowled 193, 200 and 177 for a tournament total 1,696 to outlast her rival Morishige, who finished at 1,620.
Punahou junior Anastasia Saili placed third with 1,531.
"Dedication and hard work," said Chargers boys coach James Hayashi, explaining his team’s reign. "The boys rallied around our senior co-captains (Keenan Kihara and Aaron Rafael) and never let up."
Four Chargers finished in the top 15, and the team finished the tournament with a total of 7,772 scratch pins, 386 pins better than Kapolei at 7,386. Hawaii Baptist placed third at 7,361.
Sophomore Bradley Nakamura was the high roller for Pearl City, knocking down a three-game series on Day 3 of 192, 164, 223 for a total of 1,624.
Sophomore Kristopher Yadao (1,607), junior Ryan Kajihiro (1,549) and Kihara (1,542) also medaled for Pearl City. Senior Skyler Wakumoto placed 23rd.
Hayashi had high praise for Kihara and Rafael, the team’s spiritual leaders, who gave their all for four years. The months and countless frames of practice at Schofield Bowling Center paid off in Kona.
Pearl City had a 249-point lead over Kapolei going into the last three games, and the pins kept falling for the Chargers. They had a 275-pin edge after the eighth game, taking the fight out of Kapolei.
When it was all over Hayashi gave a shoutout to his brother, Greg, the HBA coach. Between them, the bowling coaches have guided their teams to 10 of the past 11 boys titles.
High-game honors for the boys on the third day went to Castle senior Bryson Akina-Nitta, who scored a 254 in Game 2. Campbell senior Kristian Adams had 247 in Game 3.
Things were a bit more dramatic in the girls lanes.
Hawaii Baptist gave Pearl City and run for its money, with the Chargers prevailing in the end with 7,276 scratch pins. The Eagles finished at 7,126, followed by Moanalua at 6,732.
Pearl City coach Millie Gomes echoed James Hayashi’s formula for success: "Lots of focus, dedication and determination," said Gomes.
"They (Hawaii Baptist) caught up by the ninth game, but we just turned it on. It was a whole team effort.
"Are we a dynasty? Definitely."
Senior Ashlyn Castro (sixth) and junior Kristin Frost (14th) also medaled for Pearl City. Other Chargers were junior Kylie Malilay-Madrona (19th) and freshman Sydni Inafuku (25th).
Baldwin junior Kristen Espania-Kaeo and Waipahu sophomore Gabrielle Quimino shared high-game honors among the girls with a 209. Morishige rolled a 208.
