Pearl City’s Kristopher Yadao and Leilehua’s Gwen Maeha are once again the king and queen of state high school bowling.
Yadao totaled 1,875 pins over nine games and Maeha had 1,614 as both retained their individual titles during the Billy Tee’s/HHSAA Bowling State Tournament on Friday at Leeward Bowl.
The Pearl City boys won their seventh consecutive team title and Maryknoll took home the girls crown, becoming the first Interscholastic League of Honolulu school to win the girls championship since Kamehameha in 1992.
“To have the thought of winning seven times in a row is amazing,” said Yadao, a senior who became the first boy to win consecutive titles. “No other high school team had done that, so you can tell we already have a lot of talent. The chemistry is a lot better because I’m good friends with a lot of the bowlers.”
Aiea has the next longest streak for consecutive boys crowns with three (1998-2000).
“Hopefully we can hold that record for as long as we can,” Pearl City coach James Hayashi said.
The Chargers finished with 7,945 pins in the 11-team boys competition. Mililani was the runner-up with 7,839 pins and Kapolei placed third with 7,793.
The Spartans knocked down 6,988 pins to claim the 10-team girls division. Moanalua was second with 6,966 and Leilehua placed third with 6,897.
“From the first practice we had I knew this was a special team,” said Maryknoll coach Wayne Miyamoto. “I’ve had a lot of good teams before, but not like this. One girl falls down, another girl picks her up.”
Yadao, of the Pearl City boys, won last year’s state tournament on Kauai despite not having his father/coach Benny in attendance to help him.
“This year was a little bit easier because my dad was there to coach me,” Yadao said. “He was in the back and when I was confused or struggled I’d look up to him and go in the back and ask for help.”
Maeha, a junior for the Leilehua girls, was in fifth place and 33 pins behind the leader after completing six games Thursday.
“I knew I had to bring my A-game and honestly I have to thank my teammates for always being there and pushing me to do my best,” she said.
Next year, Maeha will take a shot at matching Kalani’s Dara Ajimine (2006-08), the only three-time champion in state bowling history.
“I’m going to try my best, I’m going to be practicing of course and I’m just going to have all my coaches help me,” Maeha said.
Imi Nakamura of Pearl City finished runner-up in the boys competition with 1,744 pins and Mililani’s Akira Sanco was third with 1,691.
In the girls competition, Kourtney Adams of Campbell was the runner-up with 1,600 pins and Maryknoll’s Chelsea Nakaoka placed third with 1,598. The Spartans’ Kaycie Yamasaki was eighth with 1,518 pins
“Throughout this whole season we fought and it was tough,” said Nakaoka, a senior. “But we all fought together and throughout this last week we all kind of came together and decided that we all need to push and work harder. On our last game that we did today, we all came together and pulled it out. We all did our best.”