Charger Captains Are Two Of The State’s Top Bowlers
By Jack Danilewicz
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History has a way of repeating itself, and that can only be a comforting thought for the Pearl City girls bowling team as they travel to Hilo this week to take part in the Billy Tees 2007 Hawaii State Bowling Championships.
Since 1994, Larry Rodrigues’ first season as coach, Pearl City has never finished lower than third in the state tournament. All signs point to his 2007 edition being a major factor again this week.
The Chargers are coming off a second-place finish to Mililani in last week’s OIA Team Championships and boast two of the top individual bowlers in the state in co-captains Jordeen Koizumi and Seiko Santos.
Koizumi finished second to Kapolei’s Kimie Roller individually last week at the OIA finals at Leeward Bowl, while Seiko Santos followed in sixth place. Santos was the state’s runner-up last season to Dara Ajimine of Kalani.
“They’re all hoping to do better than last year,“Rodrigues said of the pair.“Jordeen and Seiko being seniors, there’s more incentive this year. They both know their participation in high school (athletics) is almost finished. One of the things about Jordeen is that she is competitive. She’s quiet,but effective.She gets the job done. She’s very strong in her game.
“Seiko is a leader.Whenever I need something passed on (to the rest of the team), I go through her. She’ll be a real good leader (outside of athletics) someday.”
Rodrigues expects the pair to set the tone for Pearl City, although he sees the team’s overall balance as its best shot to win a state title.
“They’ve had some days where they pushed us over the top,“he said of Koizumi and Santos,“but it will take the other three to carry their load and (make) their averages.”
The talented lineup also features Ashley Shoemaker, Jazelle Ladines, Teale Thornburg and substitutes Kristyn Kuroda and Chelsea Ilaban.
Rodrigues sees mental preparation as a key to a strong showing this weekend.
“Focus is really important, and competing as a team is also important,” he said. “They’re a close group, all with their own individual identities. They come together on game day, and we let ‘em know to be ready on game day,“he added with a laugh.
In fact, motivational speeches are kept to a minimum within the program.“Most of our girls know how to bowl,” he said, noting the huge turnouts at Pearl City’s tryouts each year.“We (coaching staff) come in with a few adjustments, but the girls can usually make those adjustments themselves. We talk to them more about lane conditions. My assistant Glenn (Gum) is good at reading the lanes and making the adjustments with the girls.”
With that in mind, Pearl City and other Oahu schools will have to adjust to the Hilo Lanes, which feature a wooden surface.
“Most of our kids (on Oahu) bowl on a synthetic surface,” he explained.“The wooden lanes dry faster, and the ball can hook more. I think the outer-island schools are going to be very tough on those lanes.”
The Chargers were expecting to practice Wednesday at the Hilo Lanes in hopes of familiarizing themselves with the alley. The finals will be held Thursday and Friday.
“It will be a very important practice - some of our kids have never bowled there. It’s going to be a new adventure for them, but they’re ready to go, and hopefully we can bring back the (first-place) trophy.”
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Individually, several bowlers from schools on West Oahu Schools figure to have an impact this week, led by Kapolei’s Roller. She finished 15th overall in the OIA as a sophomore last year, before last Thursday’s break-through performance at Leeward Bowl, where she edged Koizuma for the OIA’s individual crown.
“She’s a strong bowler,“Rodrigues said. “She’s going to be awesome next year.”
Others who should be in the hunt include Raelene Mattos (Kapolei), Darcie Oyama, (Aiea) and Kayla Adams (Campbell). All three finished among the top 15 in last week’s OIA finals.
In the boys division,the Chargers also have high hopes this week.Like the girls team,the boys finished second to Mililani at last week’s OIA individual and team finals.
Pearl City placed a league-best five bowlers - James Pirtle (first), Brandon Oshiro (third), Jordon Ono (11th), Evan Hayashi (13th) and Dayton Martin (14th) - among the top 15 competitors at last week’s OIA finals.
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