Lady Hurricanes Bring Home Third State Title For Kapolei

Wednesday - November 11, 2009
By Jack Danilewicz
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Kapolei bowling team coach Angel Legaspi (left) and senior/team captain Raelena Mattos display the Billy Tees State Bowling Title championship trophy shortly after the team’s victory Oct. 30 at Schofield Bowling Center. Photo from Angel Legaspi.

Well before the final totals were in, the Kapolei girls bowling team and its entourage already were living in the moment - and living it up.

“At both the OIA and the state finals, we tailgated before, during and after,” said coach Angel Legaspi. “Our parents were out in full force. I think all of the parents were at every single match. Without them, it wouldn’t have been a success.”

The celebration rages on for the Hurricanes, who won the Billy Tees State Bowling Title Oct. 30 by outlasting Kalani in the finals at Schofield Bowling Center. Kapolei had finished third overall in the OIA behind Moanalua and Kalani, after having captured the Red West crown. The Hurricanes had finished second at states last year and saved their best effort for their biggest match again this time around.

“I spoke to their coach before and joked with him,” Legaspi said. “I said, ‘You won last year; we want to win this year.’ I think having bowled at Schofield during the regular season helped us. It gave them confidence. They felt comfortable there.”


The Hurricanes’ state title is the third overall for the school and the second in girls bowling. Legaspi’s 2003 team won the school’s first-ever state championship, while the school also won a state softball title under Tony Saffery in 2004.

Last week, as they reflected on their season, they also began another tradition. Legaspi sent the mammoth trophy made largely of koa wood home with senior captain Raelena Mattos to enjoy it before it will be passed along among her teammates.

“They get to have it awhile before it goes into the case,” he said.

It is a long-standing tradition in the National Hockey League for members of the team that wins the Stanley Cup to pass what is arguably the sporting world’s most famous trophy from member to member during the summer that follows. Legaspi was unaware of that tradition, he said.

“I was loading up the car, and Raelena was still holding onto it, and the idea popped into my head to let her take it home for awhile,” he said. “Then they can all have it.”


Mattos was among the team’s leaders on and off the lanes. Her final output at the state finals - 1,620 - was tops among individuals. Kalaheo’s Tammi Sakaguchi finished second (1,612). The Hurricanes also boasted top-10 finishers in Christalynn Bonifacio (1,580; third) and Valerie Ibarro (1,526, sixth).

“When the team’s spiraling downward, Raelena finds ways to cheer them up and keep them in a happier mood. One thing about her is that she has a consistent release. She’s real conservative in that she’s able to play all types of lane conditions. She always manages to regain her composure. Bonifacio and Ibarro are only juniors and will return to the team next season.

“Christalynn is like a team planner or right-hand man. She helped design our booster club T-shirts the last couple of years. She’s also an excellent bowler. She bowls with the junior bowlers at Schofield during the week, and I’ve been told that she has one of the highest averages in the league.

“Valerie is real outgoing and cheerful. She helps to make the team laugh - even when we’re having our difficulties. During our last game, she finished with seven strikes, and she began doing a little dance after every one. It brought a smile to the team and everyone in the audience.”

Junior Amber Aiu, sophomore Jana Okamura and freshman Shaianne Yockman all contributed key points to Kapolei’s final tabulation.

“Amber is real spirited - she yells and screams and gets everyone excited,” he said. “Shaianne has a lot of talent for being a freshman. Her dad (Joe) is a pro bowler, and he’s worked with her since she was young. It’s been a big part of her life.

“Jana is the humble one on our team. Most of our girls have been bowling since they were toddlers. She’s only been bowling a couple of years. She’s real coachable. She’s able to follow through on what’s recommended to her.”

 

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