Mustangs Eying Maui Races
By Jack Danilewicz
E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS | Share
Del.icio.usThe date Feb. 7 must be foremost in the minds of the Kalaheo varsity mixed paddling team members. That’s the date of the state championships at Hanakao’o Beach Park on Maui.
The Mustangs placed second to Punahou last year and figure to be in the mix again. To hear coach Julian Wicker tell it, it’s their day-to-day preparation and need to stay the course that will help them the most.
“You practice how you race,“said Wicker.“If you take practice lightly and goof around,it will show up on race day. If you put forth the effort you need to, it will also show up on race day. That’s what this group has done especially well.”
The Mustangs won their first OIA regatta of the season Dec. 19 with a time of 0:08’35.52 - to outlast Kaiser (0:08’42.68) and McKinley (0:08’51.43) - and will be in action every Saturday until the championships.
Expectations are high in large part because of the return of a talented veteran class that includes Kaoru Lovett, Torin Luis, Courtney Wemple,Ameet Argov, Barak Argov and Jenna Cates.All are seniors except for Ameet Argov, who is a junior.
Lovett is the team’s acknowledged leader, in Wicker’s view.
“He sits in the first seat - he sets the pace and leads the crew. He always has a positive attitude. He always comes to practice to work hard to better himself and better the team as a whole.”
Luis, he added, “sits in the second seat and is really good on the turns - he’s a really strong kid.”
Wicker labels Wemple as “one of the most talented girls to ever come out of Kalaheo in a long time.She’s really dedicated - same as all of the girls.”
The brother-sister team of Ameet and Barak Argov, meanwhile, brings a unique chemistry to the mix.It is rare, indeed, for a brother and sister to be able to compete on the same team in the OIA.
“It’s cool that they get to paddle together,“Wicker said. “Both are really, really strong. They help the crew move as fast as they do. They both sit in the back, in the No. 4 and No. 5 spots. They’re the engine that makes the boat move.”
Cates is the Mustangs’ steersman.“She’s good on the turns and at keeping the boat straight,” Wicker said. “She’s small, but she pulls her weight. She’s a real asset.”
As a group, the team continues to hang its hat on its work ethic and the mental preparation that supports it, according to Wicker, who also led Kalaheo to a state title in the boys division in 2008.
“They just have that drive and determination to work hard and compete and do well. It’s definitely a key to our success. In any kind of (athletic) event, you need that determination and drive to do well.
“Without a strong mind, you aren’t very successful,“he added.“It takes mental toughness to go 150 percent for eight minutes or so. You basically need to turn your brain off and do what you need to do.”
E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS
Most Recent Comment(s):
