Sacred Hearts girls, Waiakea boys take state titles


Sacred Hearts won the girls' team title, as Lancer shooters claimed the top three spots with senior Kristie Thornburg (far left) claiming the individual title with a score of 540. Greg Yamamoto | SL
Sacred Hearts defended its title, while Waiakea's boys won its first since 2004 Tuesday at the Civilian Marskmanship Program state air riflery championships at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall.

Lancer shooters claimed the top three spots with senior Kristie Thornburg claiming the individual title with a score of 540, two points ahead of teammate Cecilia Wong. Michelle Uchida was third with 527. Laurie Tam was 18th overall at 501 to round out SHA's winning team, which totaled 2,106 points. Punahou was second with 2,054.

"I didn't think I'd win, but it's awesome," said Thornburg, who placed 10th last year, her first season on the varsity.

"I was patient. That was my main thing. That really helped me."

It was SHA's eighth overall title and fourth time it won consecutive crowns.

Kamehameha junior Keanu Paikai ran away with his crown, tallying 552 points. Paikai was one point shy of the state record set by Kenneth Tong of Saint Louis in 1999, the inaugural tournament.

"It was interesting," said Paikai of his first state tournament after competing in JV last year. "It was pretty stressful. I was very surprised."

Paikai said he shoots in the offseason to stay sharp.

Eric Kawahara was second overall with 535 points, but his Waiakea Warriors tallied 2,053 points to win the team title, beating out Pearl City, which totaled 2,047.

Joining Kawahara on Waiakea's title team were Luke Camarillo (8th, 514 points), Brandon Lau (15th, 506) and Richard Chun (498th, 20th).

Boys

Team: 1, Waiakea, 2,053. 2, Pearl City, 2,047. 3, Kalani, 1,990. 4, Baldwin, 1,978. 5. Punahou, 1,957. 6. Waimea, 1,950. 7, Kamehameha-Kapalama, 1,925. 8, Moanalua, 1,903.

> full team and individual stats - Boys

Girls

Team: 1, Sacred Hearts, 2,106. 2, Punahou, 2,054. 3, Waiakea, 2,004. 4, Kalani, 1,987. 5, Pearl City, 1,930. 6, Kauai, 1,841. 7, Moloka'i, 1,761.

> full team and individual stats - Girls


Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at [email protected].