Pearl City hopes to keep things rolling
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
Pearl City's boys and girls will be out to defend their state bowling titles at Lihu'e Lanes on Kaua'i.
• WHEN: 8 a.m. tomorrow and Friday • WHERE: Lihu'e Lanes, Kaua'i • WHO: 100 boys and 100 girls from five leagues. • LAST YEAR: Pearl City swept boys and girls titles
One hundred boys and 100 girls from around the state qualified for the tournament, which runs tomorrow through Friday starting at 8 a.m. each day.
29th AT&T Wireless State Bowling Tournament
The Pearl City boys were the O'ahu Interscholastic Association runners-up to Kailua. Hawai'i Baptist of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu always is a contender. And with the tournament being on Kaua'i, the Garden Island's competitors should feel comfortable on familiar lanes.
"There's great parity in the boys (competition)," Pearl City boys coach Shirley Kato said. "The competition will be stiff."
The Chargers are led by Jesse Cummings, who averaged 203 during the Western Division season, and Joshua Wong, who averaged 198. The West competed at 'Aiea Bowl. The other three starters are Mike Saiki, Leslie Martin and Jared Hayashi, all of whom averaged in the 180s, Kato said.
Kailua is anchored by senior Bronson Teramoto, who averaged 190 in the Eastern Division, which competes at Wai'alae Bowl. Teramoto is a two-time OIA individual champion.
Hawai'i Baptist had four bowlers with the top 10 averages during the ILH season, which is held at Fort Shafter. Chad Uyehara led the league with a 207.8 average, while teammate Ryan Ohisa was second at 191.1 Ricky Tsukamoto was sixth at 183.9 and Scott Matsuda seventh at 179.8
Meanwhile, the Pearl City girls will be seeking their third consecutive state crown.
The Chargers, who swept Moanalua and Kapolei in the semifinals and OIA team championship, have one of the top bowlers in the tournament in junior Jodi-Ann Gum. She won her second consecutive OIA individual championship and averaged a Western Division-high 199. Her average was some 13 pins better than the next highest competitor.
Sophomore Jennifer Iha averaged 178, tied for fourth in the West with last year's individual state champion, Kapolei's Shaina Carnate. Rounding out Pearl City's starters are freshman Noemi Solano and seniors Jazmine Santos and Mandi Ishihara.
"We have to concentrate and keep our minds on our games," Pearl City girls coach Larry Rodrigues said. "We always remind them that we're going for pin fall."
Like their boys team, Hawai'i Baptist girls figure in the hunt for the team crown. Half of the league's top 10 averages belong to Eagles.
Mika Shimabukuro (170.9), Joanna Young (167.2) and Julie Goto (162.4) ranked second through fourth behind Lutheran's Niccole Akau (177). Jamie Burgett was seventh (159.1) and Jillian Santo (158.5) was ninth.
The players get in practice rounds today to get familiar with the lanes.
