Saint Louis, Sacred Hearts on target at air riflery championship
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
It was an all-in-the-family affair at the Civilian Marksmanship Program state air riflery championships yesterday at the Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall.
Saint Louis won its fifth consecutive boys title, while its sister school, Sacred Hearts, picked up its third crown in five years. The Big Island's Waiakea was the runner-up on both sides.
OKAMOTO
"We train as one team," said Zig Look, who coaches both teams at the Saint Louis campus rifle range. "We don't look at it as training separate teams. Because it's sister and brother schools, we all combine."
The margins of victory for both genders were the closest in the tournament's five-year history.
The Lancers scored a state record 2,111 points, breaking the 2,103 set last year by Punahou, in edging Waiakea's 2,093.
The Crusaders squeezed past Waiakea, 2,086-2,078.
After placing second his sophomore year and third last year, Crusaders' senior Eric Okamoto finally got the gold medal, firing a 541. Teammate Blake Cuban was second at 538.
"Shooting against my own team was a good thing," Okamoto said.
That's because his teammates also did well. Besides Cuban, junior William Dearmore (9th place, 510 points) and sophomore Scott Perez (14th, 497) earned medals for placing in the top 15.
There was no secret to Okamoto's success.
"Just practice every day, train six days a week," he said.
Meanwhile, junior Deana Sin of Sacred Hearts won the girls' individual title with a 543, edging teammate Shannon Li (537). Last year, Sin was fourth and Li was third. Li, a senior, won the title in 2001.
The Lancers' top four shooters scored in the top 10. Senior Krystie Sze was fourth at 532 and junior Yoo Song Kang was 10th with 521. Ironically, Kang's score didn't count toward the team points because she was not declared prior to the meet as one of the four designated team shooters. Still, SHA's fourth shooter, senior Sherolyn Chang, fired a 499.
Also for the first time in the history of the tournament, the girls' team scores were higher than the boys'. It was a fact that didn't go unnoticed.
"It feels good because they're always bragging and stuff," said Sin with a laugh. "They're always talking big. But we proved we could do it."
It was the second consecutive year the tournament was held indoors. The sport is usually held at outdoor ranges.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
