Hawai'i freediver qualifies for worlds
Advertiser Staff
Easter captured the women's individual title, and Beirne finished as runner-up at the elite competition held at the fresh-water Table Rock Lake.
Beirne also speared the largest fish in the tournament and set a national record with her 17-pound gar. She also landed a 21-pound drum fish.
Beirne, a former Punahou School swimmer and Olympic Trials competitor, and Easter said they plan to participate at next year's Nationals, July 20 at Pompano Beach, Fla., to defend their title.
Both have qualified for next year's World Championships and will represent the United States in Portugal in September 2006.
Beirne is one of the few elite women spearfishers in Hawai'i. To pay for her spearfishing expenses, Beirne had raised her own money by repairing and refurbishing spearguns and dive gear for the local community. She also sold fish.
BASKETBALL
Waipi'o's Tanya Beirne and teammate Brandi Easter won the women's team championship in the Freedive Spearfishing Nationals July 22 in Springfield, Mo., and have qualified for next year's World Championships.
AREA REFEREE YOSHIDA TAPPED FOR BOARD
Thomas Yoshida, 42, a high school basketball official for the past 22 years, has been named to the 11-member national committee to the National Federation of State High School Association's Basketball Rules Committee.
This governing body creates rule changes each year on the high school level.
Yoshida's term will be for four years.
Yoshida, who has extensive experience in Hawai'i's sports field, has officiated three boys and three girls state basketball championship games. He also will be entering his 13th year as a college official.
Yoshida, who has worked for the University of Hawai'i and the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association, is a media management specialist for Kamehameha Schools.
DIVING
ST. ANDREW'S SENIOR WINS NATIONAL EVENT
St. Andrew's senior Aleia Monden won her first national title at the AAU National Diving Championships at the Southwest Pool in Largo, Fla., on Wednesday.
Monden, 16, won the one-meter for ages 16 to 18, with 349.25 points.
She placed sixth in the women's one-meter USA Diving Senior National Preliminary event in Los Angeles last Saturday with 381.75 points, as the top newcomer and the second-ranked junior diver.
