Kamehameha No Ka Oi! again
By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Even under the tutelage of new coaches, the Kamehameha and Moanalua cheerleading squads maintained their championship style.
Andrew Shimabuku • The Honolulu Advertiser
The Warriors and Menehunes three-peated as champions at the HHSAA/Zippy's State Cheerleading Championships at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa's Stan Sheriff Center yesterday.
Kamehameha Schools remained perfect at the HHSAA Cheerleading Championships by winning the large division (12 to 18 members) yesterday at Stan Sheriff Center.
A relatively young squad for Kamehameha — which returned four members — won the large division, which is made up of squads consisting of 12 to 18 members. The Warriors have won four state titles in a row, after winning the medium division in 2002, the first year of the state meet.
"There was a lot of pressure, but (retired coach) Dolly (Wong) was there and supporting me the whole way," said Kamehameha coach Melissa Beimus, who has been an assistant coach at Kamehameha since 1997. Wong led the Warriors to all of their previous state titles.
"We did what we usually do, followed in the tradition, did the hard work and we always try to improve on whatever we put out on the floor every year," Beimus said.
Kamehameha scored 241.5 points, followed by Baldwin (218.5) and Kaua'i (180.5). Four teams competed in the large division this year.
"Every year we think about our own squad," Kamehameha junior captain Alyssa Kong said. "We just wanted to hit the routine; we didn't care about winning, but if we won in the process, that was a bonus."
Moanalua won the medium division, made up of squads with 11 or fewer members.
"I just really tried to follow what the coaches before me laid down," said Moanalua coach Tammie Picklesimer, who took over for Sherrie Faildo, who led the Menehunes to state titles in 2003 and 2004.
Picklesimer added she had nine "wonderful" seniors returning to help her, whose "leadership carried the team this year.
Andrew Shimabuku • The Honolulu Advertiser
"They pulled together under a different coach and came together as one. They rose to the occasion. The pressure is what makes you great."
Kamehameha Schools won the large division (12 to 18 members) under first-year coach Melissa Beimus
Moanalua scored 248 points, and Radford came in second with 237.5, and Iolani third with 237. Eleven squads competed in the medium division.
"We did it for each other, the love of each other brought us together this year," Moanalua senior co-captain Jenna Neeley said.
The pressure to defend their title, along with breaking in a new coach, "was probably the biggest obstacle ever to encounter," senior co-captain Megan Batara said.
Nine judges (five panel judges, two safety judges and two boundary judges) judged criteria such as jumps, tumbling, partner stunts (including pyramids), dance, expression, showmanship, choreography and overall crowd appeal.
Energy, creativity, voice strength, articulation, poise, confidence and precision were also evaluated.
Each squad had 2 minutes, 30 seconds of performance time, and had to perform a minimum of 35 seconds of cheer/chant and couldn't exceed 1 minute, 30 seconds of music.
This year, the HHSAA used a new scoring system, called the Target System. Teams were judged on different ranges of scores based on their skill level and execution, from beginning to elite.
Medium Division (11 or fewer)
1, Moanalua (Jenna Neeley, Megan Batara, Lindsey Okumoto, Katlin Taosaka, Lindsay Tongonan, Patricia Fernandez, Rachel Nagata, Chelsea Castilliano, Jennifer Maki, Jennifer Maki, Jennifer Oyape, Fiona Munoz) 248 points. 2, Radford 237.5. 3, Iolani 237. 4, 'Aiea 217. 5, Mililani 198.5. 6, Leilehua 198. 7, Kaiser 190. 8, Waiakea 181.5. 9, Castle 177.5. 10, Waialua 169. 11, St. Joseph 162.5.
Large Division (12 to 18)
1, Kamehameha (Erika Castro, Corinne Chun, Alise Garcia, Elisabeth Jones, Joy Kaopuiki, Alyssa Kong, Jamie Lynn Leonardi, Ashley Luke, Jasmine Merseberg, Kendra Uson, Kawena Vierra, Keenyn Won, Heather Chong) 241.5. 2, Baldwin 218.5. 3, Kaua'i 180.5. 4 Kealakehe, 178.5.
Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.
