The Kapolei girls bowling team made a triumphant return to the state crown, led by senior Raelena Mattos' individual title that was made sweeter by the presence of her mother in the crowd.

Mattos found about about a year ago that her mother, Denise, has leukemia. But it helped that "my mom was here supporting me and she wanted me to do good."

Mattos and the Hurricanes won their first title since 2003 and the Hawai'i Baptist boys won their fourth title in six years in the HHSAA/Billy Tees Bowling Championships that concluded yesterday at Schofield Bowling Center.

"I wanted it for the team," Mattos said. "I wanted it more than the individual title, especially because we came in second (to Kalani) last year."

Mattos bowled 1,620 to outlast Kaläheo's Tammi Sakaguchi's 1,612. Kapolei's Christalynn Bonifacio came in third with 1,580.

Having her mother watching her was special because "there were times when she was feeling sick but she still came; she didn't miss a meet."

Denise Mattos, who is also a breast cancer survivor, said she was "overwhelmed" with her daughter's championship. She appreciates her daughter's ability to focus on bowling, especially in tough times.

"It's about the attitude," Denise Mattos said. "If you look good, you feel good."

"It feels really good," Raelena Mattos said. "I'm thankful every day that she's still here."

Mattos, Bonifacio, Shaianne Yockman, Jana Okamura, Valerie Ibarra and Amber Aiu scored points toward the team total for the Hurricanes. Mattos, Bonifacio and Ibarra finished in the top 15 individually to medal in the state tournament.

In the boys tournament, senior Jaron Goto made his last year his best, winning his first individual title and helping the Eagles to their fifth title overall. Goto, Derek Leong, Lewis Wang, Tyler Hodson and Brock Wong scored for Hawaii Baptist, which bowled a team total of 7,798.

"It feels good to be back," Goto said. "All of us just made sure we stuck together. Everybody did their part and we won as a team."

Pearl City, which won last year, bowled 7,616 and Mililani came in third with 7,439.

"It was really close so I had to make sure I didn't let down, since this was my last year," Goto said.

Goto bowled 1,740. Wayne Miyashiro of Mililani came in second with 1,669 and Damien's Gabriel Ching was third with 1,643.

Goto admittedly had trouble getting accustomed to the oil patterns at Schofield, which "made the shot a long shot, which I'm not used to." He said he didn't feel comfortable until the fourth or fifth game in Thursday's nine-game first round.

"After the second game (yesterday) I felt good, but all the scores were really close so it was nerve-wracking," Goto said.

BOYS

Team

1, Hawai'i Baptist (Jaron Goto, Lewis Wang, Tyler Hodson, Derek Leong, Brock Wong) 7,798. 2, Pearl City 7,616. 3, Mililani 7,439. 4, Kalani 7,305. 5, Baldwin 7,291. 6, Kailua 7,071. 7, Konawaena 6,723. 8, Maryknoll 6,606. 9, Kapa'a 5,943.

Individual

1, Jaron Goto (HBA) 1,740. 2, Wayne Miyashiro (Mil) 1,669. 3, Gabriel Ching (Damien) 1,643. 4, Keenan Kurihara (Mryk) 1,636. 5, Corey Gushikuma (Bald) 1,634. 6, Lorenzo Directo (Moa) 1,619. 7, William Salavea (KSH) 1,615. 8, Robert Nakanishi (PC) 1,613. 9, Evan Fujimoto (Kaln) 1,586. 10, Austin Patacsil (Kail) 1,572. 11, Christopher Onitsuka (LBS) 1,567. 12, Jonathan Nakagawa (Kaln) 1,556. 13, Josue Zeron (Kail) 1,563. 14, Lewis Wang (HBA), 1.562. 15, Bradley Waiki (Hilo) 1,561. 16, Chelton Tolentino (Keal) 1,555. 17, Kevin Oshiro (PC) 1,552. 18, James Paleracio (Waim) 1,548. 19, Jacinto Jacinto (UHS) 1,547. 20, Justin Fukuda (MPI) 1,537. 21, Tyler Hodson (HBA) 1,532. 22, Derek Leong (HBA) 1,529. 23, Devin Perry (Kapo) 1,525. 24, David Goo (Kaln) 1,521. 25, Kaua Kelson (Waik 1,520. 26, William Taliaferro (Moa) 1,509. 27, Ronson Dagdag (Mil) 1,500. 28, Kevin Goo (McK) 1,492. 29, Kenton Soares (Mil) 1,485. 30, Tyler Yamasaki (Bald) 1,484.

GIRLS

Team

1, Kapolei (Raelena Mattos, Christalynn Bonifacio, Valerie Ibarra, Jana Okamura, Amber Aiu, Shaianne Yockman) 7,427. 2, Kalani 7,163. 3, Waiäkea 6,921. 4, Hilo 6,853. 5, Punahou 6,640. 6, Moanalua 6,629. 7, Campbell 6,190. 8, Baldwin 5,875. 9, Maryknoll 5,812. 10, Kaua'i 5,717,

Individual

1, Raelena Mattos (Kapo) 1,620. 2, Tammi Sakaguchi (Kalh) 1,612. 3, Christalynn Bonifacio (Kapo) 1,580. 4, Chelsey Miyake (Kaim) 1,551. 5, Ashley Hasama-Tompkins (AOP) 1,526. 6t, Valerie Ibarra (Kapo), Kacie Wakida (Hilo) 1,521. 8, Brandi Kawamoto (Kaln) 1,512. 9t, Kelsie Maslanka (Kaln), Nohelani Olpendo (Wail), Taylor Sumi (MPI) 1,462. 12t, Lei Siafuafu (Mil), Nicole Wong (Pun) 1,459. 14t, Briahna Brooks (Hilo), Britney Uyeda (Waik) 1,457. 16, Darcie Oyama ('Aiea) 1,456. 17, Kayla Adams (Cam) 1,441. 18, Kayla Uyeda (Waik) 1,437. 19, Alexis Peterson (SHA) 1,435. 20, Ciana Matsuoka (Keal) 1,428. 21, Emilee Kajiro (Hilo) 1,426. 22, Kayla Takara (Kaln) 1,420. 23, Kristyn Nakano (Cam) 1,416. 24t, Traci Rivera (Iol), Christina Watkins (Waik) 1,411. 26, Jaymie-Rae Martin (IPA) 1,410. 27, Jordan Pavey (Kalh) 1,404. 28, Shanelle Fujii (Moan) 1,394. 29, Jessica Pa'ahana (Lei) 1,392. 30, Kyra Calhau (Maui) 1,388.