Winning Weekend for Farmers

Nobody, it seemed, could beat the Farmers last week. Every Molokai team tasted victory as girls’ volleyball won twice on Maui, air riflery shot first place finishes in The Barn and football broke Seabury’s 18-game winning streak at home.

Last Thursday, the boys’ and girls’ air riflery teams competed in their second postal meet of the season, in which schools shoot separately in their home gyms and submit their targets to the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL).

The boys’ air riflery team finished in first place and claimed the top three individual spots. Joshaviah Cabreros had 263 points, Cody Nip shot 260 and Jershon Kaalekahi was close behind with 258. Rookie shooter Ekolu Greenleaf (215 points, 17th) improved his previous score by more than 50.

“Everybody shot better than they normally shoot,” said Coach Chinky Hubbard. “… [Molokai’s boys are] just competing against each other. They’re shooting good, they’re consistent.”

The girls’ squad came in third as senior Hiilani Kaiama-Kanuha secured her first individual title with 254 points. She was the first girl this season to topple reigning MIL champion Tiffany Kokubun. Senior Keaa Davis tied for fifth with 240 points and junior Sonja Angst came in 14th place with 224, season highs for each and the best results out of Molokai’s seven girls’ shooters.

“The seniors are doing awesome,” said Hubbard. “… Sonja is continuing to progress. We’re trying to work on a number four girl so we can boost our points and get a team [to states].”

The Farmers will travel to King Kekaulike on Maui this Saturday for a live meet.

In Lahaina, the girls’ volleyball team swept Maui Prep, beating Na Pueo both last Friday and Saturday. After going the full five sets against St. Anthony the previous weekend, Molokai only needed three sets to dismantle Maui Prep on Friday, 25-14, 25-17 and 25-22.

“I see we’ve worked together as a team. We’ve minimized our errors and pulled through,” said Head Coach Mahea Rawlins.

The Farmers then won in similar fashion on Saturday, 25-21, 25-10 and 25-14 to extend their four-game winning streak. Rawlins added that the team is serving better in games and is continuing to improve overall.

“We’re working on ourselves and pushing forward to reach our team goal,” said Rawlins. “Although we may have obstacles along the way, as long as we stick [together] as a team we should be fine.”

Molokai (4-2) now sits in third place in the girls’ Division II volleyball standings. The Lady Farmers are a game and a half shy of first place Seabury Hall (5-0). Their next games are against Waldorf at The Barn on Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at noon.