Luna surf team enjoys great waves during MIL meets
LAHAINA – The Maui Interscholastic League continues charging on the leading edge of sanctioned competitive surfing in Hawaii as the only official program in the state for the Polynesian sport of kings. And, with teenage talent booming with the performance quality waves at Flemings, Hana, Lahaina Harbor and Hookipa, the 2016 MIL season showcased the gunslinging groms of the Valley Isle at their best.
According to fifth-year head coach Luke Adolfson, the Lahainaluna High School team was among the rippers of the MIL. If not for academic eligibility issues, the Lunas would have been in official contention for gold in the individual and team standings.
In the final tally after the four events at the aforementioned spots on the east and west shores of Maui, the Lady Lunas finished in sixth place, while the boys team took eighth.
Individually, Lahainaluna’s Cyan Clark slashed his way to a fifth place finish in the boy’s shortboard competition, and the Lady Lunas’ Angelei Shulman ripped the four- to six-foot waves en route to seventh place in the girl’s shortboard event.
Coach Luke, who was assisted this year by Alex Nunez, Aaron “Sharky” Huish, Bryce Jacinto, Rachel Graham, Rosalie Roberts and Robert Perkins, remained upbeat and positive in assessing the season.
“What a great year! It doesn’t show on paper because we had those eligibility problems, but we still had an awesome year, and the MIL was very fortunate to have great waves all through March and April for the season,” he said.
He went on to recognize senior Cyan Clark as the Luna surf team MVP, along with classmates Jakob Opunui and Kala Willard, juniors Mark Garnauf and Nicolas Nunez, sophomores Abraham Olea and Dylan Smith, and freshman Samuel Walter on the boy’s team. Sophomore Angelei Shulman stood tall as the lone Lady Luna surf competitor.
“We really had a nice, ‘ohana feeling with the team this year. It wasn’t a great outcome, but it was still great to see the team improve their grades and make a commitment for the better of the team. Our thanks goes out to the Hurley company, Honolua Surf Company, Rudy King Designs, and Kona Medeiros for their support of the team.
“Special thanks to Kim Ball (of Hi-Tech and Shapers) for his effort for so many years to establish this program with official status, and his continuing support of high school surfing – and water sports in general,” Coach Luke concluded.