The tennis teams still have four players in the individual MIL playoffs, after Lahainaluna High School lost in the team playoffs in the semifinals.

LAHAINA – Lahainaluna High School tennis coach Macario Pascual looked forward to the 2017 Maui Interscholastic League season with high hopes for a championship finish. Going into his 11th campaign with the Lunas, the soft-spoken mentor realized he had talent on both sides of the net throughout the boys’ and girls’ rosters.

Alas, the academic attrition bug hit the Lunas, particularly the boys lineup, and dashed Coach Mac’s hopes for a rise to the top of the MIL standings. Still, his Lahainaluna teams managed to finish in second place.

“Yes, we were impacted this year with grade problems and it was a challenge, but all in all we played well and we couldn’t be happier with the final results of the season thus far,” said Coach Mac, who was assisted this season by Edwin Pascual, Jukka Hytta, Deborah Dorenzo and McKenzie Cajudoy, along with volunteer assistants Madelyn Ramos, Joven Ramos and Roxanne Sincenci.

Leading the way for the Lady Lunas were senior captains Christine Kaele Ramos (voted the team MVP) and four-year player Shania Abut, along with classmates Gaila Galano and Ayanna Galletas, and first-year team MVP Jamie Fujii. The roster also included junior M’chele Aguinaldo, sophomore Kehaulani Freeman, and first-year players Challys Pascual, Deolien Domawa, Abigail Sandi and Leilani Esperanza.

Spearheading the boys’ effort were junior team captain and three-year player Shane Ramos, seniors Radon Sinenci and Arden Domawa, as well as juniors Kennedy Makekau and Everett Prieto – both three-year players on the squad. Rounding out the roster were sophomore Kyle Killet and freshmen Jake Bell and Kai Casco.

“Marcella Abut led a very supportive parents group this year,” said Coach Mac from the bleachers at the Lahaina Civic Center courts last week, as the team prepared for their final matches of the year. “And Athletic Director Scott Soldwisch gave us good guidance as he always does. Tropic Water has donated ice cold, delicious water for all of our practices and matches, and we surely appreciate their generosity. Very important also is the effort of all the parents connected with the Lahaina Tennis Club that helps gets the kids ready to move up to the high school level, and the Lahainaluna High School Foundation that helps us so much with fundraisers such as the Hyundai Golf Tournament. All of this is so good for us, and we truly appreciate everyone’s help.”