Surf team members improved in the water and in the classroom this season.

LAHAINA – It was youthful energy to the forefront for the Lahainaluna High School surfing team for the 2017 Maui Interscholastic League season. With no seniors on the roster and a long list of sophomores and freshmen rising up into the high school competitive ranks, the Lunas carved a solid track this year and set a positive line for the future.

According to head coach Luke Adolfson, now into his third year at the helm of the Luna surfing team, it was MVP Madison Runyon – a sophomore and one of two female competitors on the roster (Breauana Higgs was the other) – leading the charge for Lahainaluna.

Runyon surged to a runner-up finish in the shortboard event at the D.T. Fleming Beach Park meet and made it to the finals in the bodyboard competition at Flemings and Lahaina Harbor.

For the Luna boys, Ryan West achieved a finals performance in the bodyboard category at Flemings and recognition for his season-long outstanding performances, integrity and 3.7 grade point average, for which he received a new Kenny Walker surfboard.

Kawai Kauhane also had an outstanding day at the Lahaina Harbor meet, winning all of his bodyboarding heats and sending him to the finals of the competition.

Rounding out the 2017 Luna surfing team roster were juniors Cameron Benson Hunter, Zachary Newton and Nick Nunez; sophomores Ikaika Fraser, Kunpono Gabby Kahae, Tristan Kasprzycki, I-mee Koike, Zarian Lewis and Skylan Lavorte; and freshmen Peyton Suzuki, Daniel James Smith, Maximus Bond McKay, Nalu Ho, Angelo Constantino Giovani and Koa Arnold.

Coach Luke was assisted by veteran mentors Alex Nunez and Aaron “Sharky” Huish, as well as new additions Jason Runyon, Dustin Barton and Kona Medeiros.

“Our coaches have huge hearts for the kids and made a great impact on the team,” said Adolfson. “The blending of the returning and new coaches made for a well-rounded coaching staff. We are all so proud of our student athletes for their improvement in the water and in the classroom. All of the kids’ grades improved significantly, which was one of the main priorities this year.

“Pomaikai Youth program created an incentive program to reward students with surf gear for good grades, and two student athletes received new surfboards from Kenny Walker Surfboards for getting 4.0 GPAs.”

Coach Luke characterized the season as a “building” year, but still had a positive message to give.

“Overall, this was our best year as far as working together as a team, discipline, participation and improvement go. Our three new coaches and the two from before all had huge hearts for the kids and made a great impact on the team. And thanks to Hurley and Rudi King Designs for their contributions for our uniforms, and to Kenny Walker Surfboards for their support of our program,” he concluded.