The young Maui Preparatory Academy swimming (pictured) and paddling teams are set for future success.

NAPILI — Although the 2022 Maui Interscholastic League swimming season was a regrouping effort after the cancellation of the previous year due to COVID-19 mandates, head coach Tex Ritter reports that the young Maui Prep team still put forth an exceptional effort.

“This season was an exciting one,” said Coach Ritter last week. “This year, the kids really swam well, and everyone challenged their full potential when it came to the MIL Championships. And with such a young team, we hope to see great things to come. We are very proud of all of them.”

The Na Pueo roster included five seniors, including team captain Zoe Gonzales, three juniors, five sophomores and five first-year student-athletes.

At the MIL Championships, Na Pueo were led by Mia Merrill, who won the gold medal in the 100-yard breaststroke event, took second in the 500 freestyle, and swam a leg on the silver medal Medley Relay team with Zoe Gonzales, Yuna Lee and Danna Hernandez.

On the boys’ side, Carter Bozich took second in the 200 free, Noah Caiserman won silver in the 500 free, and Legend Storer was the runner up in the 100 breaststroke final. All three of these boys and Noah Schwartzlow combined to take second place in the 400 free relay.

Coach Ritter and assistants Danielle Jefferies and Gabby Lindblad took eight swimmers to the Hawaii High School Athletic Association (HHSAA) State Championships on the Big Island. For Maui Prep, Merrill reached the finals in the 100 breaststroke and Storer in the 100 freestyle.

“We look forward to next year with the return of these young, fast swimmers, along with the return of the underclassmen and the addition of others,” Coach Ritter concluded.

The Maui Preparatory Academy Hawaiian canoe paddling team was a young squad with but four students on the varsity roster, but according to head coach Boi Crichton, “It was great to get back into the canoes. We had a really young team this year that was really eager to learn and compete.”

“Hats off to the coaching staff for keeping our student-athletes safe in and out of the water. Most importantly, all of the coaches and officials worked very hard this paddling season to keep everyone safe and healthy… We were challenged to see if it could be done safely, and we all came out victorious.”

Coach Crichton was assisted by Mark Shimer, Lorena Martinez, Aubrey Huey, Juliet Bronstein and Brigit Abenoja.

The varsity team included Matthew Cahill, Dillon Jonke, Madison Quillin Schlesinger, and Briana Van Boxtel.

The Maui Prep junior varsity paddling roster was made up of Evan Ames, Gavin Ames, Preston Armstrong, Luka Boote, Coen Fitzgerald, Logan Kalar, Zion Lantz, and Arshayah Marshall, Arjun Patel, Lola Doherty, Johnnie Holland, Leni Mullen, Kira Newton, Bishop Worth, Mayson Miles and Liya Petersen.

The Na Pueo junior varsity “A” team season was highlighted by a bronze medal-winning finish at the MIL Championships.