Cheerleading
Moanalua claims OIA cheerleading title


 



In a stunning upset, Moanalua won its first O'ahu Interscholastic Association cheerleading championship since 2003 on Saturday, breaking Radford's four-year title streak on the Rams' home floor.

Na Menehune scored 308.5 points, edging runner-up Mililani by a mere 4.5 points. Radford, which has won the past four Medium Division State Championships, finished third with 301.

"Honestly, anybody could have won today," said Jennifer Wilson, Moanalua's first-year head coach. "Whoever hit their routine and could sell it best ... fortunately, we did it."

Na Menehune, with only two seniors, were the surprise victors especially considering they did not even win the OIA's Eastern Division title two weeks ago.

But Wilson, who was Kapolei's JV coach last year, and assistant Tobi Miyashiro - who coached 'Aiea's JV in 2009 - knew there was potential at Moanalua.

"That's why we applied for the job when it opened," said Wilson, who was a teammate of Miyashiro's during their high school days at 'Aiea. "We always knew they could be one of the top teams, because they have a lot of pride in their school."

Radford put its pride and championship streak on the line Saturday with a trademark fast-paced routine aimed at executing difficult stunts. There was one obvious slip during a lift, but it turned out the Rams were deducted 12 points overall.

"It's disappointing, because we had a really good warm-up - we nailed it," Radford coach Bo Frank said. "We had the most difficult routine by far, and we can water it down, but that's not Radford cheerleading. I'm going to challenge the team this week, and we'll see how they respond."

Frank said this season has already been challenging, with only three seniors.

"It's a young team, a rebuilding year," Frank said. "There's been a lot of ups and downs, especially mentally. Now they have to face adversity again."

Leilehua (284.5 points) finished fourth, followed by Kaiser (284), Kapolei (262), 'Aiea (254), Pearl City (242) and Kalaheo (231).

The top nine teams will advance to the Zippy's/Hawai'i High School Athletic Association State Championships on Dec. 5 at the Stan Sheriff Center. Mililani, Kapolei, Pearl City and Kapolei will compete in the Large Division, while Moanalua, Radford, Leilehua, Kaiser and 'Aiea will compete in the Medium Division.




Show your support

Every contribution, no matter the size, will help ScoringLive continue its mission to provide the best and most comprehensive coverage of high school sports in the state of Hawaii and beyond.

Please consider making a contribution today.

ADVERTISEMENT


IMAGE GALLERY



MORE STORIES

No. 7 Campbell rallies to knock out No. 3 Maryknoll to advance

The defending Division I state champion Sabers rallied from a first inning deficit and answered with...

Crusaders knock off Rough Riders in mercy-rule finish

Shannon Fee and Jonah Brub combined on a two-hitter and No. 2 Saint Louis downed Roosevelt in five inning...

Laboy persevered through early-season injury for UH Lab; Fake rose to the occasion for Kamehameha

The junior OH came back from a severe ankle sprain to help the Jr. 'Bows claim their first state title,...

Pearl City outlasts ninth ranked Aiea in 11-inning marathon

Devin Fujino's two out single in the bottom of the 11th won it for the Chargers, the first over Na Alii...

Plays made and not aid No. 8 Waiakea to first-round victory

Loren Iwata pitched a complete game gem, and the Warriors made the most of two crucial plays that both...

Mortensen's sac fly in seventh leads Baldwin in first-round play

Pinch hitter Douglas Mortensen's sacrifice fly scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning...