Monday Morning Maui Sports: Kamehameha Maui’s Cruz Storer wins two state swim titles, every in report trend : Maui Now

When 15-year-old Cruz Storer blazed by way of the pool in the 50- and 100-yard freestyles, he made historical past greater than as soon as — ending each races quicker than some other highschool swimmer from Maui and incomes Kamehameha Maui its first state titles in swimming.

At the HHSAA/Okay. Mark Takai state swimming and diving championship finals on Saturday on Hawai‘i island, Storer hit the wall in 20.18 seconds within the two-lap 50, which was simply 0.10 seconds off the state report of 20.08. In the four-lap 100, Storer touched in 44.30, simply 0.38 seconds off the state report.

Both of these state information are held by Aukai Lileikis of Punahou and had been set in 2016. 

Both of Storer’s state-winning occasions are all-Maui information, that are marks recorded in sanctioned highschool meets by Maui County highschool swimmers. The earlier all-Maui information had been 20.52 within the 50 by Renny Richmond in 2012 and 45.44 by Storer final month on the Maui Interscholastic League championships. 

The solely different MIL swimmer to win a state title on Saturday was Maui Prep senior Sacha Salem, who gained her first state championship, within the 200 particular person medley. Salem is about to proceed her swimming profession on the University of Hawai‘i.

Maui High School senior Aika Swanson, a two-time state highschool champion, additionally toppled one other all-Maui report whereas ending second in each the 100 and 200 freestyles on Saturday. Swanson’s time within the 100 free, 51.83 seconds, broke the all-Maui report of 51.85 set by Kysha Altura of Maui Prep in 2018.

Storer has at all times been a standout within the pool, however he blasted onto the scene within the state age group meet in November when he went 20.41 seconds within the 50 and 44.66 within the 100. Now, with two state highschool titles, he has bettered these occasions that led the nation’s 15-year-olds on the time.

“I knew I could do it because we’ve been putting a lot of work in with my coaches and my teammates in the pool,” Storer mentioned through telephone on Sunday, “So, yeah, I definitely know I could do it.”

Storer is now in vary to affix his coach Jack Pope as a six-time state champion, which is tied for the all-time report for particular person state championships by an MIL male athlete in any sport. Swimmers Cheyne Bloch of Baldwin and Renny Richmond of Seabury Hall have additionally gained six particular person state titles.

The all-time state championship report for any MIL athlete is Seabury Hall feminine runner Dakota Grossman, who owns 10 particular person state championships.

Pope is Storer’s major coach at Lahaina Swim Club. After graduating from Lahainaluna High School in 2008, Pope swam at NCAA Division I University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif., from 2009 to 2012. Pope is now a language arts teacher at Lahainaluna High School.

“It is always fun to watch Cruz in his element,” Pope informed the Hawai‘i Journalism Initiative through textual content on Saturday. “He has such a natural feel for the water and it shows. He is able to make micro adjustments from race to race and even throughout his races that really proves how intuitive of a swimmer he is.”

Pope added, “We were expecting a great performance this weekend and true to his nature, he showed up and wowed us all.”

Storer doesn’t flip 16 till May 12.

“I’m really looking forward to transitioning to long course (50-meter pool) season and seeing how that change in training translates into further success this summer and in the seasons to come,” Pope mentioned.

Storer mentioned he views Pope as a “big brother.” Pope has been Storer’s major coach because the lethal Lahaina wildfire on Aug. 8, 2023. Until the Lahaina Aquatic Center reopened slightly greater than a yr later, the Lahaina Swim Club swimmers, together with Storer, commuted to Kīhei to coach with Pope on the Kīhei Aquatic Center.

“We talk about swimming a lot and we also talk about my future,” Storer mentioned of his work with Pope. “I mean, we get to spend a lot of time together with all of our practices that we do in the mornings and afternoons, so it’s not as much of a coach and a student, but more a brotherly relationship.”

Storer commutes from his dwelling in Kahana through bus to Pukalani to attend Kamehameha Maui, however has to do it wrapped round swim apply at Lahaina Aquatic Center each afternoon and two mornings per week. Storer does one other morning exercise with the Kamehameha Maui group on campus as soon as per week.

Storer works out with Pope from 4:30 to 7 p.m. 5 days per week and has morning practices from 5:30 to six:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays with Lahaina Swim Club. After dinner and homework, Storer is often in mattress by 9 p.m. to prepare for his 5 a.m. alarm clock.

Now, Storer is able to enter uncommon territory. He depends closely on his religion by way of his church, Kahana Door of Faith, and his household — dad Chris, mother Destiny, 19-year-old brother Legend, and 11-year-old sister Haven.

“I definitely know I can do it because I have so much support,” Storer mentioned. “It’s my coaches and my teammates and my family and my church and God.”

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STATE BOYS BASKETBALL: Seabury Hall finishes second in Division II

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After making historical past as the primary MIL basketball group, boys or ladies, to advance to three straight state championship games, Seabury Hall fell 49-35 to Kohala on Friday within the HHSAA/Hawai‘i National Guard Division II state last.

Seabury and Kohala have been dueling Division II powerhouses over the previous few seasons. In 2024, Kohala beat the Spartans 49-45 within the state last. Last season, Seabury Hall beat Kohala within the semifinals.

This yr the Spartans rolled into the championship recreation after beating Wai‘anae 55-43 on Wednesday and Pāhoa 76-53 on Thursday.

“I think the program is in a good spot,” Seabury Hall head coach Scott Prather mentioned. “We were fortunate. We’ve had a good group of players come through the last few years.”

Prather gave credit score to the present seniors, led by guard Sebastian Peterson. Carson Hollifield, Dylan Maier, Aidan Childers, Elijah Gurley and Peter Ruegsegger are the opposite seniors.

“They really pushed hard to get the program to the level that it’s at,” Prather mentioned. “And as they graduate out, you try to get the younger guys to fill in some of those roles and whatnot. So, I think we’re in a good place.”

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WINTER OLYMPICS: Maui’s Lyon Farrell finishes fifteenth in slopestyle in Livigno

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Lyon Farrell, who grew up on Maui and is representing New Zealand within the 2026 Milan Cortino Winter Olympics, finished 15th in men’s snowboarding slopestyle qualifying on Sunday on the Livigno Snow Park in Italy. Farrell’s rating of 68.61 was simply 1.02 factors away from the twelfth and last qualifying spot for the ultimate which might be held Tuesday.

On Feb. 7, Farrell completed eighth within the massive air occasion after he made the ultimate qualifying in seventh. Farrell represents New Zealand.

“Monday Maui Sports” columns seem weekly on Monday mornings with updates on native sports activities within the Maui Interscholastic League and elsewhere round Maui County. Please ship column concepts — something having to do with sports activities in Maui County — in addition to outcomes and photographs to rob@hjinow.org.