LIHUE — Kapaa High School cheer, under the coaching of Rosey Jerves, captured the school’s fourth consecutive Central Pacific Bank Kauai Interscholastic Federation Cheer Championship on Monday at the new Kauai High School gymnasium.
Several hundred fans, including students and coaches of local gymnastic academies and dance studios, greeted the three KIF member schools that participated in single-night, winner-take-all competition before a panel of judges that flew in from the Neighbor Islands.
Competing in the Coed Division along with the Kauai High School squad, the Warrior squad — which includes players from the school’s football team and four seniors — worked a 2.5-minute routine that encompassed Building Skills, and Tumbling and Jumping to reach an overall total score.
Cheer scores were added to reach a raw score from which deductions were drawn for the final score.
When the dust settled from the competition and the Red Raider Productions programming, which included recognition of senior athletes from the three participating KIF member schools, the Kapaa squad graciously accepted the title after collecting 41.883 points out of a maximum 50 points.
The difference between first and second places came down to .633 point, and the Kauai High School squad was obviously disappointed and frustrated at missing the top spot by such a close margin.
The difference between first and second place came in the Building Skills category where Kapaa surged to 15.6 points compared to Kauai’s 14.9 points. The Kapaa and Kauai squads were tied in all of the other judging criteria, including in the point deductions.
Waimea High School, under the direction of new coach Ashlyn Agena, and with just one senior on the squad, competed in the All Girl Division and finished with 31.533 points.
With the championship win, Kapaa will represent the KIF at the 2025 Zippy’s Hawaii High School Athletic Association Cheerleading State Championships presented by Hawaii Army National Guard. The state championships is scheduled to take place on Nov. 12 at the Neal Blaisdell Center on Oahu.
Source: The Garden Island