Chinaka sixth
at regionalHawaiian Island Twisters gymnast Christie Chinaka finished second in the balance beam and sixth in the all-around at the USA Junior Olympics Level 9 Western Championships held April 26-28 in Rapid City, S.D.
Chinaka posted a 9.450 on the balance beam in the Senior B division. She also had scores of 9.3 in the vault (eighth place), 9.150 in the uneven bars (third) and 8.950 in the floor exercise (37th).
Alyssa Onaga came in seventh in the uneven bars in the Senior B division with a 9.050. Aloha Gymnastic World's Rebecca Cardenas placed sixth on the bars in the Junior A division with a 9.225.
HIT's Anna Hildebrand finished fifth in the uneven bars in the Junior C division with a score of 9.175.
The USA Gymnastics Junior Olympics Level 10 Championship runs tomorrow through Monday in Landover, Md. Sierra Jacobs, Erin Geary, Ina Higashi-Izumi and Elysse Wong will represent the state in the meet.
Brooks headed north to play for Tiger-Cats
Former Hawaii linebacker Rinda Brooks has signed a free agent contract with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.Brooks lettered for UH in 1997 and 2000, and played in the Hula Bowl following his senior season. Brooks was the Warriors' third-leading tackler in 2000 with 77 stops.