STATE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Gora and Lim prevail; Buffanblu teams sweep
It was an afternoon of repeats on the final day of the 2006 Carlsmith Ball/HHSAA State Tennis Championships on Kauai.
Punahou's Mikey Lim won his second consecutive state singles title, defeating Kealakehe's Spencer Mendoza 7-5, 6-3 in the final. The win also helped the Buffanblu clinch their 16th straight team title and 23rd in the last 24 years. It's the 13th championship in a row for Punahou coach Rusty Komori since he took over the team in 1994. It was an all-Punahou final in doubles as Jon Wong and Alex Ching defeated teammates Erik Shoji and Hiroshi Hikida 6-4, 6-0.
The Buffanblu also won their fourth straight girls state championship, holding off St. Francis and Kamehameha, who tied for second. The Troubadours' Kalei Gora ended her high school career with a third straight state championship, defeating Kamehameha's Brooke Doane 6-4, 6-3 in the final. Gora's only state tournament career loss came in the final her freshman year.
Punahou's Kristin Lim and Ashley Ohira captured the doubles state championship, defeating Moanalua's surprising seventh-seeded team of Joelle Yamamoto and Kim Yamaguchi 6-4, 6-3.
HHSAA state championships
At Kiahuna Swim & Tennis Club/Poipu Kai Tennis Courts
Varsity boys
Championship singles
[4] Mikey Lim, Punahou, def. [2] Spencer Mendoza, Kealakehe, 7-5, 6-3
Third-place singles
[1] Skyler Tateishi, Punahou, def. Kevin Caulfield, Punahou, 6-1, 6-1
Championship doubles
[1] Jon Wong/Alex Ching, Punahou, def. [3] Erik Shoji/Hiroshi Hikida, Punahou, 6-4, 6-0
Third-place doubles
[2] Daniel Adachi/Marcus Pearman, Iolani, def. David Puleiku/Ramsay Yakut, King Kekaulike, 6-2, 6-2
Varsity girls
Championship singles
[1] Kalei Gora, St. Francis, def. [2] Brooke Doane, Kamehameha, 6-4, 6-3
Third-place singles
[4] Christine Pagatpatan, Waipahu, def. [7] Lyndsey Tom, Kapaa, 6-2, 6-0
Championship doubles
[1] Kristin Lim/Ashley Ohira, Punahou, def. Joelle Yamamoto/Kim Yamaguchi, Moanalua, 6-4, 6-3
Third-place doubles
[8] Erika Noel/Jill Kappel, Kaiser, def. [6] Janelle Arita/Dara Azuma, Punahou, 6-0, 4-6, 7-5
