Punahou coach Jeff Meister was right on target when asked late Saturday afternoon who he thought was the favored team to win the upcoming Interscholastic League of Honolulu swimming and diving championship finals.
History was on his Buffanblu’s side, big time, so it was a surprise when Meister answered, “Iolani.”
“And they’re a really young team,” he added about the Raiders.
Meister wasn’t discounting his own team’s chances — and Punahou did indeed wind up taking second place — but he wasn’t pulling anyone’s leg by giving sending some recognition ‘Iolani’s way before what turned out to be the Raiders’ journey to victory in the finals at the Punahou pool
Coach Ivan Batsanov’s ‘Iolani boys did something that hasn’t been done very much in the last 100-plus years by winning it all.
L.T. Stancil got congratulations from coach Ivan Batsanov during Saturday’s ILH swimming and diving championships. (Photo by Bedrock Sports Hawaii’s Elijah Abramo).
Only 28 times previously since ILH boys swimming began in 1917 has a team not named Punahou won the league championship. The last time that happened was in 2020, when no meet was held due to COVID-19. The Buffanblu have won it 75 times.
Reiter Powers ‘Iolani’s Winning Charge
But Saturday was ‘Iolani’s day and the Raiders were led by Jon Reiter, who swam to victory in the 200-yard individual medley (1:55.65) and 100 breaststroke (54.75).
Reiter was also part of the winning 200 freestyle relay team (1:27.09) with Joshua Taufahema, Chase Douglas and Stone Miller, and he finished in second place in the 200 medley relay with Evan Wong, Taufahema and Douglass.
In addition, ‘Iolani got second-place performances in: the 400 freestyle relay from Miller, Brandon Tsang, Wong and L.T. Stancil; Taufahema in the 100 freestyle; Stancil in the 200 individual medley; and Miller in the 200 freestyle.
Of the ‘Iolani stalwarts Saturday, Reiter is a senior. But the Raiders’ youth brigade has a super bright high school future ahead. Miller and Taufahema are sophomores and Douglas, Tsang, Wong and Stancil are freshmen.
Punahou’s Lyon Is A Triple Winner
Senior James Lyon swam to individual victories in the 200 freestyle (1:40.79) and the 500 freestyle (4:38.26). He also swam the anchor leg on the Buffanblu’s winning 400 freestyle relay team (3:08.21) with Noah Peters, Jack Morehart and Noah Clark.
James Lyon’s gold cap is in transit between some red reflections during his 500-yard freestyle victory Saturday. (Bedrock Sports Hawaii photo by Elijah Abramo).
Lyon will be swimming for the Naval Academy next season.
“I’m really excited for that,” he said about going to Annapolis. “I’ve got a lot of work to do, but I’m pretty ready.”
Lyon was a part of two Punahou relay event state championships a year ago and his ILH 500 freestyle win this year was his second in a row.
Kamehameha freshman Connor Seminavage was also a double winner, taking the top spot in the 100 breaststroke (51.48) and the 100 butterfly (52.13).
According to Le Jardin coach Joe Glenn, the Bulldogs picked up their first relay win in school history — by Ethan Ravelo, Thomas Caps, Paul Spary and Grant Tseu in the 200 medley relay (1:36.29).
Le Jardin’s winning 200-yard medley relay team is, from left to right, coach Joe Glenn, Thomas Caps, Paul Spary, Ethan Ravelo and Grant Tsue. (Bedrock Sports Hawaii photo by Elijah Abramo).
Punahou Has Won 75 ILH Championships In 105 Years Of Boys Swimming
The last time the Punahou boys won an ILH championship was 2019. The title meet was canceled last year due to COVID-19.
The Buffanblu hold 75 league championships in the 105 years. Meister was the head coach for 18 of them.
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ALSO AT BedrockSportsHawaii.com: Le Jardin’s Alana Barthel Sets ILH Backstroke Record; Punahou Swims To League Title
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See below for final results of the 2021 ILH swimming and diving championships.
Note: League officials are waiting on the final diving results to come in, but it is not expected to change the team standings.
