The Kamehameha Maui bowlers went up against their top rivals, Baldwin High School, at Maui Bowling Center yesterday and came out on top. Out of the three matches, the boys won 2-1, and the girls won 3-0.

“It was a sweet victory,” coach Rodney Carillo said. “I have the best team.”

Junior Kayce Mercado has been bowling for two years and felt fortunate about the win against Baldwin, who came into the game in second place in the Maui Interscholastic League with both teams at 5-1. Kamehameha Maui is in first, with both teams being undefeated.

“We knew that if we wanted to win, Baldwin would be our biggest obstacle, and we pulled through,” Mercado said.

In the first match, the Warrior girls won, 666-638, and the boys won, 699-677.

The two schools’ teams were focused and showed great sportsmanship. Whether a Baldwin Bear or a Kamehameha Warrior, the teams cheered for each other no matter the bowler or the score.

Girls captain Anela Brittain described the relationship between the Warriors and the Bears as “really close, not only because we’re rivals but because we all bowl together outside of MIL, so we’re all really good friends.”

The Baldwin boys won the second match, 705-633, while the Warrior girls won, 687-612. The Warrior boys made their comeback in the last match with a score of 679-625, and with three wins in a row, the Warrior girls won the third match, 675-614.

The Baldwin Bears have been the Warriors’ biggest rivals since 2013, when Kamehameha Maui formed their first bowling team. Throughout their rivalry, the Warrior boys have played the Bears eight times and won thrice. Like the Warrior boys, the girls have won three games, but that is out of seven times they have played against Baldwin.

“Prior to the game, I honestly thought we had no chance,” Mercado said, “but we played as a team and that led us to winning.”

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Photo by Meaaloha McCabe

Kahu Kalani Wong shares some words of encouragement and prays with the Warriors.