KĪHEI – Kamehameha Schools Maui sophomore Mika Kane placed 6^th in the boys 200-yard backstroke event at the 2012 Hawaii High School Athletic Association Swimming and Diving State Championship on Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Kīhei Aquatic Center.

“I did alright,” Kane said, who finished with a time of 00:56.36, about six seconds behind first place swimmer Austin Hirstein from Island Pacific Academy on Oʻahu.

Kane was among the youngest competitors in his event. He was the only underclassman in the race, aside from Campell High School’s Makoa Alvarez, who placed 5^th.

“It feels great, being an underdog swimming with a bunch of juniors and seniors,” Kane said.

“He did what he needed to do. He sees where he’s at and where everyone else is at. This was just an insight into what he can be,” KSM swim coach Leighton Hao said.

He also placed 8^th in the boys 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:46.37, along with teammates seniors Keala Kama and Palani Hassett and freshman Spencer Shiraishi.

Kane began swimming at the age of six and joined the KSM swim team during his freshman year in high school.

The rest of the KSM swim team attended the meet to support Kane, Kama, Hassett and Shiraishi, cheering them on from the sidelines.

“We’re a family. We’re always going to be supporting each other no matter what,” sophomore swimmer Kela Killam said.

For complete results of the HHSAA championship, click here to be taken to the official race results.