Sync or swim

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  Wai'anae, Hawai'i
  February 18, 2015
  
  In the sport of paddling, a team has to be in unison to row the canoe smoothly. One motion, one team, in sync or else the boat will fail to move. Waianae High School’s paddling team works hard to embody that concept of unison. “We do everything together. I mean, down to talking to each other, down to exercising together,” head coach, Delveen Eli said.
  
  Their hard work and dedication to a team bond paid off last year when they were OIA champions for the girl’s division, and won the Tesoro Cup, which honors the team that scores the most points in a season, for the second time. “If you have a bond then you’re unbeatable because it doesn’t matter if you win or lose cause you consider yourself winners because you worked together,” Kamaile Academy senior, Kamalani Pule said. In the team, everything is done together, strengthening their sense of teamwork. “We don’t separate anybody here meaning we don’t separate JV. We do it as a team. Meaning we practice all together, we do everything together,” head coach, Delveen Eli said.
  
  This friendship within the team also goes beyond the beach. “For starters we have sleepovers. Most of us sleepover each other’s houses on friday nights, we go movies, we have a connection outside of paddling as well as inside of paddling. Most of the team love the beach so half of the time we’re at the beach,” Kamaile Academy senior, Kamalani Pule said.
  
  As the season goes on, bonds are strengthened, creating one unit. “We all do stuff together, we all work together, we paddle together, we do everything together, so that makes us a family,” junior, Blaise Gonzales said.
  
  Within the team, they know that they can turn to one another. “I know that it I need Aunty Del or Uncle Wil, I can call them or anybody on my team,” Kamalani said. With such a close relationship, their paddling only improves. “The only one that actually supposed to be talking in the boat is #6, but if our powerhouses, meaning 3,4, and 5, is not feeling it in the boat, they let 1, which is our stroker, know that they gotta stretch it out more and pushing each other,” Delveen said. It only brings them a step closer to their goal.
  
  With their past success hanging over them, WHS’ paddling team are training to come back even harder this year. In a few weeks, they will be on their way to Maui for the state championships where 32 of Hawaii’s best will be competing. “Our goal is to reach the state race which is, the top 6 from its its school goes to the state and every island has a different seat inside,” Wil said. This determination to win pushes them to work even harder, but winning isn’t their main priority. “When we go out and go to races, we always tell them the #1 thing is you win here, at waianae, at pokai bay,” Delveen said. Though the team's focal point is teamwork, this focus is what is bringing them a step closer to the win. ¨After a win we feel the adrenaline and you just feel like a champ and that you can accomplish anything,” Blaise said.
  
  In the team, it's the bond that really matters to the coaches. "If they can work together and communicate with each other, their bond is going to be so strong that nothing can break them," Wil said. Whether they win or lose states, the relationship they have as a team will never fade. “I have made friendships that will last a lifetime and i think you can only get that here,” Kamalani said.

"If they can work together and communicate with each other, their bond is going to be so strong that nothing can break them."

Coach Wil Eli

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Looking Back

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I liked seeing how the team interacted with each other. From them I learned that even though you work hard, you can still have fun. 


Kayla Manuel, Reporter

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I learned that having a bond is very important. I also learned that having a strong bond can helps a lot, it makes communication easier.


Krystian Pi, Photographer

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