KIHEI - Although it has been a long road to recovery for Baldwin High School junior Jonah Hu, the last race of Saturday's Maui Interscholastic League Invitational swim meet showed the work has paid off.
Hu swam the final leg of the 400-yard freestyle relay at Kihei Aquatic Center, and gave the Bears a come-from-behind victory over Seabury Hall.
"I knew we had a chance, so I thought I'd give it all for the boys," Hu said. "I just put my head down and told myself to do it."
Article Photos
Baldwin High School’s Jonah Hu, shown Saturday at Kihei Aquatic Center, won seven events over two days in the Maui Interscholastic League Invitational.
The Maui News / CHRIS SUGIDONO photo
Hu slowly caught up to Spartan senior Ryan Koss, allowing for a dramatic finish in the final 50 yards - Baldwin's time of 3 minutes, 21.71 seconds was .07 ahead of Seabury.
"It was crazy," Hu said. "Everyone was shouting and all. It was fun."
Baldwin won the team competition with 83 points, while Seabury was second with 64. The Bears won the girls title as well with 86 points, 33 more than runner-up Lahainaluna. In Friday's competition, Baldwin and Seabury finished 1-2 in the boys and girls divisions.
Fact Box
MIL INVITATIONAL
At Kihei Aquatic Center
Friday's Results
Girls
Team scores-1. Baldwin 69, 2. Seabury Hall 67, 3. Kamehameha Maui 40, 4. Lahainaluna 27, 5. Molokai 8, 6t. King Kekaulike 2, 6t. Maui Prep 2.
Individual results
200 medley relay-1. Baldwin A (Alyssa Waki, Megan Leonhard, Sheila Altura, Maya Sinclair) 2:00.66, 2. Seabury Hall A 2:01.75, 3. Lahainaluna A 2:06.46, 4. Baldwin B 2:07.09, 5. Seabury Hall B 2:19.64.
200 freestyle-1. Jesselee Chapman, Lahainaluna, 1:59.56; 2. Dana Leonhard, Baldwin, 2:08.65; 3. Geneva Leon, Lahainaluna, 2:17.12; 4. Kiri Allen, Baldwin, 2:18.13; 5. Ava McCrea, Lahainaluna, 2:20.03.
200 individual medley-1. Maya Okamura, Seabury Hall, 2:24.66; 2. Mia Czerwinski, Kamehameha Maui, 2:27.82; 3. Stacie Cuadro, Baldwin, 2:30.34; 4. Sarina Kong, Kamehameha Maui, 2:34.00; 5. Teak McAfee, Seabury Hall, 2:35.93.
50 freestyle-1. Sheila Altura, Baldwin, 25.79; 2. Maya Sinclair, Baldwin, 26.38; 3. Sabrina Altman, Seabury Hall, 27.17; 4. Alyssa Waki, Baldwin, 27.42; 5. Jesselee Chapman, Lahainaluna, 27.90.
100 butterfly-1. Sarah Armstrong, Seabury Hall, 1:03.17; 2. Mia Czerwinski, Kamehameha Maui, 1:06.81; 3. Sarina Kong, Kamehameha Maui, 1:09.18; 4. Lia Ikeda, Kamehameha Maui, 1:15.36; 5. Erin Lim, Kamehameha Maui, 1:16.61.
100 freestyle-1. Jesselee Chapman, Lahainaluna, 58.26; 2. Dana Leonhard, Baldwin, 58.53; 3. Geneva Leon, Lahainaluna, 1:00.41; 4. Stacie Cuadro, Baldwin, 1:02.25; 5. Haleigh Berko, Lahainaluna, 1:02.49.
500 freestyle-1. Rhiannon Hernandez, Seabury Hall, 6:34.81; 2. Sydney Anderson, Seabury Hall, 6:56.08; 3. Roxane Gaedeke, Seabury Hall, 6:56.15.
200 freestyle relay-1. Kamehameha Maui A Mia Czerwinski, Erin Lim, Riley Shiraishi, Sarina Kong) 1:46.99, 2. Seabury Hall A 1:48.90, 3. Baldwin A 1:49.73, 4. Kamehameha Maui B 1:58.87, 5. Baldwin B 2:00.54.
100 backstroke-1. Sheila Altura, Baldwin, 1:04.53; 2. Alyssa Waki, Baldwin, 1:07.49; 3. Kyle Sullivan, Seabury Hall, 1:15.94; 4. Christina Patao-Torres, Baldwin, 1:16.55; 5. Kiri Allen, Baldwin, 1:20.30.
100 breaststroke-1. Sarah Armstrong, Seabury Hall, 1:10.81; 2. Sabrina Altman, Seabury Hall, 1:13.95; 3. Maya Okamura, Seabury Hall, 1:15.07; 4. Tina Medeiros, Baldwin, 1:18.46; 5. Maya Sinclair, Baldwin, 1:22.72.
400 freestyle relay-1. Kamehameha Maui A (Erin Lim, Sarina Kong, Riley Shiraishi, Mia Czerwinski) 4:03.01, 2. Baldwin A 4:13.97, 3. Seabury Hall A 4:32.35.
Boys
Team scores-1. Baldwin 71, 2. Seabury Hall 64, 3. Kamehameha Maui 28, 4. Maui Prep 21, 5. Molokai 13, 6. Maui High 3, 7. Lahainaluna 2.
Individual results
200 medley relay-1. Baldwin A (Jonah Hu, Troy Kojenlang, Reece Murata, Carter Suzuki) 1:41.79, 2. Seabury Hall A 1:46.87, 3. Kamehameha Maui A 1:51.76, 4. Baldwin B 1:52.13, 5. Maui Prep A 2:01.49.
200 freestyle-1. Ryan Koss, Seabury Hall, 1:50.32; 2. Mika Kane, Kamehameha Maui, 1:59.93; 3. Lihau Fujihara, Maui High, 2:01.76; 4. Michael Kikukawa, Molokai, 2:15.44; 5. Noa Taamu, Lahainaluna, 2:18.43.
200 individual medley-1. Jonah Hu, Baldwin, 2:01.25; 2. Troy Kojenlang, Baldwin, 2:06.77; 3. Reece Murata, Baldwin, 2:09.19; 4. Carter Umetsu, Seabury Hall, 2:21.06; 5. Nalu Laurel, Lahainaluna, 2:26.50.
50 freestyle-1. Sky Hirsch, Maui Prep, 22.31; 2. Carter Suzuki, Baldwin, 23.32; 3. Kyle Mauri, Kamehameha Maui, 23.81; 4. Zackery Kresge, Seabury Hall, 24.44; 5. Troy Kojenlang, Baldwin, 24.60.
100 butterfly-1. Reece Murata, Baldwin, 55.10; 2. Carter Suzuki, Baldwin, 58.66; 3. Mika Kane, Kamehameha Maui, 1:00.35; 4. Rysen Otomo, Baldwin, 1:01.10; 5. Jameson Keiley, Baldwin, 1:02.16.
100 freestyle-1. Renny Richmond, Seabury Hall, 47.77; 2. Ryan Koss, Seabury Hall, 50.59; 3. John Van Scoy, Seabury Hall, 52.57; 4. Spencer Shiraishi, Kamehameha Maui, 53.62; 5. Santana Huck, Maui Prep, 54.49.
500 freestyle-1. Kai Iinuma-Nakaaki, Seabury Hall, 5:53.65.
200 freestyle relay-1. Baldwin A (Reece Murata, Troy Kojenlang, Jonah Hu, Carter Suzuki) 1:31.57, 2. Seabury Hall A 1:32.23, 3. Kamehameha Maui A 1:39.42, 4. Baldwin B 1:42.68, 5. Molokai A 1:46.53.
100 backstroke-1. Jonah Hu, Baldwin, 55.48; 2. Sky Hirsch, Maui Prep, 57.76; 3. Kyle Mauri, Kamehameha Maui, 57.86; 4. Rysen Otomo, Baldwin, 1:01.18; 5. John Van Scoy, Seabury Hall, 1:02.26.
100 breaststroke-1. Renny Richmond, Seabury Hall, 1:04.09; 2. Santana Huck, Maui Prep, 1:13.59; 3. Michael Kikukawa, Molokai, 1:13.60; 4. Akona Adolpho, Molokai, 1:21.30; 5. Taylor Lee, Kamehameha Maui, 1:23.13.
Saturday's Results
Girls
Team scores-1. Baldwin 86, 2. Lahainaluna 53, 3t. Kamehameha Maui 40, 3t. Seabury Hall 40, 5. Maui High 7, 6. Maui Prep 2.
Individual results
Diving-1. Cloe Cadiz, Seabury Hall, 308.35; 2. Kinsey Sporrer, Baldwin, 292.95.
200 medley relay-1. Kamehameha Maui A (Mia Czerwinski, Sarina Kong, Kela Killam, Riley Shiraishi) 2:01.35, 2. Baldwin A 2:03.09, 3. Baldwin B 2:12.60, 4. Lahainaluna A 2:14.17, 5. Seabury Hall A 2:14.35.
200 freestyle-1. Sheila Altura, Baldwin, 2:01.03; 2. Sabrina Altman, Seabury Hall, 2:07.79; 3. Kyle Sullivan, Seabury Hall, 2:15.49; 4. Sarina Kong, Kamehameha Maui, 2:24.76; 5. Leimana Hassett, Kamehameha Maui, 2:31.50.
200 individual medley-1. Alyssa Waki, Baldwin, 2:28.47; 2. Erin Lim, Kamehameha Maui, 2:34.66; 3. Jessica Saki, Maui High, 2:36.06; 4. Geneva Leon, Lahainaluna, 2:37.24; 5. Haleigh Berko, Lahainaluna, 2:37.39.
50 freestyle-1. Maya Sinclair, Baldwin, 26.27; 2. Dana Leonhard, Baldwin, 26.71; 3. Mia Czerwinski, Kamehameha Maui, 26.83; 4. Riley Shiraishi, Kamehameha Maui, 27.52; 5. Deme Deshayne, Baldwin, 28.34.
100 butterfly-1. Sheila Altura, Baldwin, 1:01.53; 2. Maya Sinclair, Baldwin, 1:03.65; 3. Alyssa Waki, Baldwin, 1:08.31; 4. Stacie Cuadro, Baldwin, 1:10.73; 5. Dana Leonhard, Baldwin, 1:14.38.
100 freestyle-1. Paris Sargent, Lahainaluna, 57.63; 2. Mia Czerwinski, Kamehameha Maui, 58.59; 3. Sarina Kong, Kamehameha Maui, 58.78; 4. Erin Lim, Kamehameha Maui, 1:00.16; 5. Alea Weber, Baldwin, 1:01.99.
500 freestyle-1. Jesselee Chapman, Lahainaluna, 5:16.98; 2. Sheila Altura, Baldwin, 5:23.30; 3. Paris Sargent, Lahainaluna, 5:26.45; 4. Teak McAfee, Seabury Hall, 6:00.56; 5. Maya Okamura, Seabury Hall, 6:02.03.
200 freestyle relay-1. Lahainaluna A (Haleigh Berko, Jesselee Chapman, Paris Sargent, Geneva Leon) 1:50.48, 2. Baldwin A 1:54.94, 3. Seabury Hall A 1:55.91, 4. Kamehameha Maui A 1:56.19, 5. Lahainaluna B 2:01.96.
100 backstroke-1. Sabrina Altman, Seabury Hall, 1:04.32; 2. Dana Leonhard, Baldwin, 1:06.42; 3. Mia Czerwinski, Kamehameha Maui, 1:08.89; 4. Tina Medeiros, Baldwin, 1:09.43; 5. Maya Okamura, Seabury Hall, 1:12.03.
100 breaststroke-1. Jesselee Chapman, Lahainaluna, 1:13.24; 2. Megan Leonhard, Baldwin, 1:17.58; 3. Ava McCrea, Lahainaluna, 1:19.25; 4. Jessica Saki, Maui High, 1:19.46; 5. Kiri Allen, Baldwin, 1:19.53.
400 freestyle relay-1. Baldwin A (Sheila Altura, Alyssa Waki, Dana Leonhard, Maya Sinclair) 3:52.51, 2. Lahainaluna A 4:04.40, 3. Seabury Hall A 4:14.58, 4. Baldwin B 4:19.26, 5. Seabury Hall B 4:45.92.
Boys
Team scores-1. Baldwin 83, 2. Seabury Hall 64, 3. Kamehameha Maui 38, 4. Molokai 10, 5. Maui Prep 9, 6. Maui High 5, 7. Lahainaluna 4, 8. St. Anthony 1.
Individual results
Diving-1. Jonathan You, Baldwin, 317.60.
200 medley relay-1. Baldwin A (Thomas Carone, Rysen Otomo, Jameson Keiley, Per Gutierrez) 1:50.46, 2. Kamehameha Maui A 1:50.74, 3. Seabury Hall A 2:05.98, 4. Molokai A 2:08.59.
200 freestyle-1. John Van Scoy, Seabury Hall, 1:53.49; 2. Troy Kojenlang, Baldwin, 1:56.11; 3. Jameson Keiley, Baldwin, 2:00.51; 4. Slater Trout, Maui Prep, 2:12.45; 5. Gabe Sisneros, Maui High, 2:21.30.
200 individual medley-1. Renny Richmond, Seabury Hall, 1:58.84; 2. Sky Hirsch, Maui Prep, 2:04.97; 3. Mika Kane, Kamehameha Maui, 2:10.35; 4. Kyle Mauri, Kamehameha Maui, 2:19.42; 5. Lihau Fujihara, Maui High, 2:21.63.
50 freestyle-1. Spencer Shiraishi, Kamehameha Maui, 22.80; 2. Ryan Koss, Seabury Hall, 23.43; 3. Reece Murata, Baldwin, 23.50; 4. Rysen Otomo, Baldwin, 23.95; 5. Mika Kane, Kamehameha Maui, 24.10.
100 butterfly-1. Renny Richmond, Seabury Hall, 51.47; 2. Jonah Hu, Baldwin, 53.05; 3. Reece Murata, Baldwin, 55.14; 4. Troy Kojenlang, Baldwin, 55.48; 5. Sky Hirsch, Maui Prep, 56.16.
100 freestyle-1. Zackery Kresge, Seabury Hall, 51.02; 2. Rysen Otomo, Baldwin, 51.68; 3. Carter Suzuki, Baldwin, 51.82; 4. Slater Trout, Maui Prep, 58.67; 5. Kai Iinuma-Nakaaki, Seabury Hall, 58.73.
500 freestyle-1. Ryan Koss, Seabury Hall, 4:58.24; 2. Kyle Mauri, Kamehameha Maui, 5:28.51; 3. Nalu Laurel, Lahainaluna, 5:42.81; 4. Carter Umetsu, Seabury Hall, 5:44.68; 5. Joshua Schwartzlow, St. Anthony, 5:52.41.
200 freestyle relay-1. Baldwin A (Jonah Hu, Reece Murata, Troy Kojenlang, Carter Suzuki) 1:30.29, 2. Seabury Hall A 1:32.00, 3. Molokai A 1:50.57, 4. Kamehameha Maui A 1:53.80, 5. Molokai B 2:00.36.
100 backstroke-1. Mika Kane, Kamehameha Maui, 55.71; 2. Carter Suzuki, Baldwin, 1:01.22; 3. Lihau Fujihara, Maui High, 1:01.79; 4. Reece Murata, Baldwin, 1:03.99; 5. Nalu Laurel, Lahainaluna, 1:07.20.
100 breaststroke-1. Jonah Hu, Baldwin, 59.50; 2. Kyle Mauri, Kamehameha Maui, 1:09.89; 3. Zackery Kresge, Seabury Hall, 1:11.80; 4. Kai Iinuma-Nakaaki, Seabury Hall, 1:12.35; 5. Jameson Keiley, Baldwin, 1:12.63.
400 freestyle relay-1. Baldwin A (Troy Kojenlang, Rysen Otomo, Carter Suzuki, Jonah Hu) 3:21.71, 2. Seabury Hall A 3:21.78.
In the two days, Hu claimed seven first-place finishes.
Hu, a record-setting youth age-group swimmer, started his journey back to the pool in 2009, when he was suffering from inflammation in his right shoulder and a torn labrum in his left. Each injury required surgery, causing him to sit out his freshman year.
"I was kind of bummed," he said. "I just had to sit on the side of the pool and watch everyone."
Hu's mother, Cecelia Romero, cheered him on at the meet Saturday, and said she was amazed that he had stayed so focused and upbeat during his injury. However, she recalled a couple of instances when his positivity waned.
"There were one or two times where he actually said to me, 'Mom, you think God is trying to send me a message that I shouldn't swim?' " Romero said. "And I said, 'I don't think so, I think he's trying to send you a message to just trust him. And that if you just trust him, he'll get you there in the end.' "
Romero, a coach for Maui Swim Club, said she is happy with the way Hu's training is progressing, and that in the past two years, he has lost 35 to 40 pounds. Since his injury, she said he no longer trains twice a day, instead opting for single two-hour sessions, and has to stretch and ice his shoulders after every practice.
"He's hyper-flexible," she said. "His joints will always have inflammation, so the coaches and doctors explained to him that he has to always ice and stretch, or else it'll happen again."
Hu has plans beyond the pool, and hopes to study anesthesiology at Stanford while swimming for the Cardinal as well. He is also a prize-winning artist, and plays piano.
Baldwin coach Laura Lipp said Hu has helped motivate the team this year.
"He's definitely inspiring for all of the other swimmers," Lipp said. "He's always positive and willing to swim whatever we need him to swim. When he needs to step up, he definitely delivers."
* Chris Sugidono is at csugidono@mauinews.com
