Kamehameha Schools Maui sophomore Cruz Storer launches off the starting block in the 50 freestyle, where he went on to win in 20.65 seconds. Photo courtesy Reid Yamamoto

Cruz Storer glanced up at the scoreboard with a smile before pulling himself out of the pool and being greeted by his teammates Saturday at the Kihei Aquatic Center.

The Kamehameha Schools Maui sophomore had just broken a 25-year-old Maui Interscholastic League record in the boys 100-yard freestyle, touching the wall in 45.44 seconds. The previous mark of 45.51 was set in 2000 by Baldwin High School’s Cheyne Bloch, who went on to become a four-time All-American.

“I’m very happy about it because I do a lot of work with my coaches in the mornings and afternoons,” Storer said after winning the race at the MIL swimming and diving championships. “It was a nice feeling and set up for states, so I just got to do better at states.”

Earlier in the afternoon, cheers erupted as Storer helped lead the Warriors’ 200 medley relay team of Zeke Chang, Aaron Mahoe and Makaha Kealoha to a second-place finish with a time of 1 minute, 47.55 seconds. Baldwin’s junior Logan Castillo and seniors Huy Vu, Duke Stanton and Mason Means won the event in 1:43.92 after a close battle in the final laps, anchored by Means.

Storer later captured his first individual title of the day in the 50-yard freestyle, posting a time of 20.65 seconds, just shy of the MIL record of 20.52 set by Seabury Hall’s Renny Richmond in 2012.

While the Warriors sophomore is beginning to make his mark, Maui High senior Aika Swanson capped her final MIL meet with two victories.

Saying that she “left it all in the water,” Swanson won both the girls 50 freestyle (24.34 seconds) and the 100 freestyle (51.92) on Saturday. The Sabers athlete is the only MIL swimmer to have won a state gold medal last season.

“I went into it expecting just to have fun — it’s my last MIL championships, so I just wanted to take advantage of that,” Swanson said. “It’s really bittersweet because I’ve had such a great time here. The Maui High swim team is such a great community, and it’s sad to see it come to an end, but I’m really grateful it happened.”

Maui High senior Aika Swanson races to victory in the girls 100 freestyle, finishing in 51.92 seconds. Photo courtesy Reid Yamamoto

Also on her last MIL appearance, Maui Prep senior Sacha Salem claimed two individual titles, winning the 200 individual medley (2:10.30) and the 500 freestyle (5:08.58). Salem finished runner-up and third, respectively, in those events at last season’s state championships.

Salem also helped Na Pueo edge Seabury for the girls 200 medley relay title with a time of 1:54.79, alongside junior Halia Caiserman and seniors Sloane Jucker and Sadie Stafford.

To close the meet, Salem anchored the girls 4Ö100 freestyle relay, touching the wall just ahead of Swanson in a finish that proved decisive. The win secured Maui Prep’s fourth consecutive MIL girls team championship, scoring 62 points over Maui High’s 59.

“It honestly feels so amazing,” said Salem after completing her final MIL championship of her high school career. “I started this season physically and mentally not in the best spot coming off a fractured foot and sickness throughout the season, but I’m just so proud of myself for sticking it out and that I can do anything I put my mind to.”

Maui Prep senior Sasha Salem takes a breath during the finals of the 200 IM at the Kihei Aquatic Center on Saturday afternoon. Photo courtesy Reid Yamamoto

The University of Hawaii commit is looking forward to Division I swimming, but noted that she will miss her Na Pueo teammates the most.

“Definitely my friends because they are my family,” Salem said. “A lot of them are my best friends and I don’t think I could have made it through most of this season without them. My coaches, too. They are genuinely the sweetest people I’ve ever talked to.”

Other highlights from the day include performances by King Kekaulike senior Xander Hurst, who became a two-time MIL champion in the 200 free (1:43.79) and 500 free (4:46.16) to defend his titles from last year. His freshman teammate, Viola Stevens, also won two races: the girls 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke.

King Kekaulike’s Xander Hurst leads the field in the boys 200 freestyle at the Maui Interscholastic League Swimming Championships. Photo courtesy Reid Yamamoto

The Maui Prep boys team won the 4Ö100-yard freestyle relay, a pivotal race that placed them ahead of the defending MIL team champions Baldwin with a score of 67-64 points.

Top MIL finishers now prepare for the 2026 K. Mark Takai Swimming & Diving State Championships, which will take place on February 13-14 at Kamehameha Hawaii.

As of Jan. 27, the HHSAA’s Individual Top Times list Salem as a favorite in the girls 500 freestyle. Storer enters the state meet ranked first in three events — the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle and 50 backstroke.

“I hope to possibly win and maybe break a couple records,” Storer said. “And just go for the experience and have some fun.”

A top state contender in the girls 100-yard freestyle, Swanson hopes to capture gold before leaving Hawai’i and competing at Claremont McKenna College, a top Division III program in California.

“I’m excited. I’m swimming a little differently. For the past three years of my high school career, I’ve been swimming the same 200 free and 500 free, but this year I’m doing 200 free (and) 100 free, which I’m really happy about,” she said. “I hope I feel a lot better and I’m going into the same mental state of just having fun and really just leaving it all out on the water. I’m excited to see my Oahu competitors and leave it all in the pool.”

Maui High senior Aika Swanson prepares for the girls 100 freestyle finals. Photo courtesy Reid Yamamoto