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Bears’ De Aguiar a leader in and out of pool

The Maui News 2023 MIL Girls Water Polo All-Stars

By Robert Collias 5 min read

Mikela De Aguiar came up biggest when it counted most for her Baldwin High School girls water polo team, but the story of her senior year was so much more than the 62 goals she scored for the Bears in Maui Interscholastic League play.

Yes, a look at the matches the Bears had to have to win the league crown show just how clutch De Aguiar was.

In the MIL tournament semifinal against Kamehameha Maui, she scored seven goals, six in the second half. Those second-half goals came with Baldwin trailing 6-4, 6-5, 7-6, 9-8, 10-9 -- the sixth being the eventual game winner with the match tied at 10-10 with 42 seconds remaining.

In the MIL tournament final against Seabury Hall, De Aguiar had six goals total, three in the fourth quarter and one in overtime. Those final four goals came with Baldwin trailing 6-5, 7-6, 8-7 in the fourth and 9-8 in OT.

In a championship playoff win over Lahainaluna, with the Lunas keying on her, De Aguiar scored twice and also had four assists.

Her goal total was 20 more than the second-highest total in the league, so it is not surprising that De Aguiar is the overwhelming choice of the coaches as The Maui News MIL Player of the Year.

"It's awesome, I feel honored to be it, it's so cool, I'm very stoked on it," De Aguiar said. "My coaches also kind of gave me a little hint, so that was really great to hear. It's just such a rewarding sport and working with everyone is so awesome."

She follows best friend Keanna Campbell as MIL POY.

"It's been awesome, she's been my best friend for like 11 years now and she's always been such a role model to me and just swimming alongside her and playing water polo and being able to share the same accomplishments, we definitely bond and just enjoy it," De Aguiar said. "And we are so proud of each other and, yeah, she's like the best friend I could ever ask for."

De Aguiar will begin her college experience at the University of Hawaii Maui College, meaning her water polo career is most likely over. It is one that will be remembered in Wailuku.

"Mikela has been an exceptional athlete and leader for our team," Baldwin head coach Lauren Shinozuka said in an email. "Her ability to play a range of positions shows her adaptability and athleticism. What makes Mikela truly impressive is how she leads by example, both in and out of the pool. I have the privilege of being Mikela's English teacher as well, and seeing her act with integrity and tenacity both at the pool and in the classroom makes her a true role model for our Baldwin community.

"Mikela's humble attitude, positivity, and spirit will be sorely missed next year. We wish her the best of luck as she moves on in her academic journey."

De Aguiar is joined on the MIL first team by Bears teammate Kylee Takeda, Lahainaluna's Zhi Clark, Tara Zamani and Mia Kosianowski (goalkeeper); King Kekaulike's Lily Barrett; Seabury Hall's Caroline Belew; and Kamehameha Maui's Ella Weber.

Weber and Belew were tied for second on the league's goal-scoring list, with 42 apiece.

After guiding Seabury Hall to the MIL tournament final, Spartans coach Ryan Walsh is the choice of his peers as MIL Coach of the Year.

"Seabury started with multiple forfeits and ended the season in the MIL Tournament championship game, taking us into overtime," Shinozuka said. "Seabury's performance in the MIL Tournament across those 3 games was truly impressive."

De Aguiar's impressive season was fueled by a family story behind the scenes -- her father, Alex De Aguiar, is battling cancer.

Mom Anuschka and younger brother Dylan, 10, are also key parts of Team De Aguiar.

"Definitely family is always my biggest motivation and they support me through everything," Mikela De Aguiar said. "So, especially going through this hard time within my family. So fortunately my dad's recovering and hopefully he's on the way to hopefully being cancer-free.

"Definitely water polo and sports helped me release any stress or helped me kind of get through the hard times and I looked forward to the practices with my teammates and having my mom and dad watch all the games, even my little brother supporting me. It's always, like, the best feeling."

Mikela takes being a big sister to Dylan seriously, especially in a stressful time. Dylan De Aguiar is an age-group swimmer, following in his sister's footsteps -- she started swimming at the age of 6.

"I definitely feel like he looks up to me a little bit and he started his ribbon wall in his room just like I have mine," Mikela De Aguiar said. "It's super cool to see how it kind of carries on throughout the family."

It is likely that Dylan De Aguiar will find a way to play water polo as well -- their swimming club is Island Aquatics, coached by former Baldwin water polo coach Shawn Donahue.

"Throughout our swimming career we had water polo, like, adopted into the program," Mikela De Aguiar said. "It was cool."

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.

SECOND TEAM

Kalla Pellettieri Seabury Hall Senior

Maurii Niles-Cantero Lahainaluna Senior

Emma Davis Seabury Hall Junior

Kailani Ibanez Baldwin Senior

Keala Giblin (GK) Seabury Hall Senior

Healani Kanekoa Lahainaluna Senior

Jade Brown Baldwin Freshman

Kailie Kalepa Kamehameha Maui Junior

Starting at /week.