Local Sports

Baldwin girls post first win of air riflery season

Bears aim to keep growing after having five state qualifiers last season

One month into the air riflery season, Baldwin seniors Tristyn Mano and Alex Angel-Duarosan, junior Ryker Dildine and sophomore Raylee Ribucan have emerged as top performers for the girls team, which posted its first victory of the season Saturday.

Maui High has established itself as a top team this season after the Sabers boys and girls teams swept the first three MIL competitions on Aug. 28-29, Sept. 5 and Sept. 11-12.

However, in their fourth match on Saturday, the Baldwin girls posted the best team result, scoring 1,020 points, the most among any of the boys or girls squads. The Maui High girls finished second overall with 1,006 points.

With the Maui Interscholastic League air riflery season underway, the Bears have seen steady improvement in a sport that teaches gun safety and other valuable lessons.

"I will try to continue to cultivate a team culture that celebrates the success of others," said Jon Gushiken, head coach for the Bears. "This sport is centered on individual performance, so getting the kids to buy into the team aspect of the sport can be a bit of a challenge sometimes."

Over the past two years, Ribucan has seen her shooting improve as she has learned to use breathing patterns to her advantage. She has developed a variety of stances and positions that make her feel comfortable on the line.

This season, she is continuing to focus on her growth, while working to improve her scores and refining her mindset during competitions.

"I'm inspired by my sister who used to be on the team before me and the top shooters of our school and other schools," said Ribucan. "I'm working on teaching myself how to enter a positive and focused state of mind, blocking out distractions and performing under pressure."

For Baldwin's air riflery athletes, the target is only part of the equation. The real challenge lies in building the discipline to handle pressure, the sportsmanship to support one another and the patience to understand that progress is continuous.

"A lot of kids today want to be instantly good at things, but that's not realistic," said Gushiken. "This particular sport has skills that need to be developed slowly over time and repetition."

The Baldwin girls were led Saturday by Angel-Duarosan with a 257 score, followed by Dildine and Ribucan, who both shot 255, as well as Mano (253), Maya Kozawa (245) and Rayne Yoneda (236).

On the boys side, Izea Takafuji has been a standout shooter for the Bears throughout the season, while teammates Apana and Moses Espaniola Brewster have continued to make progress and post strong results in competitions.

Maui High was the top boys team Saturday with a tight group of shooters, including Isaac Kondo (256), Jayse Miyagawa (249), Dallas Bayez (247), Aeden Cu (245) and Brody Molina (242).

Takafuji led the Bears with 259 points, placing second behind King Kekaulike's Blake Yatsushiro, who scored 263. As a team, the Bears boys took second place, finishing seven points behind the Sabers.

For Apana and Dildine, getting the most out of air riflery starts with enjoying the sport itself. As upperclassmen, they recognize the role they can play helping to create that environment.

"Our collective goals for the team this year are to shoot to the best of our abilities and have a good time while doing so," said Apana. "I will provide them with my guidance, advice, and assistance whenever they may need it."

Dildine said she is trying to prepare for every match like it's the MIL championships. She's also proud of how she's focused on her scores compared to previous weeks, rather than measuring them against other competitors' results.

With veterans guiding newcomers on the team, Baldwin is hoping to turn early progress into a push toward the state tournament Oct. 27 at the Neil Blaisdell arena on Oahu.

"A goal for the team this year is for all of us to have fun and for our girls team to try our best to make it to states," said Dildine.

Gushiken said the team is moving in the right direction, though he believes the Bears still have room to grow. One of five Baldwin shooters to qualify for the HHSAA state championship last season, Mano wants to make the most of her final season.

"When I first started my sophomore year, I would overthink my shots, but competing has helped me learn to trust myself and not let one bad shot define me," Mano said. "Air riflery has also taught me perseverance, because not every match goes the way I want it to. Overall, I've learned to take a breath, reset, and focus on my next shot."

MIL Air Riflery

Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026

At Baldwin High School

Boys

Team results -- 1. Maui High, 343-364-297, 997; 2. Baldwin, 325-367-309, 990; 3. King Kekaulike, 318-347-290, 931; 4. Seabury Hall, 317-354-266, 926; 5. Maui Christian Academy, 303-347-227, 850; 6. Kamehameha Maui, 294-335-209, 822; 7. Kulanihakoi, 261-318-259, 814; 8. Molokai, 285-309-212, 804; 9. Lahainaluna, 277-300-188, 754; 10. Haleakala Waldorf, 101-138-118, 357.

Individual results -- 1. Blake Yatsushiro, King Kekaulike, 88-99-76, 263; 2. Izea Takafuji, Baldwin, 89-91-79, 259; 3. Isaac Kondo, Maui High, 88-88-80, 256; 4. Moses Espaniola Brewster, Baldwin, 80-91-80, 251; 5. Jayse Miyagawa, Maui High, 83-88-78, 249; 6. Dallas Bayez, Maui High, 90-91-66, 247; 7. Kai Daniel, Seabury Hall, 74-96-75, 245; 8. Aeden Cu, Maui High, 82-93-70, 245; 9. Brody Molina, Maui High, 81-92-69, 242; 10. Apollo Taylor, King Kekaulike, 84-85-73, 242; 11. Blayse Morrow-Kirland, Baldwin, 81-88-71, 240; 12. Kaizen Len Wai-McGuire, Molokai, 87-86-67, 240; 13. Benjamin Apana, Baldwin, 75-88-77, 240; 14. Emmanuel Agcolicol, Baldwin, 75-93-62, 230; 15. Connor Ulene, Seabury Hall, 84-89-57, 230; 16. Brendan Seykora, Seabury Hall, 78-85-67, 230; 17. Trevor Reed, Maui Christian Academy, 77-93-55, 225; 18. Evan Nagata, Maui Christian Academy, 78-88-57, 223; 19. Dash Watanabe, Baldwin, 71-92-59, 222; 20. Noah Giesea, Seabury Hall, 79-80-62, 221; 21. Kymani Eldredge, Kulanihakoi, 61-93-64, 218; 22. Jadon Ishiki, Kamehameha Maui, 77-87-53, 217; 23. Slater Gist, Baldwin, 74-70-73, 217; 24. Cyrus Hamaleyian, Haleakala Waldorf, 76-79-61, 216; 25. Parrish Purdy Jr., King Kekaulike, 69-71-73, 213.

Girls

Team results -- 1. Baldwin, 345-365-318, 1,020; 2. Maui High, 338-373-304, 1,006; 3. Seabury Hall, 322-360-266, 929; 4. Kamehameha Maui, 309-348-289, 925; 5. King Kekaulike, 311-356-264, 901; 6. Kulanihakoi, 302-345-245, 867; 7. Lahainaluna, 268-312-208, 781; 8. Molokai, 266-288-198, 748; 9. Maui Christian Academy, 248-294-194, 736; 10. Haleakala Waldorf, 81-87-74, 242; 11. St. Anthony, 70-83-72, 225.

Individual results -- 1. Rya Ortogero, Maui High, 90-90-78, 258; 2. Jia Ray Li Angel-Duarosan, Baldwin, 86-89-82, 257; 3. Ryker Dildine, Baldwin, 87-85-83, 255; 4. Raylee Ribucan, Baldwin, 85-93-77, 255; 5. Hannah Cabebe, Maui High, 80-95-78, 253; 6. Tristyn Mano, Baldwin, 86-91-76, 253; 7. Anabella Charles, Seabury Hall, 85-95-73, 253; 8. Jazirae Manuel, Maui High, 81-91-77, 249; 9. Natasha Esclito, Maui High, 87-88-71, 246; 10. Leila Miyamoto, Kamehameha Maui, 82-90-73, 245; 11. Sienna Fukino, Kamehameha Maui, 86-83-76, 245; 12. Maya Kozawa, Baldwin, 86-87-72, 245; 13. Lily Gibson, Haleakala Waldorf, 81-87-74, 242; 14. Kalyssa Orikasa, Maui High, 80-91-68, 239; 15. Chloe Florian Fontanilla, Seabury Hall, 76-87-75, 238; 16. Mikaela McGarr, Kulanihakoi, 81-80-75, 236; 17. Rayne Yoneda, Baldwin, 83-92-61, 236; 18. Caytlin Shim, Maui High, 79-96-60, 235; 19. Mikayla Pontanilla, Maui High, 78-87-70, 235; 20. Katie Calibuso, King Kekaulike, 77-87-69, 233; 21. Taylor Ota, Seabury Hall, 79-89-64, 232; 22. Carolina Coscarelli, King Kekaulike, 75-81-72, 228; 23. June Wu, St. Anthony, 70-83-72, 225; 24. Aixa Delfin, Baldwin, 68-83-72, 223; 25. Noelia Browne, King Kekaulike, 79-88-55, 222.