"ILH Varsity Swimming Championship 2010"

Today, at Punahou School Waterhouse Pool, the 2010 ILH Varsity Swimming Championship was held and included the following schools, Pac-5, Punahou, Iolani, HAN-HI, PSC, Mid-Pacific, Kamehameha School Kapalama, Island Pacific Academy, and Le Jardin Academy.

I enjoy covering sports, events and new schools to recognize those kids that should be recognized and are not. Island Pacific Academy is one of them. I met with their Head Coach Ron Tsuchiya (photo top middle) who originally retired from Richmond Virginia Common Wealth University as their swim coach for 40 years, and returned back to Hawaii to take care of his mother.

After a period of time, Ron got back into coaching here in Hawaii for Hickam, Aloha Aquatics in Mililani and at Radford High School. He soon heard about Island Pacific Academy starting up in 2004 and got a part-time position there. The school headmaster needed to develop a sports program and in 2005-2006 created a sports program first with cross country, swimming and track and entered the ILH and were put on probation for one year, then accepted and that's how they got started in sports. Today they have over 16 sports in their program including cross country, swimming, track, wrestling, bowling, air riflery, football, baseball, softball, volleyball and soccer. As for their swim team, coach Tsuchiya related they are doing very well. In fact, last week the JV tied for 4th and 5th place and one of the girls received the bronze medal for the 100 yard breaststroke, and Austin Hirstein (photo top left) received two medals, a gold and silver in the backstroke.

At today's meet, IPA has only two swimmers, Austin Hirstein and Josh Elsen (photo top right). Austin moved to Hawaii from West Point N.Y. 5 years ago where he originally played baseball. He then attended IPA in 2004 as a 7th grader. He got involved in swimming because of his friend Jordon, and has been swimming for only 9 months. Coach Tsuchiya was very amazed by his talent. Today, he will be swimming the 100/200 yard backstroke. Their second swimmer, Josh Elsen who started with IPA back in 2005-2006, started swimming as early as the 3rd grade and he will be swimming the freestyle 50/100 yards.

Punahou took the win with 93 points, Iolani second with 59 points, Kamehameha with 43 points, Le Jardin with 18 points, Pac-Five with 12 points and Island Pacific Academy with 3 points. "Congratulations" to both swimmers in today's championship and especially to Austin Hirstein who placed 3rd in the 100 yard backstroke with the time of 56.43 and thank you coach Ron Tsuchiya for your time and information. I would also like to thank the coach for Le Jardin Academy who pointed out some of his top swimmers. More photos "click here."