It has been, according to state champion Le Grand Pound, an awfully tough half-year.

“This is the most embarrassing six months of my life,” the Sacred Hearts Academy junior said on Friday.

In February, the then-sophomore won the girls 200 freestyle (1 minute, 50.72 seconds) and 100 freestyle (51.41). Since then, injuries have ravaged her efforts: a fractured left ankle, followed by a left shoulder muscle injury and a right shoulder tendon injury.

She rested and rehabbed, returned during club season, struggled at the state meet a month ago, and then suited up for the Kalani Invitational on Friday. Signs are promising: Pound placed third in the 200 freestyle (1:59.89) and won the 100 freestyle (55.34).

The ankle is pain-free, but the shoulders still ache. She won’t stop to rest now. The ankle injury, which occurred in September, was preventable. She put on her sneakers, jogged on the deck at Kamehameha, where her club team practices, and slipped on a wet spot. She didn’t get it checked for six weeks, and then a specialist recommended an MRI, which found the fracture. The injury led to overcompensation by her left shoulder, which led to overcompensation by her right shoulder.

“I’m so out of shape. I can’t complete a practice yet. We’re in two-a-days and I can’t finish it,” Pound said, noting that her doctor gave approval as long as she ices the shoulders.

The struggles at the club state meet were enough for Pound to consider quitting, but the encouragement of her club coaches, Kevin Flanagan and John Flanagan, helped.

One of the state’s top swimmers, M.J. Mao of Maryknoll, was away on a trip. Other elite swimmers looked forward to the mix of competition from in and out of state. Punahou’s Maddie Balish won the 200 individual medley (2:10.56) and 100 breaststroke (1:04.23). A freshman, Casey Garcia of Pac-Five, took the 100 fly (1:00.86). Cagla Brennan of ‘Iolani won the 500 (5:06.15) and 200 (1:54.11) freestyle. She was the state champ in the 500 last season.

“To most people, it’s not a super big meet, but for me, it’s a way to gauge, it’s OIA and ILH. We’re all in winter training, so we’re all fatigued. It’s nice to see if we can make certain times.”

Brennan has grown, literally, in the past year.

“I went through a growth spurt,” said Brennan, who is close to 6 feet tall. “I’ve learned to harness my body.”

Last season’s state champion in the boys 500 freestyle, DongJin “D.J.” Hwang of Kalani, placed first in the event with a time of 4:39.36, followed by younger brother Dong Hye “D.H.” Hwang (4:45.13). D.J. also won the 200 (1:44.05), and brother D.H. took first in the 100 backstroke (56.08).

“That’s a pretty good steppingstone,” D.J. said of his 500 time. “My main event is the 1,650 (the mile).”

He’s far from content. Michael Petrifies of Mid-Pacific, second in the 500 and 200 last year at states, didn’t compete in the Kalani meet.

“At the (age-group club) state meet last month, he put up super good numbers, probably faster than me right now,” Hwang said. “But that’s what makes this sport so fun, to train harder.”

Hwang and his Falcons teammates were a big part of the post-meet costume swim, labeling themselves as the “Disney Princesses”.

“I’m a senior now, so just trying to have more fun with my events,” he said. “We train a lot and I don’t get too much sleep, but we’re having fun.”