Maeha wins third title; Sabers frosh wins boys

Leilehua’s Gwen Maeha completed a turkey of a different kind on Friday — not scoring three consecutive strikes but winning her third consecutive state title — in an 80-pin victory in the 44th Hawaii High School Athletic Association championships at Kauai Lanes.

Maeha, a senior, becomes just the second girls bowler to win three in a row. Dara Ajimine of Kalani did it from 2006 to 2008.

Maeha’s three-game scores on Friday were 175, 208 and 190 for a 573 series total. She led after each round, with the first two being held Thursday and the final round held Friday.

Her nine-game total of 1,799 beat Campbell sophomore Kourtney Adams, who finished with 1,719. Mid-Pacific senior Saige Yamada was third at 1,625.

The boys competition was just as dramatic, as Campbell freshman Josiah Benner-Eslit rolled three 200-plus games to rally for his first state title.

Benner-Eslit, who entered the day in seventh place, strung together games of 226, 203 and 247 for a three-game series of 676. His 1,841 total over three rounds overcame Mid-Pacific sophomore Kai Yamada, who finished with 1,793. Yamada’s series was 183, 176 and 229 for a 588 total for Friday’s round.

Jake Brett, a Kapolei freshman who started the day in 21st place, rolled a 669 series (245-231-193) and finished third at 1,749.

In the team competitions, Pearl City’s girls edged Campbell, 7,272-7,248. ‘Iolani took third at 7,235, with Leilehua fourth at 7,099, and Hawaii Baptist fifth at 6,877. Mililani won the boys title with 8,020, with Kapolei second at 7,970 and Castle third at 7,883. ‘Iolani was fourth at 7,719 and Kamehameha fifth at 7,308.