Yee places 10th at VISA Cup gymnastics

Joshua Yee of the Hawaiian Island Twisters finished 10th overall in all-around at the two-day VISA Cup Gymnastics Championships at St. Paul, Minn., which concluded Saturday.

The 17-year-old Yee, competing in the ages 16-18 division, was seventh in pommel horse, parallel bars and vault; tied for 13th on rings, tied for 14th on high bar and was 16th in floor exercise. He went 6-for-6 on both days of competition, hitting all 12 routines without a fall.

Yee is the first male Hawaii gymnast to qualify for the VISA Cup. Although the Thompson Academy senior did not qualify for the U.S. national elite team, spots earned by top-seven finishes, he is expected to be invited to train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center later this year.

Patacchia and Payne advance in Tahiti

Hawaii’s Fred Patacchia and Dusty Payne won their first-round heats yesterday in the Billabong Pro Tahiti surf contest at Teahupoo.

Patacchia, with a two-wave total of 15.82 (out of a possible 20), defeated Matt Wilkinson and Taj Burrow in the Association of Surfing Professionals World Tour event.

Payne scored 16.76 to get past Kieren Perrow and Michel Bourez.

With their wins, Patacchia and Payne advanced all the way to the third round.

McInnis to speak at QB Club luncheon

Star-Advertiser sports reporter Brian McInnis will be the featured speaker at Monday’s luncheon meeting of the Honolulu Quarterback Club.

McInnis covers the University of Hawaii basketball beat. He is on his way home from China and Japan, where he wrote daily stories about the Rainbow Warriors during their tour.

McInnis will give his insight on the trip.

Hoppy Smith and Mollie Foti, paddlers for the Lanikai Canoe Club’s masters (65-and-older) division, will also speak at the luncheon meeting.

Lunch at the Maple Garden restaurant starts at 11:30 a.m. and the program starts at noon. The cost is $15 and the public is invited.