Pearl City’s Danielle Tanabe has been closing in on her target the past few years.

The Chargers senior has made a steady climb at the Civilian Marksman/HHSAA Air Riflery State Championships, going from 41st to 22nd to fourth in the girls competition.

This year’s event will be Oct. 27 at Kamehameha Schools-Maui.

Tanabe, the reigning two-time Oahu Interscholastic Association individual champion, said she’s just “going through the motions” at practice, but gets locked in when it counts.

“I don’t take practice too seriously,” Tanabe said. “At OIA and states I focus more. I don’t use up (mental) energy for practice. I shoot well if I know it is going to get scored.”

Les Aranaydo, Pearl City’s coach since 1997, has seen Tanabe make great strides in her marksmanship.

“She has improved in every aspect of shooting,” Aranaydo said. “She can get in a groove and get in the zone.”

While some air riflery competitors can lose focus after a bad shot or two, Tanabe simply doesn’t sweat it on the rare occasions she’s inaccurate.

“Some think too hard about it,” she said. “Emotions tie into the sport. It can affect your shooting. If they don’t shoot a good score it can break them.”

Tanabe and fellow four-year team members Jennifer Loui and Kiara-Lyn Wasano give the Chargers the experience and depth to once again contend for the team title.

The Pearl City girls have finished in the top three at the past three state events, including a team championship in 2013.

The Punahou boys and Mid-Pacific girls are the defending state champions.

“We want to try and win at states again. This is our last chance to win,” said Wasano, whose top state finish was 15th last season.

This season, Loui has averaged 525, Tanabe is at 524 and Wasano comes in at 521. Sophomore Madison Hataishi, the fourth member of this year’s Chargers state team, averages 510.

Competitors fire 20 shots each from the prone, standing and kneeling positions, with the maximum possible score being 600.

The Pearl City girls beat Kalani at the OIA championships on Oct. 10 to extend their league dual-meet winning streak to five years and 45 matches.

Tanabe scored 537.11, Loui was second at 534.17, Hataishi third with 518.15 and Wasano placed fifth at 507.07.

“We kind of joke around. We don’t get serious until it’s time to shoot,” said Loui, whose best state finish was sixth as a sophomore. “When you see someone shoot well you want to shoot better.”

Chargers junior Kiara Eltagonde (12th at OIA), freshman Kylee Wasano (15th) and sophomore Joley Nakamura (18th) will compete as individuals at the state championships.

THE HIGH SCHOOL TOP 10

Voted on by coaches and media statewide. First-place votes in parentheses. Ten points for first-place votes, nine for second, etc.

TOP PERFORMERS

Lineman of the week

Christian Mejia, Kailua
The Surfriders’ defensive end had an interception, a sack and two other tackles for loss in a 37-22 loss to Waianae in the OIA quarterfinals on Friday.

Back of the week

Tai-John Mizutani, ‘Iolani
The 6-foot sophomore quarterback set an ILH Division I record with 485 passing yards in a 39-24 loss to No. 5 Kamehameha on Friday. Mizutani, the first ‘Iolani QB to top 400 passing yards in a game, broke the record previously held by Saint Louis’ Jeremy Higgins.