Lewis leads Punahou’s paddling team to victory

He is a man of many skills, this Ethan Lewis.

The 6-foot-6, 185-pound Punahou senior has left his mark, his legacy, in the worlds of water polo, paddling and volleyball. He still has roughly four months left before that diploma is in his hands.

But if you see him operate and excel in one universe, you may never know how good he is doing something much different in the next.

Right now, he is the clean-up hitter, an almost superhuman force in the stroker (lead) position when Punahou’s boys and mixed crews hit the water. The Buffanblu won another Interscholastic League of Honolulu boys paddling championship on Saturday at Magic Island. The boys have been nearly flawless this winter, and there will be two weeks of intensive training with the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA State Championships nearing.

“He’s kind of an unknowing, mild-mannered Superman,” Punahou paddling coach Rocky Higgins said. “We in the paddling world, we talk about impact paddlers, the guy who will make the difference. When you put him in a stroke seat or a power seat, he’s definitely going to change what’s happening in the canoe for the better.”

And yet, he’s not just a type-A personality, if that.

“Ethan is probably the most accomplished paddler of the crew,” junior varsity coach Drew Hara said. “They’ve sat him in different seats and shuffle crews around a lot. He’s the ultimate competitor. He’s someone that we point to for what strokers (seat 1) do. He dictates what happens.”

The vibe in Punahou’s paddling program is largely set by Higgins. When the Buffanblu won the state title last year, Lewis was stoked for his coach.

“Winning was great especially for my coach, Rocky Higgins. He really loves the boys and girls that paddle,” he said. “Winning for him was really sweet.”

More water

As valuable as Lewis is in the canoe, he’s just as crucial to the Buffanblu in the pool as a goalie with an enormous wingspan. Lewis was selected as an All-America player last year (third team), the only island athlete honored.

“I wasn’t aware I was up for that. Water polo is the sport I find the most entertaining. What sets it apart is, a really good player will take hits, but keep his composure and focus on the more technical aspects of the game,” Lewis said. “In 2012, my freshman year, we won the ILH (water polo title). I didn’t get too much playing time. My brother was the starting goalie. I built my foundation off that year because a lot of guys were talented. As a goalie, it’s so much a psychological game. Directing my defense. Talking to these seniors who were much more experienced than me.”

His time learning under legendary coach Ken Smith has been more about the mind than the physicality.

“I’ve seen games get out of hand and crazy. Our coach hates it when people lose their head. He takes them out of the game. It’s about being a mentally stronger team. It’s a good lesson I’ve learned,” he said.

Computer blue

Lewis is fascinated, maybe borderline obsessed, with the world of computers.

“Computer science is kind of misunderstood. A lot of people are computer nerds and a lot are not. It helps your mind and your mind-set going into a tough problem,” he said. “When I take the class, I understand the behind-the-scenes part of it.”

He’s hoping to major in the field at Claremont McKenna College (Los Angeles), where he also hopes to play water polo.

“I really like the team, the coach, the school,” Lewis said.

Former teammate Noah Deer attends the college.

“He really loves everything about it, so that was a really big plus for me,” he said.

Big brother

Oliver Lewis attends Stanford now, just a couple of years since paddling and playing water polo with his younger brother, Ethan. In 2014, Oliver’s senior year, their crew lost to Kamehameha by a hair at the state championships.

“I still have strong emotions about that. I was racing with my brother and we lost to Kamehameha by less than (a second). It was kind of rough. I felt bad for him,” Ethan Lewis said.

The future is broad for Lewis. He’s not even considering a try for the Olympic team someday, not with the extreme commitment it takes. He’s been to Argentina with the U.S. national team (2012). Between academics and a taste for life in SoCal as a college student, Lewis is a computer aficionado with an adventurous streak.

“My dad (Jeff) always taught me to do what you love doing,” Lewis said. “So I make sure I’m doing something because I enjoy it.”

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.

Boys Basketball

Also receiving votes: McKinley 19, Kailua 7, St. Francis 4, Moanalua 1, Baldwin 1.

Girls Basketball

Also receiving votes: Hawaii Baptist 14, Kamehameha 8, Leilehua 7, Sacred Hearts 7, Honokaa 3, KS-Maui 1, Mid-Pacific 1.

TOP PERFORMERS

Boys

Keoua Mohiko, Kaiser
Basketball
Scored 28 points with six rebounds in a 69-40 victory over McKinley.

Girls

Brooke Ho, Kaiser
Basketball
Scored 25 points in a 54-49 win over Kahuku.