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Hawaii Pacific University won bragging rights among the three local NCAA Division II schools by claiming the 2018-19 PacWest Hawaii Challenge, as announced by the Pacific West Conference on Tuesday.
The Sharks (21 points) outpaced runner-up Hawaii Hilo (18) and third-place Chaminade (17) to win the Challenge outright for a third straight year. BYU-Hawaii and HPU were co-champs in 2015-16, the first year of the Hawaii Challenge.
HPU earned first-place points in four sports (women’s cross country, women’s soccer, women’s basketball and women’s tennis).
Hawaii Hilo finished in second place for the second straight year, receiving second-place points in five sports, despite Chaminade claiming three first-place finishes to the Vulcans’ two.
Following the winter season, HPU and Chaminade were tied with 14 points, with Hawaii Hilo at 10 points. HPU clinched the Challenge with its men’s golf team placing higher than Chaminade’s at the PacWest Championships. The Vulcans jumped ahead of Chaminade with their women’s tennis team qualifying for the PacWest Championships and receiving first-place points for men’s golf and softball.