Cheerleading

Training went off the charts when Jannealyn Aquino decided to compete in The College Combine in New Jersey last August. She traveled with three Radford teammates and coach Bo Frank. The preparation was there thanks to year-round training with the All-Stars club team, but the combine included a 50-yard dash, vertical leap and push-ups. She trained with her father, Robert Lau, putting in many quiet, grueling hours. “I live on a mountain, so we would run up a hill,” Aquino […]

It was a classic scenario and Saxoni Frank figured the new challenge wouldn’t be overly tough. Then he realized that his dreams about the future might be impacted. When Frank, his father and coach, Bo Frank, and three Radford teammates journeyed to New Jersey last August, it was a new adventure in competitive cheer. The College Combine, hosted by Nfinity, wasn’t just a competition. “I heard that a former coach from Purdue was going to be there,” Frank said. The […]

The opportunity was there, so Taejah Ray Telles-Kuwahara decided to go full force. The Radford junior was one of four members of the cheer squad who traveled to New Jersey in August for The College Combine hosted by Nfinity. Telles-Kuwahara, senior Jannealyn Aquino and freshman Saxoni Frank each ranked No. 1 in the nation in their respective grade levels. Makenna Ching placed second in her grade. It wasn’t easy, but the drive in Telles-Kuwahara was simple and relentless. She and […]

Kaycee Kealoha knows busy. The Moanalua cheer coach also thrives in chaos. Every week, a new challenge — not just from opposing teams. 
Moanalua’s second Large Division state crown under Kealoha was precise, sharp, impressive. Sixteen Na Menehune in unison at the Billy Tees/HHSAA Cheerleading State Championships on Saturday at Blaisdell Arena. The winning routine — which led to 359.75 points — wasn’t a season-long simmer. “Every year, every single competition, we change our routine. This one is a brand […]

The longest competitive cheer season was perfectly imperfect for Radford. The Rams wrapped up with the state championship in the Medium Division on Saturday at Blaisdell Arena, not long after capturing the OIA title outright, regardless of division. For coach Bo Frank, 359 points wasn’t pleasant, but it was enough. “It’s been a very long season, actually our lowest score of the year, but we still pulled it out,” Frank said. The title gave Frank plenty to be happy about. […]