Driven by a runner-up finish in the state tournament, Kamehameha captured the National High School Cheerleading Championship yesterday at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.

The Warriors scored 713 points to win the small varsity division — for squads with 12 or fewer members — by 19.5 points over runner-up Hazel Green High School. There were 56 schools in the division.

Kamehameha also won the national title in 2003 and 2004, but an accident during the competition hurt its chances in 2005 and in 2006, "we didn't perform very well," said coach Melissa Beimes.

"This year when we went to states, we placed second — and that's the first time we didn't win (since the meet began in 2002)," Beimes said. "They just really fought back (for the nationals), and knew they wanted to hit their routines. ... The judges just liked our style."

Hamilton High placed third with 683 points and Madison Central High fourth with 662.5.

SOCCER

KAMEHAMEHA NO. 1

Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion Kamehameha (11-0-1) is the No. 1 seed in this week's Meadow Gold Dairies/ HHSAA Boys State Soccer Championships.

O'ahu Interscholastic Association champion Kapolei (12-2) is seeded No. 2, Maui Interscholastic League champion Kamehameha-Maui (15-0-2) No. 3, and Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion Makua Lani (11-4) No. 4. They all receive first-round byes in the 12-team tournament that runs Wednesday through Saturday at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Complex.

Wednesday's first-round matches: Kapa'a (7-0-1) vs. Leilehua (11-2), Kalani (9-4-1) vs. Kalaheo (7-3-4), Kamehameha-Hawai'i (11-4) vs. Roosevelt (9-2-2), and Punahou (11-1-1) vs. Kealakehe (13-1). All start at 3 p.m.

Punahou earned the final state berth Saturday when it beat Baldwin, 2-1, on Derrick Lim's goal in the second overtime on Maui.

Punahou's Caton Smith and Baldwin's Jensen Tachiguchi scored in regulation.

State tournament schedule in For the Record.

TAACA, MEDCALF TOPS

Kamehameha's Kanani Taaca (Division I) and Pac-Five's Ashley Medcalf (Division II) were named the Most Outstanding Players of the Meadow Gold Dairies/HHSAA Girls State Soccer Championships.

The all-tournament teams were selected by the media and HHSAA officials.

DIVISION I

Tani Costa (Kalani), Meghan Fuller (Pearl City), Chelsea Swann (Kapolei), Jenny Eugenio (Kamehameha), Bethany Gallarde (Pearl City), Meleana Shim, (Kamehameha), Mari Punzal (Kamehameha), Chaney Lopez (Kapolei), Kylee Ann Ah Choy (Kamehameha), Nestle Yamaguchi (Pearl City). Goalkeepers: Joleen Realin (Mililani), Ashlee Dela Cruz (Kapolei). Most Outstanding: Kanani Taaca (Kamehameha).

DIVISION II

Sahara Searle (Mid-Pacific), Miya Quinn (Mid-Pacific), Ashley Medcalf (Pac-Five), Christine Tamamoto (Pac-Five), Rachel Domingo (Roosevelt), Melissa Gomes (Mid-Pacific), Emily Ragasa (Campbell), Brandi Hutchins (Pac-Five), Ashley Park (Mid-Pacific), Joanna Lawlor (Pac-Five). Goalkeepers: Ashley Park (Mid-Pacific), Brittney Hutchins (Pac-Five). Most Outstanding: Ashley Medcalf (Pac-Five).

SWIMMING

MILILANI SWEEPS

Mililani swept the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Swimming and Diving Championships Saturday at Veterans Memorial Pool in Central O'ahu Regional Park.

The Mililani boys amassed 272 points to beat runner-up Leilehua (228), with Radford (107) placing third.

The Mililani girls scored 221 points to beat runner-up Pearl City (199), with Kapolei (194) finishing third.

Leilehua's 200 freestyle boys relay team broke the only meet record, winning in 1 minute, 30.82 seconds. Team members were: Aaron Pasoquen, Sean McCaulley, Andy Boes and Ryan Knott.