‘Aukai Lileikis Re-Emerges on U of Hawaii Roster After Leaving Cal

Karl Ortegon
by Karl Ortegon 7

October 05th, 2018 News

After competing at the University of California-Berkeley for part of the 2016-17 season, Hawai’i native Aukai Lileikis is now part of the University of Hawai’i program.

Lileikis was a top recruit for Cal, coming out of high school a sub-20 second sprint freestyler with range up to the 500 free. While he raced parts of the first semester at Cal, he went without competing in the spring semester, then was off the roster during the 2017-18 season.

It’s clear that he’s still been focused on swimming, however. This spring, he’s hit best times in the 50/100/200 free and the 100 fly. At the 2018 PN Speedo Sectionals at Federal Way this March, he was 42.72/1:34.68 in the 100/200 free as well as 46.28 in the 100 fly. He also posted a PR 19.79 in the 50 free at the 2017 Hawaii Senior Champs in November.

TOP TIMES

  • 50y free – 19.79
  • 100y free – 42.72
  • 200y free – 1:34.68
  • 500y free – 4:24.26
  • 100y back – 49.94
  • 100y breast – 56.22
  • 100y fly – 46.28
  • 200y IM – 1:47.33

This summer, Lileikis continued to show progress, with a 49.75 in the 100 LCM free at U.S. Nationals as well as a 53.64 in the 100 LCM fly. It’s clear, when looking at his spread of bests, that he is on an improvement curve, and that his sprint free prowess might be complemented by a lethal 200 IM. His 1:47.33 PR is from 2015, so it’s safe to say he could take a sizable chunk off of that while at Hawai’i.

Lileikis is listed as a redshirt sophomore on Hawai’i’s 2018-19 roster. He joins a program that features 2018 NCAA finalist Metin Aydin, who placed 15th in the 200 back, along with NCAA-qualifying breaststroker Olli Kokko. Aydin, a 46.0 backstroker, and Kokko, a 52.6 breaststroker, may well team up with Lileikis and another swimmer for an NCAA-worthy medley relay.

In any case, Lileikis is about a half-second from NCAA scoring times in the 100 free and 100 fly, and will be a huge boost to the Rainbow Warriors. Their season kicks off today with an intrasquad meet.

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AMAHAGETSHYPHY
5 years ago

‘Aukai is a great kid…swimming under a great staff…and their team is trending in the right direction! Exciting things coming up! Go Bows!

Mike
5 years ago

Awesome. Go Bows!!!

SWIMGUY12345
5 years ago

Hawaii should score some relay points this year! Would be great for that program to maybe finish top 20!

Lileikis went from 206 his freshman year at Cal to being listed at 220 on Hawaii’s site. Talk about adding some strength and speed…

Longseeker
Reply to  SWIMGUY12345
5 years ago

As a Cal fan I was surprised he did not compete after just 6 months in school. It is hard to believe he became ineligible after such a short period. He apparently was not on the Cal matriculation roll that Spring.

Then it was rumored at Cal that he enrolled at Yale University to swim. Maybe Karl you could check on this. Regardless, he is a great swimmer and we wish him well in his home state of Hawaii.

Bob
5 years ago

Why did he leave Cal? Does anyone know?

Swimming4silver
Reply to  Bob
5 years ago

couldn’t crack it?UCB is though school academically, without having to miss school days for training and swim meets…

(G)olden Bear
Reply to  Bob
5 years ago

Homesick, I think. Tough transition for some from HI to the mainland.

About Karl Ortegon

Karl Ortegon

Karl Ortegon studied sociology at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, graduating in May of 2018. He began swimming on a club team in first grade and swam four years for Wesleyan.

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