It was only a matter of time for the Kalaheo High School boys paddling team.

Two years ago, they had an undefeated junior varsity season and won the league title. This year, the Mustangs were on the heels of O'ahu Interscholastic Association champion 'Anuenue throughout the regular season.

Then on Friday afternoon, the Mustangs became the first OIA boys crew to win the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association canoe paddling title, finishing the 1/2-mile race in 3 minutes, 43.21 seconds at Ke'ehi Lagoon.

The Interscholastic League of Honolulu had won all previous six boys state titles and has won all seven girls state titles. Punahou won the girls race and Konawaena won the mixed race Friday.

"It's big for Kalaheo and the OIA," Kalaheo coach Julian Wicker said. "I'm hoping we can get some recognition and respect from that."

Paddling in the championship race for Kalaheo were Alika Guillaume, Lopaka Oliva-Ancog, Shawn Reed, Larry Soto, Nick Seeger and Kao Malama-Custer.

The same six paddled in the preliminary heat Friday morning. Paddling in the semifinal heat were Guillaume, Tallii Monmaney, Soto, Reed, Travis Wilhoite and Malama-Custer.

'Anuenue School went undefeated during the OIA season and won the OIA championships while Kalaheo placed second. The OIA held 1-mile races during its season and Kalaheo led for the first 1/2-mile of the races.

It gave an indication of things to come.

"We had an idea the half-mile was our race and the 1-mile was theirs ('Anuenue)," Wicker said. "We worked a lot of half-miles the past two weeks. They had an idea the half-mile was theirs.

"After the preliminaries, it was a good chance."

The Mustangs won their preliminary heat in 3:37.78, setting off a chorus of cheers.

"When they finished the preliminaries, it was like they won states," Wicker said. "They were hooting and hollering. I had to settle them down."

The preliminary win gave the crew a bye in the quarterfinal heats. The crew rested for 2 1/2 hours and Wicker switched two paddlers into the six-man crew for their semifinal heat.

"They were all calmed down and it was like racing the first race of the day," Wicker said. "The bye helped out."

The Mustangs won their semifinal heat in 3:48.38 and then edged Kapa'a by four seconds in the championship race.

Everything since has been sort of surreal.

"I was kind of on Cloud Nine since it happened," Wicker said. "Friday was a big blur. I was waiting to wake up Saturday morning and think it was all a dream."

Wicker and his crew gathered Saturday night to watch OC16's telecast of the regatta. By then, winning the state title had really sunk in.

On Sunday, Wicker paddled in Keahiakahoe Canoe Club's Con3 Run one-man canoe race, wearing a Kalaheo jersey.

A Kalaheo alum, Wicker started coaching the school's junior varsity crew after graduation. Now in his third year of coaching at Kalaheo, Wicker has moved up with his JV paddlers.

Of his eight paddlers, he coached five at the JV level, which included an undefeated season in 2006. Five of the paddlers also compete for Kailua Canoe Club during the summer.

"There was a couple (Reed, Oliva-Ancog) that were brand new at paddling in their freshman year and to see them come out, go from never touching a paddle and winning the state championship, I guess I'm sort of the reason for it, but it's all of them," Wicker said. "They have an incredible amount of talent. They deserve the recognition."

Reach Stanley Lee at sktlee@honoluluadvertiser.com.