KAPAA — Braeden Jensen was trailing Paul Shindell in the second round of the open division Saturday during the USAW Spring Season Tournament 5 at Kapaa High School.
Shindell, a coach with the Kauai High School wrestling team, had Braeden pinned before the Kapaa High School grappler dug deep. With a big groan, he flipped Shindell for a five-point move resulting in a pin.
“The five-point throw did it,” said Coach Mac Pigott of the Westside Wrestling Club and the tournament director for Kauai Interscholastic Federation wrestling. “That was a good match. These spring season tournaments are lots of fun because of the wide variety in age groups and experience levels.”
Action continued on the mat as Dane Jensen, Braeden’s younger brother, overcame a 0-2 deficit to take his weight class.
“Our stated goals for the Kauai USA Wrestling spring season were to provide off-season competition for current KIF wrestlers and recruit youth wrestlers for future participation in the high school program,” Pigott said. “This Saturday tournament surely achieved those goals, and no doubt, having Ohio State alumnus Johnni DiJulius leading a clinic before the tournament helped the good turnout.”
The tournament featured 32 grapplers from 6 to 28 years old competing in 40 matches in a double-elimination format with DiJulius, a coach with Rutgers University, watching and offering tips.
“Every one who showed Saturday got to learn some good technique and wrestle some tough matches,” Pigott said. “Each week, we are getting more youth coming out to try wrestling.”
The Kauai USA Wrestling spring season wraps up Friday at the Kauai High School cafeteria with the Sam Silva Memorial Kauai USA Wrestling Championships. Weigh-ins start at 4 p.m. with the first matches about 5 p.m.
Regular wrestling practices take place on Wednesdays and Fridays on the Eastside, and Tuesdays and Thursdays on the Westside.
The 2018 Westside Wrestling Camp in Waimea takes place June 15-16.
Information: Coach Jess, 634-1686; Coach Mac, 639-8858.
Results
Youth 45-50 pounds: Dane Jensen, Elijah Ledare, Massey Ritchie
Youth 60-80 pounds: Kaia Gampong, Rush Nikolas, Ryder Armitage
High School 110-130 pounds: Coby Lawrence, Keanu Ebesu, Herman Santos
High School 130-140 pounds: Danielle Santos, Tessa Jensen, Olivia Kelekoma
Open 150-170 pounds: Braeden Jensen, Paul Shindell, Elijah Koga
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
