LIHUE — The wrestling regular season is now underway.
The first tournament of the Kauai Interscholastic Federation took place Saturday at Kauai High School.
34 KIF wrestlers competed in 10 weight classes across 36 bouts in Saturday’s tournament.
Among the bracket winners was Kauai High School senior Jesse Cardenas. Cardenas pinned Kapaa High School’s Malachi Sacramento to win the boys 195-pound bracket.
“The pin was not easy, straight up,” Cardenas said. “This guy, way more experienced than me. It’s my first year. But, hey, I just thank him so much. He’s helping me. My last year, going out with a bang, it’s just all in good fun.”
Cardenas was 2-0 in Saturday’s meet.
“I’m feeling pretty good. That’s it,” Cardenas said. “All these wrestlers right here, they all work hard. We all work hard, and we’re all one family.”
Kapaa High School senior Ini Marshall placed first in the girls 127-pound class. She was 3-0.
“I’m feeling pretty good about it, actually. I went to preseason this winter break and got to wrestle off-island people,” Marshall said. “Got to experience different wrestling. The season’s about getting ready for states.”
Marshall beat out Kapaa teammates Danielle Santos and Thesa Lindsey in the division.
“I think I can get more technical and use more technique,” Marshall said of her performances. “And probably condition more.”
Waimea High School sophomore Ashlyn Agena won the girls 122-pound bracket. Agena was 2-0.
“I don’t know. I just tried to keep going,” Agena said. “I like to do arm throws.”
Though Agena competed in the 122-pound class, she intends to compete at a lower weight eventually.
“I’m going to try and drop lower, so that when the KIF championships does start up, I’ll be able to be better at a lower weight maybe,” she said.
The KIF’s second tournament of the season is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Kauai High School.
Results
Girls 122 pounds: 1. Ashlyn Agena, Waimea; 2. Janessa Llego-Finney, Kauai; 3. Meha Jensen, Kapaa
Girls 127 pounds: 1. Ini Marshall, Kapaa; 2. Danielle Santos, Kapaa; 3. Thesa Lindsey, Kapaa
Girls 138 pounds: 1. Jolette Miner-Ho, Kapaa; 2. Olivia Kelekoma, Kapaa; 3. Shai-Lein Acosta,Waimea
Girls 155 pounds: 1. Alana Takata, Kauai; 2. Tessa Jensen, Kapaa
Girls 184 pounds: 1. Bernie Lindsey, Kapaa; 2. Isley Ulanday, Waimea
Boys 120 pounds: 1. Barak Aviguetero, Waimea; 2. Coby Lawrence, Kauai; 3. Herman Santos, Kapaa
Boys 126 pounds: 1. Mason Stoll-Tolentino, Kauai; 2. Ian Sok, Waimea; 3. Michael Anderson, Kapaa; 4. Kaz Espina, Kapaa
Boys 145 pounds: 1. Lowen Matsusaka, Kauai; 2. Greg Manintin, Kauai; 3. Lester Garcia, Kapaa; 4. Marcus Malone, Waimea
Boys 160 pounds: 1. Sumi Javzandolgar, Kapaa; 2. Adrianne Quetula, Kauai; 3. Cayden Artaho, Waimea
Boys 195 pounds: 1. Jesse Cardenas, Kauai; 2. Malachi Sacramento, Kapaa; 3. Zayden Sarmiento, Waimea
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Nick Celario, sports writer, can be reached at 245-0437 or ncelario@thegardenisland.com.