Eleven wrestlers, three coaches and several family members of Westside Wrestling traveled from Waimea to Farrington High School on O‘ahu to take on the best wrestlers in the state at the 2005 Aloha State Games Freestyle wrestling championships. There were
Eleven wrestlers, three coaches and several family members of Westside Wrestling traveled from Waimea to Farrington High School on O‘ahu to take on the best wrestlers in the state at the 2005 Aloha State Games Freestyle wrestling championships.
There were 131 wrestlers from 13 teams and some independents including several returning state champions. For the other teams this was the 6th tournament of the USA Wrestling Freestyle season. For Westside Wrestling it was their first tournament.
For their eight youth wrestlers it was their first-ever wrestling tournament.
Seven-year-old Sean Holzman of Kekaha pulled off an upset victory over a tough wrestler from the powerhouse Hickam Blue Devil team. It was one of their few highlights.
Sean, as with all eight of their youth wrestlers, had never even seen a wrestling match before they got started a couple of months ago. With only two months practicing basic skills, he took his opponent down with a lightning fast double leg attack, turned him over with a powerful half nelson and held him down for the pin.
12 year old John Paul Joyce of Waimea had one of the most exciting matches in the tournament, narrowly losing by one point in overtime to an experienced wrestler from tournament team champions Schofield Army Tropic Lightning.
Also, 20-year-old Brandon Livingston of Kekaha came away with two wins, but wasn’t able to take the top spot in his weight class.
Westside Wrestling is taking this week off and resting. Next week they start training for the inaugural Westside Wrestling Tournament to be held at Waimea High School’s gym on August 27.
As far as they know this will be the first ever USA Wrestling sanctioned tournament on Kaua‘i. Their tourney was announced at the Aloha State Games and several wrestlers, coaches and parents expressed interest in coming to the Garden Isle for their first ever tournament.
The tournament will be open to wrestlers of all ages and both genders. Pairing is based on age groups and weight classes. USAW membership is required and can be bought at the tournament. To find out more information about Kaua‘i’s first wrestling tournament contact club director Ray “Coach Mac” Pigott at westsidewrestling@hawaii.rr.com or call 337-1760.
