AIEA, O‘ahu — Kapa‘a High School first year wrestler Jeremy Manibog was the sole Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation representative to finish with a perfect 3-0 record at the Aiea Invitational wrestling tournament over the weekend. Coach Mac Pigott of Westside Wrestling
AIEA, O‘ahu — Kapa‘a High School first year wrestler Jeremy Manibog was the sole Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation representative to finish with a perfect 3-0 record at the Aiea Invitational wrestling tournament over the weekend.
Coach Mac Pigott of Westside Wrestling Club on Kaua‘i accompanied the 16 wrestlers, 14 from Kapa‘a High School and two from Waimea High School, to Aiea High School where the tournament took place.
“Kapa‘a High School freshman Kaumalani Ledger made Hawai‘i high school sports history when she stepped on the mat and shook hands, starting the first-ever match for a KIF wrestler in a Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association wrestling tournament,” Pigott said in a release. “The gymnasium was full, every seat in the bleachers was taken as Kaumalani wrestled her way into history.”
Unfortunately, Ledger lost her match, finishing 0-1 in the tournament.
Ronnie Perono of Kapa‘a had the most matches of the KIF contingent, finishing the tournament by splitting the decisions with a 2-2 record.
Pigott said Kapa‘a senior Elijah Koga is also a first year wrestler but is well known in Hawai‘i’s grappling scene for his success in Bazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
“Elijah has been taking a crash course in high school style grappling, also known as American Folkstyle wrestling,” Pigott said. “Elijah has some close matches up ended up 0-3 for the day against seasoned varsity wrestlers from Campbell, Moanalua and Pearl City high schools.”
Pigott said KIF wrestlers continue to have opportunities to compete in pre-season matches prior to the start of the KIF season, Jan. 12 at Kapa‘a High School.
Of those, the most exciting is The Pa‘ani Challenge all-girls tournament on Dec. 17 and 18 hosted by Punahou High School on O‘ahu.
“The Pa‘ani all-girls tournament has grown to be one of the biggest all-girls tournament in the nation,” Pigott said. “This year, Punahou is sponsoring travel and hotel costs for first year KIF girl wrestlers to help the Kaua‘i schools develop the sport.”
The Pa‘ani Challenge has special divisions for first year wrestlers through advanced varsity designed to match wrestlers by ability. It also features college workshops designed to encourage girls to further their education beyond high school.
The O‘ahu Interscholastic League East mini tournament at Kalaheo High School will run this weekend.
The Maui Invitational Tournament, growing to be one of the two largest pre-season tournaments in Hawai‘i, will be held Dec. 14 and 15 on the Valley Isle. Pigott said the tournament has already registered wrestlers from around the state and some from the Mainland.
The Officials Scholarship tournament on O‘ahu will be run Dec. 21 and 22.
Pigott said KIF schools are working to to raise money to send wrestlers to these big pre-season tournaments which will expose them to some of the best competition in the state.
Kapa‘a High School will be the site for the first-ever KIF wrestling match, Jan. 12 starting at 10 a.m. The KIF league championships is scheduled for Feb. 16, the top KIF boy and girl champion in each weight class earning a seed in the HHSAA State Wrestling Championships at the Blaisdell Arena on March 1 and 2, 2013.
Pigott said the HHSAA wrestling record book dates back to 1966 for boys, and 1998 for girls. He said this year, Hawai‘i’s first wrestler won an Olympic medal when the “Pride of Hawai‘i,” O‘ahu native with Kaua‘i ties, Clarissa Chun earned a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics.
“Up until this year, Kaua‘i student athletes did not have the opportunity to compete for wrestling scholarships, or dream of an Olympic medal,” Pigott said. “This all changes this year.”
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
