LIHU‘E — Kamehameha Schools Kapalama took the Chevron-Hawai‘i Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association 2013 Boys Wrestling Championships with 178 points at the state tournament which wrapped up Saturday on O‘ahu. Pearl City High School earned its first girls state wrestling
LIHU‘E — Kamehameha Schools Kapalama took the Chevron-Hawai‘i Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association 2013 Boys Wrestling Championships with 178 points at the state tournament which wrapped up Saturday on O‘ahu.
Pearl City High School earned its first girls state wrestling title with 158 points, edging out the Kamehameha Schools— Kapalama wahine by just six-and-a-half points.
The Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation wrestlers were among the field of state contenders following its inaugural wrestling season, its boys teams coming in a tie for 48th place with Kapa‘a and Waimea getting no points and Kaua‘i finishing with a minus-one.
The KIF girls finished with Kaua‘i in No. 41 at seven points, tying St. Francis, and Waimea finishing No. 48 with one point.
During its initial sojourn to the state tournament, the KIF girls did not just roll over, Kaua‘i’s Elizabeth Oshiro opening her round in the Girls 113 against King Kekaulike’s Jenna Mauliola before dropping in the quarterfinals to Kylan-Jo Tanaka of Kamehameha Schools Kapalama in a fall at 5:56. Oshiro was eliminated on another fall to Shelby Say of Mid-Pacific Institute at the 2:03 mark.
Marissa Hesapene of Waimea, going undefeated through the KIF season, dropped her opening round in the Girls 109 to Marissa Hamakawa of University High School, but rebounded to take Nellie Towata of Kamehameha Schools Big Island on a 10-5 decision before dropping to Riana Traxler of Radford on a 6-3 decision.
Kaisa Ishikawa of Kaua‘i, squaring off in the Girls 97, dropped her opening round to Kiana Soloria of Kamehameha Schools Maui on a 16-0 decision, but came back to win Shaylyn Arakaki of Hilo before being eliminated by Malia Refamonte of Lahainaluna on a pinfall at the :55 mark.
Other girls participating at the state championships included Ku‘uipo Rapozo of Kaua‘i in the Girls 101, Courtney Brock of Kaua‘i in the Girls 109, Johnna Akana of Waimea in the Girls 117, Nika Tapucol of Kaua‘i in the Girls 130, and Sanoe Kalama of Kaua‘i in the Girls 135.
In the boys arena, Nicholas Cariffe of Waimea, wrestling in the Boys 130, dropped both his matches by decision, Curtis Palmeira of King Kekaulike getting the first call 2-6 before Chauncey Kao of Kapolei eliminated the Menehune on a 2-9 decision.
Kapa‘a’s Elijah Koga, entering the KIF wrestling arena late following recovery from a pre-season injury, also dropped by decision after coming up short, 5-7 to Tristin Kamaka of Leilehua, then dropping to Conrad Parks of Waiakea, 11-0 in the Boys 135.
Kaua‘i’s Shawn Taguas, wrestling in the Boys 140, went strong for two bouts, opening against Sean Chan of ‘Iolani who overcame the Red Raider with a fall at the 3:01 mark. Taguas rebounded, but came up short, getting pinned at the 2:28 mark by Keoni Rice of Waiakea.
Storm Haire of Kapa‘a went almost six minutes in the opening round of the Boys 145 before getting pinned by Tyler Egami of Punahou at the 5:45 mark. Haire came back, but was pinned by Kalani Krael of Honoka‘a in his second match at the 3:29 mark.
Kaua‘i’s Nick Gabriel, battling in the Boys 152, dropped his opening round to Thomas Rosen St. John of Lahainaluna on a 1-10 decision, but roared back, coming up short, 10-12 to Chastin Kekauhuna of Kamehameha Schools Big Island.
Other KIF boys participating in the state tournament included Keenan Kaya of Kaua‘i in the Boys 108, Bryson Yoro of Kaua‘i in the Boys 125, Michael Gabriel of Kaua‘i in the Boys 160, and Ian Garcia of Waimea in the Boys 285.
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