Freshmen shine in opener

KAPAA — Freshmen Braeden Jensen, of Kapaa High School, and Summer Suttell, of Island School, made favorable impressions during their initial foray on the wrestling mats Saturday during the first match of the Kauai Interscholastic Federation season.

“Braeden transfered from Oregon and brought a little Mainland style to the mats, winning both his matches,” said Coach Mac Pigott, the KIF wrestling tournament director.

Twenty-seven wrestlers represented the four KIF high schools and participated in 30 bouts in front of a near-capacity crowd at Kapaa.

Pigott said despite half of the 2014 field graduating, freshmen, transfers, and other first-year wrestlers entered the field to keep numbers similar to the previous two years.

“Several of the matches brought the crowd to their feet with one match going into sudden death overtime,” Pigott said. “In the overtime match, Kauai High School teammates Kristopher Alcos and Brazen Cadiz battled back and forth in the 132 pound class to end in a 6-6 tie at the end of regulation time. Alcos got the takedown in overtime to secure the win.”

Pigott said other freshmen entering the arena included Corey Agena of Waimea and James Lindsay of Kapaa.

“The 170 pound division had five freshmen, who all wrestled well and made their mark as wrestlers to watch in the coming years,” Pigott said. “In the Kauai High camp, Chasen Alayvilla and Micah Cardinez were joined by Island School’s Nihau Kenneth and Eosin Chelius in the 170-pound class.”

On the girls’ mat, Damia Cain joined Suttell from the Island School and Jordan Kahananui of Kauai were also wrestlers to keep track of as they build on experience.

Pigott said a mixed teams dual competition match will take place 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Island School.

Under the dual competition format, two teams will be formed from wrestlers from the four high schools and those teams will square off. Individual tournament action continues Saturday at the Kauai High School gym starting at 10 a.m.