Team Red got off to a good start, opening with a win over Team Green on Saturday during the dual format wrestling matches at the Clem Gomes Gym in Waimea. But Team Green answered with three straight wins to counter
Team Red got off to a good start, opening with a win over Team Green on Saturday during the dual format wrestling matches at the Clem Gomes Gym in Waimea.
But Team Green answered with three straight wins to counter the effort. The Team Green effort continued and Team Green won the dual format tournament, 66 points to Team Red’s 24 points. The Team Green victory equated to the team winning 11 of the 15 matches presented.
“A few years ago, we came up with the idea to have a modified dual meet so the students could get the feel and excitement of a traditional dual wrestling meet,” said Mac Pigott, Kauai Interscholastic Federation tournament director. “Under the dual meet, traditionally two high schools line up across the mat from each other and compete at each weight class to determine both individual and team victories.”
The KIF wrestling program is growing and a modified format was implemented for Kauai KIF member schools.
Following the official weigh-in, coaches choose two teams — red and green. Wrestlers are mixed between the schools on the respective teams with coaches also mixing to form the teams.
“The event was fun and exciting for the students, their families and fans,” Pigott said. “As each bout was announced, the wrestlers ran out on the mat through a clap tunnel of their teammates. There was plenty of good wrestling with all the students getting at least one bout and some wrestling twice.”
KIF wrestling returns to the individual bracket format, Saturday when the first matches start at 10 a.m. at the Kauai High School gym.
