Coach Mac Pigott, Kauai Interscholastic Federation wrestling tournament director, said the first Kauai U.S. Amateur Wrestling spring tournament got off to a successful start Saturday at the Kapaa High School cafeteria. “We encourage the high-school-aged wrestlers to wrestle freestyle, Olympic
Coach Mac Pigott, Kauai Interscholastic Federation wrestling tournament director, said the first Kauai U.S. Amateur Wrestling spring tournament got off to a successful start Saturday at the Kapaa High School cafeteria.
“We encourage the high-school-aged wrestlers to wrestle freestyle, Olympic rules, because many of them will be competing in state, regional and national freestyle tournaments this summer,” Pigott said.
During the Saturday tournament, the youth wrestled American Folkstyle, or high school rules.
Fifteen boys and girls ranging from 5 to 17 years old came to the mats, tipping the scales between 40 and 170 pounds for the first match which started at 9:30 a.m.
The field of grapplers featured four divisions in two brackets — youth and high school — for 17 matches.
“Many of the wrestlers stepped on the mat for the first time,” Pigott said. “Others were seasoned KIF champions. The matches were exceptionally close.”
Pigott will be taking a contingent of Kauai wrestlers to Maui on Saturday where they will be participating in the USAW Folkstyle youth state championships and Open Freestyle tournament.
Kauai USAW spring tournaments resume May 6 with the tournament opening at the Kapaa High School. Weigh-in starts at 8 a.m. with the first matches at 9:30 a.m.
