KAPAA — Seline Gage, a seventh grade student at Kapaa Middle School, continues to keep her record clean following four weeks of USAW spring wrestling which wrapped up Saturday at the Kapaa High School cafeteria. “Gage continues to dominate in
KAPAA — Seline Gage, a seventh grade student at Kapaa Middle School, continues to keep her record clean following four weeks of USAW spring wrestling which wrapped up Saturday at the Kapaa High School cafeteria.
“Gage continues to dominate in the 80 to 100 pound weight classes,” said Coach Mac Pigott, the USAW tournament coordinator. “She maintains her undefeated record following four weeks of wrestling in the Girls 12-14 division, and in my opinion, is the clear favorite to win her division at the Kauai USAW Championships. She has a legitimate chance to place at the USAW Hawaii State Championships on Oahu (on) June 10.”
While Gage controls her division, other divisions demonstrate a fight for gold medals.
During Saturday’s matches, Bulla Kanahele, 12, a student from Ke Kula Niihau O Kekaha, rebounded from a second place in his division to finish first. Kanahele tested his new-found top spot against Gage in an exhibition match which went to Gage by decision.
Ashlyn Agena, an eighth grader from Waimea Canyon Middle School, and Matthew Tamanaha, a junior at Kauai High School, also turned previous second place finishes into first finishes in their respective brackets.
“What we are seeing is some parity developing among the wrestlers as they train hard during the week,” Pigott said.
Karlee Foley and Meah Jensen demonstrated the parity.
“I’m better at escaping,” Jensen, who started the second round on the bottom said after losing the coin toss to Foley during an exhibition match. Jensen turned the bottom into an escape and reversed the table with a take down and fall to end the bout.
USAW spring tournament continues Saturday at the Hanapepe Judo Dojo with weigh in starting at 8 a.m. and the first matches taking the mats at 9:30 a.m. The Kauai USA Wrestling Championships will contest on June 3 at the Clem Gomes Gym in Waimea.
Practices take place on Monday and Wednesday starting at 5 p.m. at the Kapaa High School cafeteria on the Eastside under Coach Jess, and on Mondays from 5 p.m. at the Westside Wrestling Club, and Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6:30 p.m. with Coach Mac.
