Making his mark his senior year and entering the KIF wrestling record book as one of four boys to have ever placed at the state wrestling championships, Kapaa High School’s Braeden Jensen earned the sixth spot on the podium Thursday.
Making his mark his senior year and entering the KIF wrestling record book as one of four boys to have ever placed at the state wrestling championships, Kapaa High School’s Braeden Jensen earned the sixth spot on the podium Thursday.
Fourteen boys and 10 girls from KIF member schools earned berths at the 2018 Texaco Wrestling Championships. This year’s tournament is the fourth consecutive year a member school wrestler earned a spot on the podium.
After two days of wrestling, Jensen grappled his way to sixth place in the 152-pound boys bracket. Jensen’s efforts lifted Kapaa High School to 32nd place out of 44 teams.
Kauai High senior Matthew Tamanaha finished 1-2 and fell short of making it to day two. Waimea freshman Ashlyn Agena finished the 2-2, missing the medals round on day 2 by one match when she lost a close battle against Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama.
Agena’s efforts lifted the Menehune girls team to a 30th place finish out of 43 teams. Kapaa junior Ini Marshall and senior Anna Malia Santos both finished the tournament 1-2, getting the only other wins by KIF girls at states this year.
“I am really proud of how our kids competed. The state tournament is difficult. There are a lot of tough kids out there, and in the past I think our kids have been intimidated by the event,” said Kapaa coach Jess Jensen. “It feels like we are getting over that. Our girls wrestled hard and got some wins, and we are very proud to have our first state placer from Kapaa High School Braeden Jensen. He has blazed the trail that we hope others will follow.”
KIF wrestlers who did not qualify for states have one more chance to compete this year. The third annual USAW JV State Championships at Farrington High School on Oahu takes place Monday.
