KIF wrestling season begins - The Garden Island

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Kauai’s Alana Takata works to pin Kapaa’s Tessa Jensen in the third round of the Girls 155 weight class, Saturday during the Kauai Interscholastic Federation wrestling at the Kauai High School gym.

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Kapaa’s Michael John Anderson works against his Waimea opponent in the Boys 126 weight class. Anderson advanced by taking this match on a 10-5 decision.

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Kauai’s Coby Lawrence works to pin Kapaa’s Herman Santos in the opening match of the Boys 120 weight class, Saturday during the Kauai Interscholastic Federation wrestling at the Kauai High School gym. Lawrence took the match on a 10-6 decision.

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Waimea’s Ian Sok works to stay off his back by Kapaa’s Kaz Espina in the opening match of the Kauai Interscholastic Federation wrestling at the Kauai High School gym.

Nick Celario / The Garden Island

Kapaa’s Michael Anderson, left, works from bottom position and Kauai’s Mason Stoll-Tolentino works from top position during a boys 126-pound bout during a KIF wrestling tournament Saturday at Kauai High School. Anderson suffered an arm injury during the match.

Nick Celario / The Garden Island

Kauai’s Jesse Cardenas, center, and Kapaa’s Malachi Sacramento embrace after a boys 195-pound bout during a KIF wrestling tournament Saturday at Kauai High School.

Nick Celario / The Garden Island

Kauai’s Jesse Cardenas, center, pauses after defeating Kapaa’s Malachi Sacramento via pinfall in a boys 195-pound bout during a KIF wrestling tournament Saturday at Kauai High School.

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Kapaa’s Ini Marshall works to pin Thesa Lindsey in the girls 127 weight class match, Saturday during the Kauai Interscholastic Federation wrestling match. Marshall took the match on a pinfall.

LIHUE — The wrestling regular season is now underway.

The first tournament of the Kauai Interscholastic Federation took place Saturday at Kauai High School.

34 KIF wrestlers competed in 10 weight classes across 36 bouts in Saturday’s tournament.

Among the bracket winners was Kauai High School senior Jesse Cardenas. Cardenas pinned Kapaa High School’s Malachi Sacramento to win the boys 195-pound bracket.

“The pin was not easy, straight up,” Cardenas said. “This guy, way more experienced than me. It’s my first year. But, hey, I just thank him so much. He’s helping me. My last year, going out with a bang, it’s just all in good fun.”

Cardenas was 2-0 in Saturday’s meet.

“I’m feeling pretty good. That’s it,” Cardenas said. “All these wrestlers right here, they all work hard. We all work hard, and we’re all one family.”

Kapaa High School senior Ini Marshall placed first in the girls 127-pound class. She was 3-0.

“I’m feeling pretty good about it, actually. I went to preseason this winter break and got to wrestle off-island people,” Marshall said. “Got to experience different wrestling. The season’s about getting ready for states.”

Marshall beat out Kapaa teammates Danielle Santos and Thesa Lindsey in the division.

“I think I can get more technical and use more technique,” Marshall said of her performances. “And probably condition more.”

Waimea High School sophomore Ashlyn Agena won the girls 122-pound bracket. Agena was 2-0.

“I don’t know. I just tried to keep going,” Agena said. “I like to do arm throws.”

Though Agena competed in the 122-pound class, she intends to compete at a lower weight eventually.

“I’m going to try and drop lower, so that when the KIF championships does start up, I’ll be able to be better at a lower weight maybe,” she said.

The KIF’s second tournament of the season is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Kauai High School.

Results

Girls 122 pounds: 1. Ashlyn Agena, Waimea; 2. Janessa Llego-Finney, Kauai; 3. Meha Jensen, Kapaa

Girls 127 pounds: 1. Ini Marshall, Kapaa; 2. Danielle Santos, Kapaa; 3. Thesa Lindsey, Kapaa

Girls 138 pounds: 1. Jolette Miner-Ho, Kapaa; 2. Olivia Kelekoma, Kapaa; 3. Shai-Lein Acosta,Waimea

Girls 155 pounds: 1. Alana Takata, Kauai; 2. Tessa Jensen, Kapaa

Girls 184 pounds: 1. Bernie Lindsey, Kapaa; 2. Isley Ulanday, Waimea

Boys 120 pounds: 1. Barak Aviguetero, Waimea; 2. Coby Lawrence, Kauai; 3. Herman Santos, Kapaa

Boys 126 pounds: 1. Mason Stoll-Tolentino, Kauai; 2. Ian Sok, Waimea; 3. Michael Anderson, Kapaa; 4. Kaz Espina, Kapaa

Boys 145 pounds: 1. Lowen Matsusaka, Kauai; 2. Greg Manintin, Kauai; 3. Lester Garcia, Kapaa; 4. Marcus Malone, Waimea

Boys 160 pounds: 1. Sumi Javzandolgar, Kapaa; 2. Adrianne Quetula, Kauai; 3. Cayden Artaho, Waimea

Boys 195 pounds: 1. Jesse Cardenas, Kauai; 2. Malachi Sacramento, Kapaa; 3. Zayden Sarmiento, Waimea

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Nick Celario, sports writer, can be reached at 245-0437 or ncelario@thegardenisland.com.

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