WAIMEA — Kauai High wrestler Ganen Silva-Cardenas used Saturday afternoon’s Kauai Interscholastic Federation wrestling meet at Waimea High to springboard his chance to qualify for the state tournament.
Silva-Cardenas, who is in the boys’ 182-pound weight class, won his match over Waimea High’s Kauwila Kaneapua with a triple-overtime victory, avenging last week’s loss to Kaneapua in the Kapaa meet.
During the first meet of the season, Silva-Cardenas fell to Kaneapua, who used his signature ankle-pick move for the win.
At this Saturday’s match, Silva-Cardenas was ready.
“I tried to stay away from the ankle pick,” Silva-Cardenas said.
Noticing Kaneapua was fatigued in the second overtime, Silva-Cardenas took advantage of his opportunity, scoring three points on the overhead half nelson.
“He was gassed out,” Silva-Cardenas said. “I noticed the change in the match because he tended not to be as aggressive as he was in the beginning. That is when I pushed myself more, and I could see that he was more tired than me, and I knew I wasn’t as tired as him, and that is when I pushed myself.”
Silva-Cardenas and Kaneapua were among several KIF wrestlers involved in closely contested matches at Waimea High, according to Kauai High coach Paul Shindell.
“In last week’s match, Silva was pinned early by Kaneapua, and today he sat pretty well in the first period, second period and third period, to send it into overtime,” Shindell said. “He showed a lot of heart and dedication to keep getting better and better.”
Familiarity of the opponents’ tendencies in the KIF makes each match difficult, Shindell said.
“Sometimes in wrestling, you can win by keep doing what you are doing, but maybe sometimes that doesn’t work,” Shindell said. “You have to go back and practice every week, and you can’t do the same move every match. You have to have backups in mind, especially when you are wrestling an on-island match.”
Recording first-place finishes Saturday (with weight class and school in parenthesis) were the following boys: Jayden Manibog, (106, Kauai); Kylen Aana (120, Waimea); Mason Stoll-Tolentino (126, Kauai); Herman Santos (140, Kapaa); Lester Gacia (145, Kapaa); and Greg Manintin (160, Kauai); Ganen Silva-Cardenas, (182, Kauai).
Placing second in their respective classes: Saul Jaramillo (120, Kauai); Barak Aviguetero (126, Waimea); Thomas Ramos (106, Kauai), Gabiel Obeso (140, Kauai); Erik Olsson (145, Kauai); Nathan Marouish (160, Kapaa); Kauwila Kaneapua (182, Waimea).
Placing third in their respective classes: Kaz Espina (140, Kapaa); and Ian Sok (126, Waimea.
Placing fourth in his class: Tarik Hassim (126, Kauai).
Recording first-place finishes Saturday were the following girls: Kaya Akana (112, Waimea); Ambri Rocha (122, Kauai); Meleana Rita (138, Kauai); Alana Takata (155, Kauai); Kayana Niheu-Kamaka (184, Waimea).
Placing second in their respective classes: Ella Ann Kim (112, Kapaa); Anjoelina Miyashiro (122, Kapaa); Nikki Tapucol (138, Kauai); Tessa Jensen (155, Kapaa); and Shylee Shimabukuro (184, Kapaa).
Placing third in their respective classes: Tristee Souza (155, Kapaa); and Amber Cotter (138, Kapaa).
Ready for the grand finale
The Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division II Texaco State Wrestling Championships are Friday and Saturday, Feb. 21 and 22, at the Blaisdell Center Arena.
Kapaa coach Jess Jensen and his team are getting ready for the state-qualifying KIF championship Saturday, Feb. 8.
“We are looking very closely and figuring where everyone is going to be wrestling and concentrating on working hard at practice,” Jensen said.
Waimea coach C.J. Threat knows each week in the KIF gets intense.
“It gets a lot tougher,” Threat said. “People start noticing tendencies on what wrestlers like to do, and you learn how to attack those tendencies. Today was a good showing, and our kids did some things in previous events that were a little better, and I expect they will only get better in the coming weeks.”
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Jason Blasco, sports reporter, can be reached at 245-0437 or jblasco@thegardenisland.com.
