KAPA‘A — The Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation wrestling championship comes up Saturday starting at 10 a.m. at the Clem Gomes Gym in Waimea.
“Saturday is the individual and league championships,” said Coach Mac Pigott, the KIF Wrestling director. “Girls and boys who win their respective weight classes punch a ticket to the state championships at the Neal Blaisdell Center in Honolulu on March 4 and 5. The first three weeks of competition have revealed some closely-contested weight classes, and Saturday should see a few hard-fought battles for KIF gold.”
This brings out more wrestlers qualifying to meet on the mats, including an additional weight class in girls wrestling, and more grapplers participating in the six boys division weight classes.
“It’s really good to have high school wrestling back after a year off,” said Coach Mac Pigot, the KIF wrestling director. “Overall tournament numbers are about in line with where we left off, but still down from several years ago when turn out was nearly double. Despite fewer wrestlers than several years ago, audience attendance is probably the most, ever. Fan enthusiasm is all-time — bleachers full of cheering fans, wrestlers bringing it on full speed, and truly respectful school spirit are hallmarks of KIF Wrestling.”
One of the close matches, Saturday at the Bernice Hundley Gym was Kapa‘a’s Nathan Marovish, the winner of the 170 Pound class going three rounds with Waimea’s Shawn Parraga before Marovish took the match by pinfall in the third round.
Marovish took off from the opening whistle to gain a 4-0 decision at the end of Round 1. He advanced to a 9-0 decision at the end of the second round, and was leading 12-2 before pinning Parraga.
Similarly, Kapa‘a’s Conner Raybuck put up a fight before being pinned in Round 2 by Waimea’s Deandrei Gonzales.
“Where is the AED?” said Matt Bernabe, father of Kapa‘a Casey Bernabe, wrestling in the 114 Pound, Girls division. “With this kind of excitement, everybody needs the AED.”
Casey, wrestling from the first tournament of the year, charged Kaua‘i’s Ambrie Rocha and took control of the first two rounds before Rocha turned the tables to take Casey by fall in the third round.
Similarly, Kaua‘i’s Meleana Rita was trailing Waimea’s Skyelynn Ripley by a point, 5-6 at the end of Round 1. Rita charged back in Round 2 to take Ripley on a pinfall.
Results
• 112 Pounds, Girls: Ambrie Rocha (Kau), Casey Bernabe (Kap), Mary Joy Angala (Wai)
• 168 Pounds, Girls: Meleana Rita (Kau), Skyelynn Ripley (Wai)
• 126 Pounds, Boys: Jayden Manibog (Kau), Orien Hodges (Kap)
• 138 Pounds, Boys: Deandrei Gonzales (Wai), Conner Raybuck (Kap)
• 152 Pounds, Boys: Jayred Tumbaga (Wai), Kelan Keohokapu (Kap), Kayden Libre (Wai)
• 170 Pounds, Boys: Nathan Marovish (Kap), Ka-Lei Butac Sagucio (Kau), Shawn Parraga (Wai)
• 195 Pounds, Boys: Eliam Ornellas (Wai), Darren Delacruz (Kau), Ephraim Salud (Kau)
• 220 Pounds, Boys: Walker Turpin (Kau), Eldon Simpliciano-Siliad (Wai)
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
