LIHU‘E — The U.S. Amateur Wrestling Spring Tournament schedule presented by Westside Wrestling is growing.
Friday’s tournament at the Kaua‘i High School gym brought out 27 wrestlers grappling through seven divisions, with 27 matches being run over a two-hour span in humid conditions brought on by the afternoon rains.
These increases in numbers resulted in changes in some of the divisions, including the age 8-10 having its weight class increased from the first tournament’s 67 pounds to 76 pounds.
This resulted in six wrestlers going for position, with Kalinaray Aceret taking first place, followed by Keaolewa Armitage. Chiyo Matseshe was consistent in third place, the same position as in the first tournament. Betty Dybul, a newcomer to the mat since the season opener last week, finished in sixth place in the largest division competing.
A new division, the age 15-17, 210 pounds, saw the return of some wrestlers from the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation season, as Waimea’s Shawn Parraga claimed this new division, followed by Ephraim Salud.
In the age 4-6, 45-pound division, Nualani Sakamoto-Flores and Kawowo Sakamoto-Flores rose to finish first and second, respectively, after ending last week’s tournament in third and fourth places, respectively.
The spring tournaments continue Saturday when matches move to the Kapa‘a Kaua‘i Police Activities League Youth Center on the Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital campus, with the first matches at 10 a.m.
The fourth tournament is also at the Kapa‘a K-PAL Youth Center on June 4, with the first match starting at 10 a.m.
The spring season closes June 10 and 11 at the Clem Gomes Gym in Waimea with the Clarissa Chun clinic on June 10, and the Kaua‘i USAW Sam Silva Memorial Tournament, with weigh-in starting at 8 a.m.
Tournament 2 results
Age 4-6, 45 pounds: Nualani Sakamoto-Flores, Kawowo Sakamoto-Flores, Keanu Phillips;
Age 8-10, 76 pounds: Kalinaray Aceret, Keaolewa Armitage, Chiyo Matseshe, Gundy Magalogo, Brody Aceret, Betty Dybul;
Age 9-12, 95 pounds: Ka‘iwahie Sakamoto-Flores, Koai‘a Sakamoto-Flores, Kaonohi Armitage, Heanu Sakamoto-Flores;
Age 11-12, 130 pounds: Makai Kua, Ryder Vivas, Auli‘i Tihada;
Age 13-15, 130 pounds: Deandre Gonzales, Josh Martin, Bea Kellerman;
Age 15-16, 160 pounds: Koi Richards, Jazlyn Phillips, Kolai Richards;
Age 15-17, 210 pounds: Shawn Parraga, Ephraim Salud, Darren Delacruz, Calvin Rockwell.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
