HONOLULU — Kaua‘i High School senior wrestler Thomas Ramos finished the Moanalua Duals match on O‘ahu with an undefeated 6-0 record, following his 5-4 win over Cameron Ramos of Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama Boys A.
“The Kaua‘i High boys and girls competed with a gritty attitude. The wins and losses do not reflect the experience gained from the Moanalua Duals. The highlight of the trip was senior Thomas Ramos, who went 6-0 at his weight class,” said Kaua‘i High wrestling coach Julian Saldana.
“Ambrie Rocha went 5-3 and competed at a high weight class as well. Jaevyn Navarro went 5-2 at the 195 weight class, and it was his first time competing in the sport of wrestling. Jayden Manibog went 4-3 at the tournament. We had a great performance overall from our wrestlers and, next year, hope to have an even better showing,” said Saldana.
Coach Mac Pigott, the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation wrestling director, said the Moanalua Duals participation picked up to pre-pandemic numbers, with 15 girls teams and 139 wrestlers. High schools from every league in the Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association, and two schools from Guam, saw 352 wrestlers representing the 22 boys teams.
Coach CJ Threat of Waimea High said the duals are important because it gave his wrestlers some competitive mat time ahead of their first Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation tournament.
“It was a great weekend of wrestling at the Moanalua Duals that contested on Dec. 29 and 30. The duals is a team tournament, and was our last chance to get in some preseason wrestling before the KIF season begins with the first tournament on Jan. 14 at the Kaua‘i High School gym starting at 10 a.m.,” Threat said.
“Only four of our 10 boys had previous wrestling experience, so it was great to get them the exposure on O‘ahu. Of the four that previously wrestled, they competed great all weekend. I am especially proud of our 126-pound wrestler De’Andrei Gonzales, who finished 5-1. He had plenty of competition and wrestled great.”
Threat said he was also pleased with the performance of his lone female wrestler.
“We also had one girl, Skyelynn Ripley, who finished 3-2, compete, and I appreciate Kaua‘i High Schools’ help in allowing her to join their team for the competition,” Threat said.
”Overall, we had a great weekend, and I’m thankful for Moanalua for allowing us to compete. This tournament will help us prep for the season, and eventually the state tournament.”
The first KIF wrestling tournament will take place Jan. 14 starting at 10 a.m. at Kaua‘i High School gym. Wrestlers weigh in starting at 8 a.m. with the first matches on the mat starting at 10 a.m.
This will be the 10th anniversary of wrestling in the KIF, Pigott said.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
