LIHUE — The Kauai High School women wrestlers swept all weight classes, and the Red Raider men captured top honors in five of the eight weight classes Saturday when the Kauai Interscholastic Federation hosted the second round of matches at
LIHUE — The Kauai High School women wrestlers swept all weight classes, and the Red Raider men captured top honors in five of the eight weight classes Saturday when the Kauai Interscholastic Federation hosted the second round of matches at the Kauai High gym.
“The Red Raider girls have both the numbers and the talent,” said Mac Pigott, the KIF wrestling tournament director. “Look at the results — the Kauai girls wrestling dynasty cemented their position as the dominant KIF team, sweeping first place finishes in six divisions from 112 to 168 pounds. In three of the six brackets, Kauai girls finished first and second.”
Pigott said the Kapaa girls grapplers are making sure fans take notice of the Warriors.
“They have no intention of rolling over,” Pigott said. “Up there in the green hills of Warrior county, Kapaa girl wrestlers are training hard. Shanayah Marshall is leading the charge after making her debut in the KIF wrestling arena with a first place in the 122-pound division. This week, her coaches moved her up to the 127-pound division where she made it into the championship match. She demonstrated that she could hold her own and score against the best.”
Marshall went up against Nika Tapucol in the 127-pound class, Tapucol scoring quickly with a takedown in the first round. Marshall reversed her position and got Tapucol on her back as the round ended. Marshall opened the second period with a takedown, but Tapucol came back to reverse the Kapaa freshman for the fall.
Pigott said Kauai High School senior Bryson Yoro leads the Red Raider boy wrestlers, going undefeated in the first two matches and backed with an impressive preseason performance.
“He makes it look easy,” Pigott said. “However, Waimea will not go down without a fight this year. Connor Donaher, the only current KIF wrestler to have stood on the podium at the state championships in sixth place, leads a mostly young Menehune squad with some talented underclassmen looking to follow in his footsteps.”
Waimea High School will host a dual tournament Saturday starting at 10 a.m.
