GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM Nicole Chorney of Punahou, left, is the No. 1 seed in the girls 125-pound division at this weekend's state tournament.

State wrestling powers
coming for Kahuku

They may be defending boys champions, but the Kahuku Red Raiders are up against a lineup of Goliaths in this week's Chevron State Wrestling Championships.

The tourney begins tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. at Blaisdell Arena. The semifinal and consolation rounds resume Saturday at 10:30 a.m. The girls championship and consolation finals begin Saturday at 4:30 p.m and the boys championship and consolation finals follow at 6:30.

Injuries will make a state title run even tougher for Kahuku. Baldwin, Iolani and Kamehameha have the inside track, Kahuku coach Reggie Torres believes.

"Baldwin has a lot more quality wrestlers. They have five top girls," he said. "Pearl City, Farrington and us have numbers, but states is more about quality."

Twenty-one years have passed since Torres began coaching wrestlers at Kahuku, the last 12 as head coach. Under his tutelage, the Red Raiders have won five of the last six Oahu Interscholastic Association boys championships.

Kahuku's girls have won the last three titles, including last weekend's three-point margin of victory over Pearl City.

The titles came at a price. Misia Kamaka'ala, Kahuku's contender in the girls 130-pound weight class, suffered a shoulder injury and was knocked out of contention. Simione Mapu, challenging in the 189 division, suffered sprains to her knee and ankle.

"He tried to counter, but he didn't step," Torres said.

There were an alarming number of injuries at the OIA championships.

"It's just something that happens. It's a fluke," Torres said.

Kahuku earned three individual crowns on the boys mats. Torres' younger son, Richard, won the 119-pound division. Daniel Morita captured the 135 title, and Max Fairclough took the 275 crown despite being relatively undersized.

Danica Auna may be just a freshman, but she's no rookie. Auna began wrestling in the intermediate program at Kahuku. This season, she captured the 103-pound title at the OIAs.

Being a student of the game didn't hurt.

"She started a notebook at camp, like a study guide," Torres said. "She's one of the few who kept doing it all season."

In the book, Auna wrote her goals and kept notes on every wrestler she faced. This weekend, she's seeded second behind Iolani's Carla Watase, who won the state title at 98 pounds last season.

Moloka'i is bringing a contingent of Maui Interscholastic League titlists and contenders. Jon Small and his team hope to start strong and maintain intensity. "We worked on the kids with being mentally prepared. We do a lot of visualization," said Small, a first-year head coach.

The Farmers will stay at McKinley High School.

"We're staying away from the crowds. McKinley is quiet, and we can walk over and stretch," Small said.

A year ago, Matthew Tanielu was a rather svelte, agile battler in the 215 division. He finished second statewide to Konawaena's Dylan Rush.

The Moloka'i senior returned this season at 260 pounds. Less svelte, but just as agile.

"He's one of the most athletic heavyweights I've ever seen," Small said. "He's just as quick as last year."

Tanielu melted down to 250 and proved his mettle in MIL action. He defeated the formidable Alika McGurn of Baldwin, but stepping up at states right off the bat will be key.

"The MIL's not the toughest league for heavyweights," Small noted.

At Molokai, Tanielu has no competition.

"So I throw on my shoes every day. All our coaches do," said Small, who is 200 pounds.

Tanielu is a cousin of former Molokai standout Justin Luafalemana, who won the state 215 crown in 2002.

"He's put in the work and prepared physically," Small said. "I really expect big things from him. He's just gotta have fun."

The young squad at Saint Louis has made strides this season under second-year coach Kendrick Kakazu. The Crusaders won the Interscholastic League of Honolulu championship last week despite having just four seniors.

"A lot of our sophomores came through in the semifinals," said Kakazu, who was an assistant for one season before taking over for Todd Los Ba–os.

A pair of juniors, Brandon Low and Jared Silva, captured titles. Low won the 125 weight class, while Silva took the 189 title.

"They've given us leadership. Our young boys look up to them," Kakazu said. "They're learning to be verbal, but they lead more by example. They know what it takes, and if the team doesn't do it, they let 'em know."

Charles Smiley, a transfer, has also boosted the Crusaders. He finished second at 152 in the ILH championships.

Contending for a state championship won't be simple.

"We had eight in the (ILH) finals and won only two, so I'm a little bit disappointed," Kakazu added. "But state tournaments are determined by an entire team."

Kakazu coached at Waipahu for six years before becoming a fourth-grade teacher at Saint Louis. The list of powerhouses is impressive, he says.

"Kahuku is the defending champion, and Baldwin beat the (MIL) preseason favorite, Lahainaluna," he said. "If we wrestle the way I think we can, we can surprise."

One of the most intriguing athletes in the tourney is Konawaena's Rush. He won the 215 crown as a sophomore last season, but also excels in football as a two-way starter and is a track and field athlete. The 6-foot-3 junior is also an outstanding weightlifter.

Last year's state girls champion, Farrington, sustained key losses to graduation and finished fourth in the OIA championships.

Chevron State Wrestling Championships: Division by division

Oahu schools have dominated the state wrestling championships.

Since the state championships began in 1966, no neighbor island team has won the boys crown. The girls tournament began in '98, with Oahu Interscholastic Association schools winning every team title.

Baldwin may have a say in this year's championships. The Bears bring perhaps their strongest boys and girls teams ever.

Individually, the battles are widespread. Here's a look at the boys and girls weight classes:

BOYS

103
2004 champion: Joshua Plechaty, Punahou
Seeds: 1. Nick Matayoshi, Iolani; 2. Nathan Duarosan, King Kekaulike; 3. Brandon Mina, Waipahu; 4. Richie Mitchell, Honokaa
Darkhorse contenders: Brycen Fukushima, Punahou; Jordan Lai, Saint Louis
The skinny: Matayoshi reached last year's finals before losing to Plechaty.

112
2004 champion: Ikaika Medeiros, Hana
Seeds: 1. Lean Gumbac, Baldwin; 2. Aaron Ishikawa, Iolani; 3. Royce Mandarang, Waipahu; 4. Richard Okinaka, Waiakea
Darkhorse contenders: Lopaka Samudio, Lahainaluna; Lee Inouye, Roosevelt
The skinny: Gumbac won the MIL title two weeks ago and has had more time to rest. Some may consider Ishikawa the favorite, but Gumboc defeated him in last year's third-place match, 6-5.

119
2004 champion: Brandon Low, Saint Louis
Seeds: 1. Richard Torres, Kahuku; 2. Zach Matayoshi, Iolani; 3. Michael Villoria, Lahainaluna; 4. Landon Kurata, Waiakea
Darkhorse contender: Keani Nishigaya, Saint Louis; Joshua Plechaty, Punahou
The skinny: Torres placed second at 112 last year before moving up a class. Plechaty won last year's 103 title. He placed second at 119 at last week's ILH tourney

125
2004 champion: Daniel Morita, Kahuku
Seeds: 1. Brandon Low, Saint Louis; 2. Bricen Yakabe, Kaiser; 3. Bailey Ball, Lahainaluna; 4. Travis Tsuda, Kealakehe
Darkhorse contenders: Bryson Yakabe, Kaiser; James Blair, Molokai; Daniel Chow, Punahou
The skinny: Low won the 119 title last year.

130
2004 champion: Shane Vasconcellos, Kamehameha
Seeds: 1. Brenden Whitt, Punahou; 2. Michael Shiroma, Roosevelt; 3. Ryan Ah Puck, Lahainaluna; 4. Brandt Tanaka, Waiakea
Darkhorse contenders: Nevin Kamaka'ala, Kahuku; Kelsey Kokubun, Iolani; Reggie Torres, Kamehameha
The skinny: Whitt finished fourth last year in the 140 class before dropping to 130.

135
2004 champion: Alex Molina, Kealakehe
Seeds: 1. Daniel Morita, Kahuku; 2. Grant Hirayama, Hilo; 3. Lindsey Baybayan, Lahainaluna; 4. Steven Chong, Punahou
Darkhorse contender: Alapai Bungo, Kamehameha
The skinny: Morita bumped up two classes after winning the 125 crown last season. Chong placed fourth last year.

140
2004 champion: Johanson Quist, Hilo
Seeds: 1. Johanson Quist, Hilo; 2. Mickey Lauer, Baldwin; 3. Jarrod Sandobal, Kamehameha; 4. Seth Ching, Pearl City
Darkhorse contender: Chris Bovo, Kalaheo
The skinny: Quist edged Saint Louis' Ben Wilmore 4-3 in last year's final. Lauer placed third at 135 last season.

145
2004 champion: Nahe Akoi, Lahainaluna
Seeds: 1. John Stricklin-Pu, Hana; 2. William Smithe, Mililani; 3. Bryson Vivas, Kamehameha; 4. Garrett Roan, Waiakea
Darkhorse contender: Josh Green, Waianae
The skinny: This field is wide open.

152
2004 champion: Kyle Muraoka, Iolani
Seeds: 1. T.J. Kuahine, Baldwin; 2. Kenrick Pai, Kamehameha; 3. Simon Ioane, Farrington; 4. Shannon Kang, Hilo
Darkhorse contenders: Bryson Pascua, Pearl City; Charles Smiley, Saint Louis
The skinny: A competitive division. Some consider Ioane, Pascua and Pai the best of the lot, but Kuahine, a former Kamehameha wrestler, has experience at the highest level.

160
2004 champion: Adam Ah Sue, Kahuku
Seeds: 1. Ryan Tuzon, Baldwin; 2. Jared Ha'o, Kealakehe; 3. Gaison Ontai, Kamehameha; 4. Thomas Iinuma, Pearl City
Darkhorse contenders: Nathan Harris, Lahainaluna, Alex Crowell, Roosevelt
The skinny: Tuzon pinned Ha'o in the 152 third-place match last season.

171
2004 champion: Jared Silva, Saint Louis
Seeds: 1. Gerritt Vincent, Kamehameha; 2. Nicholas Kuhn, Lahainaluna; 3. Ikoa Rosa-Paris, Leilehua; 4. Kyle Norman, Konawaena
Darkhorse contenders: Mike Egesdal, Punahou; Kyle Snyder-Olivares, Pearl City
The skinny: Vincent placed third at 160 a year ago.

189
2004 champion: Jeff Antolin, Waipahu.
Seeds: 1. Jared Silva, Saint Louis; 2. Patrick Kaina, Lahainaluna; 3. Yancy Medeiros, Waianae; 4. Jorey Baysinger, Konawaena
Darkhorse contender: Jonathan Duquette, Roosevelt
The skinny: Silva took the 171 title last season as a sophomore. Kaina placed third at 189 a year ago.

215
2004 champion: Dylan Rush, Konawaena
Seeds: 1. Dylan Rush, Konawaena; 2. Joshua Gisha, Nanakuli; 3. Talive Siufonoa, Molokai; 4. Kazden Ikehara, Kamehameha
Darkhorse contender: Nicholas Spotkaeff, Waianae
The skinny: Rush is a strong favorite. Last year's top two challengers moved up to 275.

275
2004 champion: Riley Martin, Iolani
Seeds: 1. Matthew Tanielu, Moloka'i; 2. Max Fairclough, Kahuku; 3. Russel Fisher, Mid-Pacific; 4. Matt Wharton, Pahoa
Darkhorse contender: Alika McGurn, Baldwin; James Kudlich, Lahainaluna
The skinny: Tanielu placed second at 215 last season. Fairclough was third at 215.

GIRLS

98
2004 champion: Carla Watase, Iolani
Seeds: 1. Kira Tamashiro, Iolani; 2. Candace Sakamoto, Castle; 3. Joyce Transfiguracion, Kealakehe; 4. Krystanlyn Daquep, Baldwin
Darkhorse contender: Erin Uwaine, Pac-Five (Mid-Pacific)
The skinny: Transfiguracion placed fourth last season.

103
2004 champion: Joleen Oshiro, Iolani.
Seeds: 1. Carla Watase, Iolani; 2. Danica Auna, Kahuku; 3. Alyssa Morimoto, Baldwin; 4. Chastity Kayona, Waiakea
Darkhorse contenders: Brandi Delarama, Farrington; Tonya Kageno, Pearl City; Keri Kaneshiro, Kaimuki
The skinny: Watase won the 98 title last year. She is unbeaten against Hawaii competition, but in a matchup with Auna early on, she won by just two points.

108
2004 champion: Sadie Kaneda, Roosevelt
Seeds: 1. Joleen Oshiro, Iolani; 2. Vanessa Chavez, Baldwin; 3. Tani Ader, Farrington; 4. Joyce Fong, Kamehameha-Hawaii
Darkhorse contenders: Shae Kamaka'ala, Kamehameha; Lisa Katsura, Moanalua
The skinny: Oshiro, a heavy favorite, won the 103 title last season. Chavez placed third last season at 108.

114
2004 champion: Tamatha Hufana, Farrington
Seeds: 1. Sheryl Manglaylay, Lahainaluna; 2. Catherine Chan, Iolani; 3. Lianne Tomishima, McKinley; 4. Amber Williams, Hawaii Prep
Darkhorse contender: Cori Arisumi, Roosevelt, Clarissa Reidy, Kapolei
The skinny: Chan placed second at 108 a year ago.

120
2004 champion: Candice Coratibo, Baldwin
Seeds: 1. Shyla Iokia, Baldwin; 2. Lauren Primiano, Punahou; 3 Ashley Poling, Kaiser; 4. Keoniana Flavin-Sylva, Kohala
Darkhorse contender: Kahuku's Ashley Estioko could surprise. Nagging injuries have been a challenge this season, but 120 has become the most competitive division by far. "It's a tough division, with Poling and Cheryl Lee (of Moanalua)," Kahuku coach Reggie Torres said, also noting Iokia.
"The good wrestlers have been moving to this division. It's gonna be a dogfight," he added.
The skinny: Iokia, unbeaten this year, placed second at 125 last season. Poling came in fourth at 114. Primiano was a runner-up at a national meet. Poling has defeated Estioko in three of four matchups this season. ... How tough is the 120 class? Six of the wrestlers placed among the top six in various divisions a year ago: Iokia; Primiano, sixth at 130; Poling, fourth at 114; Estioko, sixth at 120; Lee fifth at 114; and Pearl City's Cherae Pascua, second at 114.

125
2004 champion: Danyelle Hedin, Kailua
Seeds: 1. Nicole Chorney, Punahou; 2. Danica Kamakana, Moanalua; 3. Natasha Chang, Baldwin; 4. Erenia Michell, Kealakehe
Darkhorse contender: Kalimari Billings, Pearl City
The skinny: With Hedin in college, this division is wide open. None of the four seeds reached a semifinal last year. Kamakani is only a freshman.

130
2004 champion: Krystal Kiyuna, Aiea
Seeds: 1. Kara Takasaki, Punahou; 2. Jackie Baniaga, Waipahu; 3. Merisa Wong, Kealakehe; 4. Punahele Luafalemana, Molokai
Darkhorse contender: Kuuipo Badayos, Waialua
The skinny: Like the 125 class, this division is wide open. If bloodlines count for an extra boost of confidence, Molokai could be in contention here. MIL champion Luafalemana is the younger sister of former champion Justin Luafalemana. ... Kahuku's Misia Kamaka'ala would have been a strong contender if not for the shoulder injury.

140
2004 champion: Chaneal Meletia, Hawaii Baptist
Seeds: 1. Nicole Young, Pearl City; 2. Candice Coratibo, Baldwin; 3. Kiana Parilla, Kamehameha; 4. Kuulei Barton, Kealakehe
Darkhorse contender: Krystal Kiyuna of Aiea could surprise if she is healthy. The former champ at 130 reached the finals of the OIA tourney at 140, losing to Young 4-3 in overtime.
The skinny: Coratibo won the state title last year at 120, three classes down.

155
2004 champion: Delilah Joung, Waipahu
Seeds: 1. Joung, Waipahu; 2. Lani Visesio, Maui; 3. Maile Nitta, Kamehameha; 4. Penny Rodrigues, Kealakehe
Darkhorse contender: Alicia Fu, Moanalua
The skinny: Joung won last year's final with a pin and has continued this season with another OIA crown. She trailed Fu before rallying for an 18-5 major decision in the OIA finals. ... Visesio placed fourth at 140 last season.

175
2004 champion: Laosamoa Misa-Uli, Farrington
Seeds: 1. Leolani Corpuz, Baldwin; 2. Desiree Memea, University; 3. Stacey Ikawa, Pearl City; 4. Taisha Emmius, Kealakehe
Darkhorse contender: Tilana Kawa'a, Kamehameha
The skinny: Corpuz placed second last year. Memea finished fourth.

220
2004 champion: Randolyn Nohara, Kamehameha
Seeds: 1. Nohara, Kamehameha; 2. Chasity Molina, Waianae; 3. Mallorie Chesebro, Kamehameha-Maui; 4. Ashlee Lilo, Farrington
Darkhorse contenders: Akemi Holmes, Iolani; Andrea Reyes, Moanalua
The skinny: In last year's final, Nohara pinned Molina.

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Paul Honda, Star-Bulletin