[ HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS ]

GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM Moanalua High School wrestlers Stephany Lee, left, and Caylene Valdez lead the Menehunes into the state championships, which start Friday.

Menehunes hurting
for another title

Moanalua goes into the state
championship trying to overcome
injuries for its fourth straight crown

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By Marc Dixon
mdixon@starbulletin.com

Moanalua girls wrestling coach Joel Kawachi rides into the state tournament this weekend with his squad as the three-time defending champion.

On his roster are four former state champions, including three defending champions and three No. 1 seeds. But according to him, the Menehunes are the underdogs.

According to Kawachi, eight of last year's 10 champions return this year, and of those eight, five are two-time champions.

"This is the most talent I've ever seen at a state championship," Kawachi said.

In what Kawachi has called a "freak year," 14 out of his 21 girls have suffered a substantial injury, the most costly being an ankle injury to defending 175-pound champion Gabrielle Nicholas.

Nicholas, who started the week on crutches, is a match-day decision and maybe the hinging factor between runner-up status or a fourth championship in a row.

"If she's healthy, then we are the favorite," Kawachi said. "But with her questionable and all the other injuries, you have to look at Kahuku."

Hawaii's football powerhouse suits up only one No. 1 seed, 98-pound Justine Swafford. However, a couple of other names may draw more attention. Senior Shanel Vivas is ranked eighth nationally at 114 pounds by Wrestling USA Magazine, and Elizabeth Torres, a junior, is ranked second nationally at 110 pounds.

But you can't count Moanalua out yet. The Menehunes still have a chance to stand tall with experienced state champions Caylene Valdez, Stephany Lee and Shani Alvarado.

Valdez, a junior and the smallest and most experienced of the trio, is a two-time state champion. Wrestling USA ranks her third nationally at 110 pounds. Wrestling since fourth grade, a win this weekend will give her a shot at four-year dominance and a springboard to her dream.

"Most likely I'll wrestle in college," Valdez said. "But I really want to be an Olympian."

Earlier this season, Valdez was sidelined by a back injury for over a month. The injury was so severe it altered the way she brushed her teeth and got out of bed. "I could walk, but I couldn't wrestle," said the 108-pounder. "I owe my return and a chance this weekend to Dr. Ronald Hanagami."

Aside from the distraction of a bad back, Valdez will also have to worry about Vivas. "She won everything before Caylene came back," Kawachi said.

Like Valdez, Lee has never experienced a wrestling season where she didn't win the state title. A two-time champ at 140, Lee is looking to add a third this year at 155. Also a four-time national judo champion, Lee has dominated her opponents this year, drawing comparisons to St. Louis' boys wrestler Jonathan Spiker.

"Her greatest strength is her physical strength," Kawachi said. "She has no fear and she wrestles hurt."

Lee has fought a recurring shoulder injury since her sophomore year, and despite not being 100 percent, she still demands the best from her opponents.

"I like the girls who are aggressive, attack and come at me," Lee said. "I don't like to wrestle someone that is scared or backing off."

Lee plans to join a Hawaii contingent going to the nationals in March, where she is looking forward to test herself against the country's best before retiring to heal or return to Judo. "I want to win nationals and then no more wrestling," Lee said.

Unlike her teammates, Alvarado is not an overwhelming favorite to win her weight class. Two years ago, Valdez was a state champion but finished third last year behind current teammate Lee and Kaiser's Anna Tong, the number one ranked 138-pound girl in the country. With Lee having moved up to 155, Tong and Alvarado are left to claim a prize that Alvarado has been eyeing for a long time.

"I want it (the state championship)," said Alvarado. "I want it bad this year -- it's been my goal from the start."

Citing that this year she has more heart and more desire than any other year, Alvarado has taken the steps necessary to take what she feels is hers. When not practicing, she watches tape of her earlier matches and constantly asks the coaching staff questions. The work has paid off. While Tong beat Alvarado twice last year, this year Alvarado returned the favor.

"I look at wrestling as my ticket -- I take it seriously, I want to wrestle in college," Alvarado said.

Besides the future, Alvarado has found other things to inspire her this year. She wants to win for her father, Marcelo, who got her interested in the sport but never won a state title for Nanakuli High School.

"He finished third," Alvarado said. "He could never beat Yoshi Honda." The recent transfer from Mililani has also dedicated her season to a friend and fellow wrestler who passed away last April in a traffic accident.

"This year is for Andrew (Delos Reyes)," Alvarado said.

The Hawaii High School Athletic Association 2002 Boys and Girls Wrestling Championships begin Friday and conclude Saturday at the Blaisdell Center.

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Data House State Wrestling seedings

BOYS

103: 1. Bobby Dogget, Damien; 2. Ikaika Medeiros, Hana; 3. Jordan Salvador, Pearl City; 4. Shane Rellez, Hilo.
112: 1. Ben Willmore, St. Louis; 2. Rowell Daquep, Baldwin; 3. Ted Kaneda, Roosevelt; 4. Nick Gardner, Pahoa.
119: 1. Nick Galloway, Waiakea; 2. Jared Wakayama, Iolani; 3. Lawrence Thain, McKinley; 4. Dustin Smith, Lahainaluna.
125: 1. Brent Kakesako, Iolani; 2. Emile Suehiro, McKinley; 3. Micah Espaniola, Molokai; 4. Jon Fisher, Hilo.
130: 1. Ryan Wong, Kamehameha; 2. Desmond Thain, McKinley; 3. Kory Tabilangan, Baldwin; 4. Micah Sakamoto, Waiakea.
135: 1. Kyle Muraoka, Iolani; 2. Rene Suehiro, McKinley; 3. Nahe Matsuoka, Konawaena; 4. Kimo Reeves, Moanalua.
140: 1. Christian Kikuchi, Kamehameha; 2. Jaime Keehu, Mililani; 3. Steven Chang, Maui; 4. Johansen Quist, Hilo.
145: 1. Jonathan Spiker, St. Louis; 2. Joseph Anderson, Konawaena; 3. Trevor Tamashiro, Roosevelt; 4. CJ Casco, Lahainaluna.
152: 1. Tommy Tamasese, Hawaii Prep; 2. Lorrin Ishimine, Baldwin; 3. Judd Vincent, Kamehameha; 4. Robert Yokoi, Kailua.
160: 1. Kainoa Casco, Lahainaluna; 2. Paul Laga, Farrington; 3. Kevin Craigie, Punahou; 4. Sakae Watanabe, Hilo.
171: 1. Robert Yamashita, Iolani; 2. Lucas Misaki, Molokai; 3. Marcus Busch, Waiakea; 4. Collin Mansanas, Castle.
189: 1. Riley Schmidtke, Mid-Pacific; 2. Ikaika Corpuz, Baldwin; 3. Rusty Lawson, Nanakuli; 4. Alan Rosenburg, Kealakehe.
215: 1. Prince Brown, St. Louis; 2. Soloni Taumalolo, Kaimuki; 3. Justin Luafalemana, Molokai; 4. Joe Vasconcellos, St. Louis.
275: 1. Michael Mandaquit, Hilo; 2. Pahia Curran, Moanalua; 3. Charles Tang, Lahainaluna; 4. Gaison Ganiko, Damien.

GIRLS

98: 1. Justine Swafford, Kahuku; 2. Naomi Karlen, Punahou; 3. Bernadete Javier, Leilehua; 4. Mitra Hefforn, Hilo.
103: 1. Melissa Orden, McKinley; 2. Dawn Haraguchi, Waiakea; 3. Shannon Lee, Hawaii Baptist Academy; 4. Ashley Trapp, Maui.
108: 1. Caylene Valdez, Moanalua; 2. Janelle Hanaike, Kamehameha; 3. Lisa Sakoda, Hilo; 4. Vanessa Chavez, Maui.
114: 1. Debbie Sakai, Mililani; 2. Jaynee Kim, Punahou; 3. Sharon Ketchum, Kohala; 4. Channasy Casio, Maui.
121: 1. Mellissa Fukushima, Punahou; 2. Eva Chan, McKinley; 3. Oriana Parker, King Kekaulike; 4. Lindsey Borges, Hilo.
130: 1. Dara Ching, Pearl City; 2. Jennifer Miyahira, Mid-Pacific; 3. Veronica Ferreira, Baldwin; 4. Jasmine Norman, Konawaena.
140: 1. Shani Alvarado, Moanalua; 2. Ashley Revera, King Kekaulike; 3. Chaneal Meletia, HBA; 4. Tiffany Wong, Keeau.
155: 1. Stephany Lee, Moanalua; 2. Selina Perez, Baldwin; 3. Ashley Truchan, Hilo; 4. Abigail Logan, Kamehameha.
175: 1. Ashley Gaspar, Nanakuli; 2. Melinda Bolo, Lanai; 3. Amber Smith , Punahou; 4. Keisha Siliga, Hilo.
220: 1. Iwalani Fonoimoana, Kamehameha; 2. Matalaloa Tuitele, Leilehua; 3. Lemoe Tautala, Pahoa; 4. Chastity Molina, Waianae.

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