DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Jonathan Spiker of Saint Louis defeated Ray-Ian Transfiguracion of Konawaena 17-7 in the 152-pound final last night. Spiker becomes the second boy to win four straight state wrestling titles. Iolani's Patrick Higa was the first, from 1983 to 1986.
Patrick Higa has company in the Hawaii high school wrestling stratosphere. Iolani boys, Kahuku girls
raid state wrestling titlesBy Nick Abramo
nabramo@starbulletin.comSaint Louis' Jonathan Spiker and Moanalua's Caylene Valdez joined Higa as the only wrestlers to capture four state championships last night.
In a tight boys team race, Iolani outlasted two-time defending champion Saint Louis 180.5-167 to secure the Data House Wrestling Championship at Blaisdell Arena. With 147.5 points, Kahuku won the girls title by 30 points over runner-up Moanalua.
Valdez became the first girl to accomplish the four-peat by pinning Tamitha Hufana of Farrington in the 114-pound final.
"It's a wonderful feeling," said Valdez, who cried happy tears and jumped into the arms of her boyfriend, Kamehameha wrestler Patrick Stachel, moments after the victory. "I've been very lucky and had God on my side. Through these four years, it's been a lot of tears, sweat, dedication, commitment and cutting weight.
"Our other girl wrestlers were there to push me through when I was down. I set myself against their pace. If they were faster or drilling harder, then I knew I had to go faster or drill harder."
Spiker became the second boy to four-peat, matching Higa's run from 1983 to 1986. He beat Ray-Ian Transfiguracion of Konawaena 17-7 in the 152-pound final.
"It's everything," Spiker said. "I thought about it the whole season and that's all I could think about the past two weeks. When I was a freshman, people said I could be a four-time champ, and that's when I hadn't even won one yet. It was risky and exciting. Still, I had to go one, then two, then three, then four. I would have liked to end it with a pin and I was trying for a pin, even in the last 10 seconds."
Iolani's Aaron Ishikawa (103), Jared Wakayama (125), Owen Yonehara (135) and Kyle Muraoka (145) earned individual titles to lead Iolani past Saint Louis.
Wakayama, the 119-pound champ a year ago, held off hard-charging Riley Kitamura of Punahou for a 12-10 victory.
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Caylene Valdez of Moanalua was congratulated by teammate Cassandra Pohe after pinning Tamitha Hufana of Farrington in the 114 lbs. final to become the first girl to win four state titles.
"I'm a senior, so I knew I didn't have another chance," Wakayama said. "I know I've got to keep pushing until I've got no more to give, and I was able to pull it out. It's a great feeling, but the true feeling is when the team wins."
By winning their weight classes, Saint Louis' Brandon Low (103), Ben Wilmore (130) and Vincent Scott (215) helped the Crusaders remain close to the victorious Raiders.
"I was worried all the way up to the 160-pound match," Iolani coach Yoshi Honda said. "That's when my assistants gave me the thumbs up that it was over. Our group was really close, bonded with each other and pulled off each other's energy."
Saint Louis coach Todd Los Banos said he was happy his Crusaders were able to keep it a tight race.
Wilmore edged McKinley's Emil Suehiro 3-0 for another state crown. He won the 112-pound class last year.
Rene Suehiro, Emil's brother who won at 135 pounds a year ago, held off Pearl City's Brian Denny 6-3 for the 140-pound championship.
Baldwin's Kody Shepley gave Maui fans something to cheer about by dominating McKinley's Lawrence Thain in a 12-0 victory. He almost pinned Thain twice.
"I thought I did pin him, especially the first time, but the referee never called it," said Shepley, who missed much of the season because of a torn rotator cuff.
Kahuku's Elizabeth Torres and Kehau Kamauoha won girls individual titles to lead the Red Raiders to their team victory. Torres pinned Mauri Terao of Punahou in the 108-pound final, while Kamauoha did the same to Robyn Mizuno of Punahou at 140.
"I was hoping I wouldn't get the senior jinx," said Torres, who placed second at the states as a sophomore and junior. "Our girls did awesome and we worked so hard. This is icing on the cake and an exciting, great way to finish the year."
In one of the most exciting matches of the night, Kealakehe's Jasmine Norman beat Kamehameha's Jazmine Cockett in a 130-pound class overtime tiebreak. Norman had a comfortable 6-2 lead, but Cockett tied it near the end of regulation with a reversal and a near takedown.
"That was the closest match I've ever been involved in," said Norman, who was completely exhausted after the win. "She's amazing. What was really cool is we both have the same name, so everyone was yelling, 'Go Jasmine.' "
Kailua's Danyelle Hedin earned her second straight title at 121 pounds by getting revenge with a pin of Kahuku's Leilani Relator. Relator beat Hedin three times this season -- in the regular season and the OIA East championship meets.
"I worked on centering myself and doing what I needed to do," Hedin said. "If feels great, because I know I had to come and wrestle my hardest."
GIRLS TEAM STANDINGS HHSAA wrestling
At Blaisdell Arena
1. Kahuku, 147.5; 2. Moanalua, 117.5; 3. Kamehameha, 104.5; 4. Farrington, 100; 5. Punahou, 90; 6. Baldwin, 69.5; 7. Hilo, 58; 8. Waianae, 45; 9. Leilehua, 37; 10t. Aiea and Kealakehe, 35; 12. Kapolei, 32; 13. Roosevelt, 28.5; 14. Kailua, 28; 15t. Radford and Waiakea, 22; 17. Iolani, 20.5; 18t. Pearl City and McKinley, 20; 20. Hawaii Baptist, 19.5;
21t. Waipahu and Lanai, 19; 23. Mililani, 18.5; 24. Kaiser, 13; 25. King Kekaulike, 11; 26. Lahainaluna, 10; 27. Hawaii Prep, 5; 28. Castle 4; 29t. Campbell, Kalaheo and Kohala, 3; 32. Maryknoll, 1.Girls Individual Results
98 pounds--Championship: Angelee Homma (Aiea) defeated Venus Bravo (Moa), by fall (1:31). 3rd: Shaelene Kamakaala (KS) defeated Erin Uwaine (MPI), by technical fall (15-0).
103--Championship: Sadie Kaneda (Roos) defeated Nicole Fonda (Kah), 8-5. 3rd: Naomi Karlen (Pun) defeated Bernadette Javier (Lei), by fall (1:44).
108--Championship: Elizabeth Torres (Kah) defeated Mauri Terao (Pun), by fall (1:25). 3rd: Cassandra Bohe (Moa) defeated Vanessa Chavez (Bald), by fall (1:35).
114--Championship: Caylene Valdez (Moa) defeated Tamitha Hufana (Farr), by fall (0:44). 3rd: Debbi Sakai (Mili) defeated Jaynee Kim (Pun), 7-1.
121--Championship: Danyelle Hedin (Kail) defeated Leilani Relator (Kah), by fall (3:48). 3rd: Shyla Iokia (Wain) defeated Cara-Anne Machado (Farr), by superior (12-2).
130--Championship: Jasmine Norman (Keala) defeated Jazmine Cockett (KS), 6-6 (tie breaker). 3rd: Lauren Primiano (Pun) defeated Ashlee Estioko (Kah), by fall (2:10).
140--Championship: Kehau Kamauoha (Kah) defeated Robyn Mizuno (Pun), by fall (1:44). 3rd: Chelsea Berdon (KS) defeated Chanel Meletia (HBA), 3-1.
155--Championship: Selina Perez (Bald) defeated Kuuini Johnson (Rad), 11-6. 3rd: Delilah Joung (KS) defeated Keisha Siliga (Hilo), 8-5.
175--Championship: Laosamoa Misa-Uli (Farr) defeated Ashley Truchan (Hilo), by fall (4:24). 3rd: Leoalni Corpuz (Bald) defeated Laosamoa Misa-Uli (Farr), by fall (2:08).
220--Championship: Chastity Molina (Wain) defeated Edna Talo (Kap), by fall (2:59). 3rd: Tania Liufau (McK) defeated Merita Lavea (Lei), by fall (4:12).
BOYS TEAM STANDINGS
1. Iolani, 180.5; 2. Saint Louis, 167; 3. Kamehameha, 132; 4. Kahuku, 113.5; 5. McKinley, 87.5; 6. Punahou, 71.5; 7. Castle, 61; 8. Pearl City, 56.5; 9. Lahainaluna, 55; 10. Waipahu, 53; 11. Baldwin, 52.5; 12. King Kekaulike, 52; 13. Kaiser, 48; 14. Waiakea, 44; 15. Farrington, 42; 16. Konawaena, 41.5; 17. Moanalua, 40; 18. Kealakehe 38.5; 19. Hilo, 33; 20. Hana, 28;
21. Aiea, 26.5; 22t. Damien and Leilehua, 26; 24. Roosevelt, 23.5; 25. Mid-Pacific, 23; 26. University, 19; 27. Hawaii Baptist Academy, 13; 28t. Molokai and Hawaii Preperatory Academy, 12; 30. Campbell, 8; 31. Pahoa, 6.5; 32. Waianae, 6; 33t. Waialua, Mililani and Kalaheo, 3; 36t. Kalani and Kihei, 2; 38. Radford, 1.Boys Individual Results
103-- Championship: Aaron Ishikawa (Iol) defeated Bricen Yakabe (Kais), by fall (3:53). 3rd: Diamond Okimoto-Allen (StL) defeated Nicholas Reyno (Waip), by fall (3:53)
112--Championship: Brandon Low (StL) defeated Daniel Morita (Kah), 8-4. 3rd: Mikail Higa (Waik) defeated Scott Sasaki (Roos), 8-6
119--Championship: Kodi Shepley (Bald) defeated Lawrence Thain (McK), by superior (12-0). 3rd: Aaron Fernandez (KS) defeated Bryson Vivas (Kah), 3-1
125--Championship: Jared Wakayama (Iol) defeated Riley Kitamura (Pun), 12-10. 3rd: Shawn Tsutsumi (Cast) defeated Daniel Kishinami (Dam), 4-2
130--Championship: Ben Wilmore (StL) defeated Emile Suehiro (McK), 3-0. 3rd: Brent Kakesako (Iol) defeated Dustin Smith (Lah), 3-
135--Championship: Owen Yonehara (Iol) defeated Desmond Thain (McK), 6-2. 3rd: Brook Bohlen (Moa) defeated Ryan Hishinuma (HBA), 8-3
140--Championship: Rene Suehiro (McK) defeated Brian Denny (PC), 6-3. 3rd: Lucas Nakao (UHS) defeated Raymond Akoi (Lah), 4-2
145--Championship: Kyle Muraoka (Iol) defeated Kevin Takasaki (Pun), 5-2. 3rd: Trenton Mericle (Aiea) defeated Waylen Mata-Eseri (KS), 4-3
152--Championship: Jonathan Spiker (StL) defeated Ray-Ian Transfiguracion (Kona), by superior (17-6). 3rd: Ryan Tuzon (Bald) defeated Matt Comeau (Kah), 9-7
160--Championship: Mike Wheeler (KK) defeated Collin Mansanas (Cast), 8-6. 3rd: Adam Ahsue (Kah) defeated Bradley Nagasako (Iol), 3-2
171--Championship: Judd Vincent (KS) defeated Lokahi Aipia (Kah), 12-5. 3rd: Scott Shinsato (Cast) defeated C.J. Elizares (KK), 7-6
189 --Championship: Patrick Stachel (KS) defeated Riley Schmidtke (MPI), 7-5. 3rd: Sam Gorman (PC) defeated Ryan Buffett (Dam), by fall (4:27)
215 --Championship: Vincent Scott (StL) defeated Noah Amba (KS), 7-5. 3rd: Noah Palmerton (Moa) defeated Tobey Kaaiaia (PC), 5-1
275 --Championship: Champ FinalsRory Jones (Lei) defeated Frank Fernandez (StL), 4-2. 3rd: Michael Lafaele (Farr) defeated Blake Mokiao (Hilo), 2-1
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