[ HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING ]
Iolani wrestlers sweep
After nearly eight hours of bodyslams, takedowns, bloody lips and swollen eyes, the Iolani Raiders sat on top of the ILH wrestling world after winning the boys and girls team championships yesterday at Iolani.
While the boys won their second consecutive ILH title, it was the girls team that pulled off the surprise of the day, holding off Pac-Five by one point to win their first ILH championship under head coach Matt Ha.
"After six years of being the joke of the ILH, it feels good to finally win," Ha said. "This was a real squeaker, but our four aces came through."
By four aces, he means Carla Watase, Joleen Oshiro, Catherine Chan and Brandee Toyama, who won individual ILH titles in the 98-, 103-, 108-, and 114-pound weight classes.
"They came together and gelled as a team this season, and it showed today," Ha said. "Pac-Five sure made it close, especially with that pin they got in the 140 division."
That pin was made by second-seeded Shaneal Meletia in arguably the top girls match of the day. Trailing top seed Robyn Mizuno of Punahou late in the final round, Meletia tied the match at five and then took the lead on a takedown to secure the win in the last minute.
"I'm just very, very excited," Meletia said. "I had lost to her twice already this season, and this is my last year, so it feels even better."
Kamehameha, which finished third, had three individual champions. They were Jazmine Cockett in the 130-pound division, Tilana Kawaa in the 175-pound weight class and Randolyn Nohara at 220.
In the boys division, the Raiders took home four individual titles en route to the victory. Reigning state champions Aaron Ishikawa and Kyle Muraoka won in the 112- and 152-pound classes, while Isaac Ickes took home the 215 crown and Riley Martin won at 275 with a pin in the finals.
"The kids wrestled well and hopefully we're ready for states," Raiders head coach Yoshi Honda said.
The Raiders got a scare from Kamehameha, however, which won five individual titles, including the 171-pound championship, as fourth-seeded Nathaniel Nakagawa was the lowest-seeded individual winner of the day.
Nakagawa defeated top-seeded Mike Egesdal in the semifinals before coming back and taking down second-seeded Jared Silva of Saint Louis in the finals.
"My arms were dead and I was pretty tired, but I just looked at my coaches and went for it," Nakagawa said. "I'm not thinking about states right now, I just want to go back to school and celebrate."
Keneric Pai scored another upset for the Warriors, beating top seed Jeremy Kort of Punahou in the 145-pound division after scoring a takedown with four seconds left to win 5-3.
"I hadn't beaten him yet this year," Pai said. "Now I know I can hang with everyone and as long as I keep my head in the match, I can go far."
Other boys individual winners were Punahou's Joshua Plechaty, Steven Chong, and Will Egesdal; Brandon Low and Ben Wilmore of Saint Louis; and Kamehameha's Gerritt Vincent, Shane Vasconcellos and AJ Pan.
