[ HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING ]
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Punahou's Joshua Plechaty beat Iolani's Nick Matayoshi 10-1 for the 103-pound title.
Kahuku, Farrington
win wrestling titlesRed Raiders break the ILH's
8-year championship run
Two numbers -- 19 and 12 -- were significant for Kahuku last night on the way to victory in the Chevron Boys State Wrestling Championships.
It's the school's first state boys wrestling crown in 19 years, since the 1985 season under coach Lester Souza.
More importantly, in the eyes of Red Raiders coach Richard Torres, it took all 12 of the team's competitors to wrap up the title with 2,548 watching at Blaisdell Arena.
"We took 12 boys here and all 12 made it through to wrestle today," Torres said. "I was elated to see how they wrestled. They have the hearts of champions and that's the only way you win a state championship. It's special for us, an OIA school out in the country."
Kahuku's victory ended the Interscholastic League of Honolulu's eight-year stranglehold on the state boys championship. Leilehua, in 1995, was the last OIA school to win it. The Red Raiders finished with 170.5 points, followed by Iolani with 136.5. Kamehameha and Punahou tied for third with 110.5 points.
Eight Kahuku boys wrestled into the semifinals. Only three made it to the finals, and two of them -- Daniel Morita and Adam Ah Sue -- won individual titles.
Morita led by one over Waiakea's Mikhail Higa, but scored a takedown in the final seconds to win 9-6 in the 125-pound class.
"That was the epitome of the Kahuku wrestler," Torres said. "Every one of them always wrestle for all six minutes. We needed a lot of the little victories in the consolation rounds to put up the numbers. Ask any coach who has won a state title, and he'll tell you that's the key."
Torres was an assistant on that 1985 team. "They had lots of talent, but this team has lots of heart," he said.
Ah Sue topped off Kahuku's night by pinning Pearl City's Everett Pavo in the 160-pound final.
"I was worried and nervous throughout it all," Ah Sue said. "I gave it my all and I eventually won it with my favorite move, the cradle. All of our seniors deserve this. We've worked together for this for four years."
Victories by two neighbor-island boys stopped two-time state champions from a third title -- Hilo's Johanson Quist upended Saint Louis' Ben Wilmore 4-3 in the 140-pound final and Lahainaluna's Nahe Akoi stopped McKinley's Rene Suehiro 6-5 in double overtime.
Quist was filled with emotion after the win.
"It feels so good to finally get it, man," he said as happy tears covered his face. "He wanted it, but I wanted it more."
Akoi was just as thrilled, but a lot more amped up after topping the top-seeded Suehiro.
"It was all about conditioning," he said. "It was definitely the toughest match I've been in, but I was confident. I wanted it more than him."
Iolani's Kyle Muraoka won his second straight title by holding off Mililani's Dannon Sunga for a 9-7 victory in the 152-pound class.
By beating Kaiser's Blaine Ling 9-2 in the 119-pound final, Saint Louis sophomore Brandon Low took his second step toward four state championships.
"Just think, only two more years to go," Crusaders coach Kendrick Kakazu said to an exhausted Low after the match.
Leading 4-2 late in the final period, Low got a takedown and a near fall to pull away.
"My dad's (Mike) encouragement helped me get over the fatigue and kept me pushing to finish hard," Low said.
Only three Hawaii wrestlers have captured four state crowns -- Saint Louis' Jonathan Spiker and Moanalua's Caylene Valdez in 2000-03 and Iolani's Patrick Higa in 1983-86.
Punahou freshman Joshua Plechaty won the 103-pound class and set his sights on the revered record.
"It's the best feeling in the world, winning this," said Plechaty, who has been wrestling since the fifth grade. "I want to win more of them because it will help me be able to wrestle in college. I look up to Jonathan (now at Harvard) and (former Saint Louis three-time state champ) Travis Lee."
In one of the most exciting matches of the night, Kamehameha's Shane Vasconcellos scored a takedown in the final second to beat Roosevelt's Sean Ida 6-5 in the 130-pound class.
"The coaches told me to just flow and think about nothing," Vasconcellos said. "I was trying to shoot his leg, but he kept sprawling. I finally was able to snap his head down and followed around with my whole body on his hips and used momentum to get him down."
Ikaika Medeiros became the second Hana wrestler to win a state title. He beat Kahuku's Richard Torres 17-6 in the 112-pound final. Keoni Fontanilla accomplished the feat for Hana at 200 pounds in 1987.
"We're so proud of him. He's such a hard-working kid," Hana assistant coach Ron Sansone said.
Medeiros found inspiration after his aunt died of cancer earlier in the week.
"I finally made it to a state final and I took it to him," Medeiros said. "I did it for my aunt El. The rest of my family couldn't be here because they're attending her funeral."
HHSAA/Chevron State Wrestling Championships
Boys
Team Standings
1. Kahuku 170.5; 2. Iolani 136.5; 3. Kamehameha, Punahou 110.5; 5. Baldwin 103.5;
6. Saint Louis 102; 7. Lahainaluna 68.5; 8. Kaiser 66; 9. Mililani 61.5; 10. Hana 56;
11. Hilo 55.5; 12. Kealakehe 52.5; 13. Konawaena 48.5; 14. Waiakea 44; 15. Farrington 41;
16. King Kekaulike 38; 17. Hawaii Prep 36; 18. Waipahu 35.5; 19. Roosevelt 34; 20. Molokai 25;
21. McKinley 24; 22. Pearl City 23.5; 23. Campbell, Moanalua 20; 25. Radford 19.5;
26. Mid-Pacific 18; 27. Kalaheo 16; 28. Maui 15; 29. Waialua 14; 30. Waianae 12;
31. Castle 11.5; 32. Damien 11; 33. St. Anthony 10; 34. Kapolei 8; 35. Leilehua 6;
36. Aiea 5; 37. Molokai Christian 4; 38. Nanakuli 3; 39. Pahoa 2.Individual results
103 pounds--Championship: Joshua Plechaty (Pun) won by superior decision over Nick Matayoshi (Iol) 10-1. 3rd place: Shane Larsen (Kais) dec. Harold Kaiwi (Hana) 10-8.
112--Championship: Ikaika Medeiros (Hana) won by superior decision over Richard Torres (Kah) 17-6. 3rd place: Leon Gumboc (Bald) dec. Aaron Ishikawa (Iol) 6-5.
119--Championship: Brandon Low (STL) dec. Blaine Ling (Kais) 9-2. 3rd place: Wilfred Haney (Far) won by superior decision over Jared Kawamata (Mil) 8-0.
125--Championship: Daniel Morita (Kah) dec. Mikhail Higa (Waik) 9-6. 3rd place: Kodi Shepley (Bald) dec. Dustin Smith (Lah) 5-2.
130--Championship: Shane Vasconcellos (Kam) dec. Sean Ida (Roos) 6-5. 3rd place: Joseph Viloria (Far) pinned Timmy White (Kalh).
135--Championship: Alex Molina (Keal) dec. William Smythe (Mil) 5-3. 3rd place: Mike Lauer (Bald) defeated Steven Chong (Pun) in sudden victory 2 OT.
140--Championship: Johanson Quist (Hilo) dec. Ben Wilmore (STL) 4-3. 3rd place: Dalton Cochran (Rad) pinned Brenden Whitt (Pun).
145--Championship: Nahe Akoi (Lah) defeated Rene Suehiro (McK) 6-5 2 OT. 3rd place: Nahe Matsuoka (Kona) dec. Matt Comeau (Kah) 9-3.
152--Championship: Kyle Muraoka (Iol) dec. Dannon Sunga (Mil) 9-7. 3rd place: Ryan Tuzon (Bald) pinned Jared Hao (Keal).
160--Championship: Adam Ah Sue (Kah) pinned Everett Pavo (PC). 3rd place: Gerrit Vincent (Kam) dec. Koa Chun (Bald) 8-4.
171--Championship: Jared Silva (STL) dec. Nathaniel Nakagawa (Kam) 3-2. 3rd place: Bill Fargo (Iol) pinned Mike Egesdal.
189--Championship: Jeff Antolin (Waip) dec. Will Egesdal (Pun) 7-6. 3rd place: Patrick Kaina (Lah) dec. Mikio Nagasako (Moan) 1-0.
215--Championship: Dylan Rush (Kona) dec. Matthew Tanielo (Mol) 6-1. 3rd place: Max Fairclough (Kah) dec. Dylan Moss (STL) 5-1.
275--Championship: Riley Martin (Iol) dec. Blake Mokiao (Hilo) 3-2 OT. 3rd place: Micah Stevens (HPA) dec. Joshua Smith (Kah) 7-5 OT.Girls
Team Standings
1. Farrington 153.5; 2. Kahuku 127; 3. Baldwin 97.5; 4. Kamehameha 94.5; 5. Iolani 82;
6. Moanalua 80; 7. Kealakehe 67; 8. Hawaii Baptist, Roosevelt 50; 10. Pearl City 49;
11. Kailua, Waipahu 45; 13. Aiea, Hilo, Punahou 37;
16. Waiakea 34; 17. Kaiser 27; 18. Campbell 23; 19. Waianae 22;
20. Castle, Maui, McKinley, University 18; 24. Kaimuki 17; 25. Lahainaluna 14;
26. Kalaheo 13; 27. Lanai 12; 28. Kapolei 10; 29. Konawaena, Mid-Pacific, St. Anthony 9;
32. Word of Life 8; 33. Hawaii Prep 7; 34. Honokaa, Molokai, Radford 4; 37. Keaau, Leilehua 3; 38. McKinley 1.Individual results
98--Championship: Carla Watase (Iol) dec. Amanda Aquino (Kah) 4-0. 3rd place: Brandie Dela Rama (Far) pinned Joyce Transfiguracion (Keal).
103--Championship: Joleen Oshiro (Iol) dec. Lisa Katsura (Moan) 7-3. 3rd place: Ruth Transfiguracion (Keal) won by superior decision over Katrina Comeau (Kah) 0-0.
108--Championship: Sadie Kaneda (Roos) pinned Catherine Chan (Iolani). 3rd place: Vanessa Chavez (Bald) pinned Deana Bolos (Cam).
114--Championship: Tamatha Hufana (Far) pinned Cherae Pascua (PC). 3rd place: Roslyn Maiava (Kah) def. Ashley Poling (Kais) 10-4.
120--Championship: Candace Coratibo (Bald) dec. Kelli Furumoto (HBA) 10-3. 3rd place: Cory Arisumi (Roos) pinned Kelli Anne Chong (Keal).
125--Championship: Danyelle Hedin (Kail) pinned Shyla Iokia (Bald). 3rd place: Leilani Relator (Kah) dec. Krislyn Morales (Waik) 5-4.
130--Championship: Krystal Kiyuna (Aiea) pinned Jazmine Cockett (Kam). 3rd place: Pualani Nunies (Far) dec. Darci Hata (McK) 12-7 (OT).
140--Championship: Chaneal Meletia (HBA) dec. Jenna Nihipali (Kah) 5-2. 3rd place: Shana Simon (Waik) dec. Leilani Visesio (Maui) 7-2.
155--Championship: Delilah Joung (Waip) pinned Alicia Fu (Moan). 3rd place: Anela Iseke (Kam) pinned Keisha Seliga (Hilo).
175--Championship: Laosamoa Misa-Uli (Far) won by superior decision over Leolani Corpuz (Bald) 12-4. 3rd place: Tilana Kawaa (Kam) pinned Desiree Memea (UHS).
220--Championship: Randolyn Nohara (Kam) pinned Chasity Molina (Wain). 3rd place: Akemi Holmes (Iol) pinned Stephanie Feleunga (Far).
BACK TO TOP |
Lady Governors easily
outdistance Kahuku’s
girls squad
Even Jack would be proud.
Farrington captured the girls wrestling state championship last night, thanks in part to Tamitha Hughes' willpower. The senior captured the state title at 114 pounds, thanks in part to a four-month display of self-discipline: fighting the urge to devour her favorite meal, the chicken sourdough sandwich from Jack In The Box.
The four-month fast from the tasty sandwich kept Hughes from exceeding the weight limit -- her natural weight is 121 pounds -- to become one of Farrington's two individual champions.
Laosamoa "Sunshine" Misa-Uli captured her second consecutive state crown at 175 pounds.
The Lady Governors amassed 153.5 points to outdistance defending champion Kahuku (127). Baldwin finished third with 97.5 points, followed by Kamehameha (94.5) and Iolani (82).
The Farrington girls program developed from a single wrestler five years ago into a state powerhouse -- a direct result of the team's grit and determination.
"Their wall is now cluttered," Farrington head coach Charley Williamson said. "They have the dual meet trophy, the (Oahu Interscholastic Association) East trophy, even the referee's tournament trophy. To be the best, you have to beat the best, and Kahuku and Coach (Reggie) Torres are the best."
One trophy that eluded the Lady Govs was last week's OIA Championship title. Kahuku edged Farrington by three points. Any drama expected at the state tourney, however, slowly fizzled out after Hughes won the 114 class.
"Losing last week really woke up the girls," assistant coach Peter Hao said. "That really got them focused on the mat."
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Delilah Joung of Waipahu pinned Alicia Fu of Moanalua to win the state championship in the 155-pound division.
Hughes, one of four Farrington seniors, won the OIA's 114 title last week, but the state team title was prominent in her mind.
"We sat down as a girls team," she said. "We didn't want anyone to think that we were some kind of fluke, so we practiced hard."
Misa-Uli put it more bluntly. "We trained like animals. We wanted it more," she said.
Torres tipped his hat to the Lady Governors.
"The biggest thing this year, I think, is what I saw when I went to visit their program before a meeting," he said. "Their kids are so close, and it's so family-oriented. It helps. You get team spirit, and that's why they won matches. Girls weren't giving up. They wrestled for their teammates and the program. I love seeing that."
That perseverance paid off. Leolani Corpuz, the Maui Interscholastic League champion, made life tough for Misa-Uli in the title match. Trailing 8-0 near the end of the second period, Corpuz surprised Misa-Uli, leveraging back-first onto her foe near the edge of the mat. For a second, she had the favorite pinned.
"I was surprised, big time," Misa-Uli said. "Once I felt myself go on my back, I bridged."
She escaped that threat, and controlled the rest of the match for a 12-4 decision.
"That was one of the toughest matches I ever had," said Misa-Uli, who is drawing interest from Menlo College and Missouri Valley College for three sports. "I wrestled her at last year's Maui Invitational. She got a lot better, especially on defense."
Kailua's Danyelle Hedin won her third state championship, rallying past Shyla Iokia of Baldwin for the 125 title. Down 3-0 at the start, Hedin led 6-4 when she pinned Iokia with 33 seconds left in the second period.
"We wrestle together in freestyle during the offseason, but I haven't seen her wrestle since she went from Waianae to Baldwin," Hedin said.
The slow start didn't faze Hedin, who is ranked No. 2 nationally among freestyle wrestlers.
"I just needed a takedown. I wasn't panicking. I had three periods," she said. "My coaches said, 'Keep centered, attack.' I didn't give in to her game."
