Pearl City pulls out
sweep of state judo
championships

It was a clean sweep for Pearl City as both boys and girls captured team titles at the HHSAA Judo State Championships last night at the Cannon Activities Center on the BYU-Hawaii campus.

The Charger boys earned 58 points, followed closely by Punahou (54) and McKinley (49). The girls amassed 63 points and finished comfortably in front of McKinley (50) and Iolani (40).

"We focused on the task at hand," said Pearl City girls coach Jason Katoda. "People came together at the end of the (regular) season, relied on each other and worked really hard."

"We all work together, it's a total team effort," said Katoda on behalf of boys coach Ivan Yoshimura.

Michael Fujiuchi of McKinley won his second consecutive individual state championship in the 132-pound weight class. Teammate Patrick Eglinton attempted to accomplish the same feat in the 145-pound championship match, but was denied by Seth Ching of Pearl City.

"Patrick is my training partner, so we always win together and lose together," said Fujiuchi.

The other boys state champions were: Mililani's Kirk Shiraki (108), Moanalua's Derron Maki (114), Mililani's Jerrik Feliciano (121), Iolani's Duane Fukumoto (161), Pearl City's Christian Pavo (178), Leilehua's Brad Padua (198), Kamehameha's Eli Maioho (220) and McKinley's Floyd Iuta (275).

Tabitha Lum of Maryknoll captured her third consecutive state title at 97 pounds. Corey Jo Tashima of Mililani was in line to do the same in the 114-pound championship, but was upset by freshman Tani Ader of Farrington who won in overtime after a controversial non-combat-activity penalty was called.

"She put out a lot of effort," said Tashima in response to Ader's victory. "I knew it was going to be a tough match coming into it. Hopefully she can (win three more championships to) get four straight."

Lianne Tomishima of McKinley won her second consecutive championship, at 139 pounds; she won at 115 pounds last year.

Rounding out the girls state champions were: Iolani's Kira Tamashiro (90), La Pietra's Alicia Huang (106) and Nikki Morin (125), Pearl City's Kelli Fujihara (154), Kamehameha's Kalei Kawa'a (172), and Kahuku's Kanoe Tani (220).