HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Punahou boys break 28-year ILH drought
The Buffanblu win their first title since 1978; Kamehameha takes the girls crown
One team seems to whip together a championship run only when a title is on the line.
The other had to wait 28 years for an Interscholastic League of Honolulu crown.
The Kamehameha girls and Punahou boys captured wrestling team titles yesterday at Hemmeter Fieldhouse in contrasting fashion.
Punahou had not won a title under coach Matt Oney during his entire 16-year career. The Buffanblu ended a drought that went all the way back to 1978, duplicating the feat of their football team, which also won the ILH title for the first time in 28 seasons.
The Buffanblu, with 162.5 points, outlasted Saint Louis (153.5) and Kamehameha (145.5).
Five of their wrestlers were crowned as individual champions: Bryson Fukushima (103-pound division), Daniel Chow (135), Josh Plechaty (140), Kenny White (145) and Mike Egesdal (171).
Pins by Chow, Plechaty and White boosted Punahou's momentum and put pressure on the Crusaders and Warriors.
"That made the difference," said Oney, who teaches math at the school. "That was surprising and exciting. And we got some help from Iolani when their 152 (Duane Fukumoto) won his match."
Oney and assistant coach Jimmy Takatsuka have guided the program through thick and thin.
"I'm very, very proud of everyone who's wrestled before. All the alums here watching are part of this championship," Oney said.
The defeat was a bitter one for Saint Louis, but the Crusaders can take heart. Last year, the ILH runner-up (Kamehameha) went on to capture the state title.
"It's going to take mental toughness, focus and wrestling with confidence," said Crusader Brandon Low, who won his fourth individual title in a row.
Low defeated nemesis Brenden Whitt of Punahou 9-1 for the 130 crown. Early in the season, Whitt handed Low his only loss in 27 matches. Another Crusader, Jared Silva-Purcell, also won a title, beating last year's 215-pound champ Kazden Ikehara of Kamehameha, 11-6.
Kamehameha's girls, on the other hand, won their second league championship in a row despite finishing third during the regular season.
Reiko Campos (114), Raena Campos (120), Kiana Parilla (130), Marissa Bartels (155) and Randolyn "Hoku" Nohara (220) took individual titles to lead the Warriors.
"I'm really happy for them. At a certain point, it looked like Iolani was going to do it," Kamehameha coach Brandon Shimabukuro said.
Nohara, a three-time ILH and state champion, let her actions do most of the talking.
"This week, everybody helped each other and worked together. We just have to keep working hard," she said.
"We have the talent to win states."
ILH Championship
Yesterday
Varsity boys
Team standings
1. Punahou, 162.5. 2. Saint Louis, 153.5. 3. Kamehameha, 145.5. 4. Iolani, 92. 5. Pac-Five, 69. 6. Damien, 32.
Individual results
103--1. Bryson Fukushima, Punahou. 2. Jordan Lai, Saint Louis. 3. Brysson Morita, Iolani.
112--1. Nick Matayoshi, Iolani 2. Mark Caberto, Saint Louis. 3. Reid Oshiro, Punahou.
119--1. Kelii Palencia, Kamehameha. 2. Bobby Thompson, Saint Louis. 3. Maika Nagata, Punahou.
125--1. Keani Nishigaya, Saint Louis. 2. Andy Chung, Iolani. 3. Austin Streadbeck, Kamehameha.
130--1. Brandon Low, Saint Louis. 2. Brenden Whitt, Punahou. 3. Kendall Huang, Iolani.
135--1. Daniel Chow, Punahou. 2. Shane Ahlo, Saint Louis. 3. Omar Mirza, Kamehameha.
140--1. Josh Plechaty, Punahou. 2. Chris Kardos, Saint Louis. 3. Paul Swain, Kamehameha.
145--1. Kenny White, Punahou. 2. Nicolas Atiburcio, Pac-Five 3. Kekoa Rosales, Kamehameha.
152--1. Duane Fukumoto, Iolani. 2. Jeff Kahler, Saint Louis. 3. Kristopher Herauf, Damien.
160--1. Bryson Vivas, Kamehameha. 2. Keola Williams, Iolani. 3. Josh Hayes, Damien.
171--1. Mike Egesdal, Punahou. 2. Truman Chun, Kamehameha. 3. James Fitzpatrick, Iolani.
189--1. Gerrit Vincent, Kamehameha. 2. Bryce Leonardo, Pac-Five. 3. Eddie Pallet, Punahou.
215--1. Jared Silva-Purcell, Saint Louis. 2. Kazden Ikehara, Kamehameha. 3. Micah Mussel, Pac-Five.
275--1. Russel Risher, Pac-Five. 2. Edward Williams, Damien. 3. Kyle Otineru, Saint Louis.
Varsity girls
Team standings
1. Kamehameha, 145. 2. Iolani, 130. 3. Pac-Five, 113. 4. Punahou, 53. 5. Lutheran, 8. 6. Sacred Hearts, 6.
Individual results
98--1. Keiko Akamine, Iolani. 2. Kelsie-Ann Mita, Pac-Five. 3. Alyssa Akiyama, Kamehameha.
103--1. Carla Watase, Iolani. 2. Tani Mashima, Kamehameha. 3. Sunny Gandauli, Pac-Five.
108--1. Megan Morisada, Iolani. 2. Kaety Enos, Pac-Five. 3. Devyn Kuaiwa, Kamehameha.
114--1. Reiko Campos, Kamehameha. 2. Ashley Furuta, Iolani.
120--1. Raena Campos, Kamehameha. 2. Risha Mishima, Pac-Five. 3. Jessica Greenough, Iolani.
125--1. JT Ojerio, Punahou. 2. Kelia Parilla, Kamehameha. 3. Kimberly Simao, Pac-Five.
130--1. Kiana Parilla, Kamehameha. 2. Melody Aoki, Pac-Five. 3. Jill Fleming, Lutheran.
140--1. Kara Takasaki, Punahou. 2. Alice Chow, Iolani. 3. Mercedes Smith, Kamehameha.
155--1. Marissa Bartels, Kamehameha. 2. Rebecca Jong, Punahou. 3. Allie Frey, Pac-Five.
175--1. Desiree Memea, Pac-Five. 2. Lindsey Tufono, Iolani. 3. Tiana Ogata, Sacred Hearts.
220--1. Randolyn Nohara, Kamehameha. 2. Olivia Fatongia, Iolani. 3. Maiki Mafi, Pac-Five.
Junior varsity boys
Team standings
1. Kamehameha A, 180.5. 2. Punahou A, 155. 3. Saint Louis A, 101.5. 4. Pac-Five A, 87. 5. Iolani A, 58. 6. Kamehameha B, 48.5. 7. Damien A, 43. 8. Saint Louis B, 27. 9. Iolani B, 6. T10. Pac-Five B, 2. T10. Punahou B, 2.
Individual results
103--Andre Hirai, Punahou A.
112--Alex Wachi, Punahou A.
119--Troy Murakawa, Punahou A.
125--Cameron Sato, Punahou A.
130--Cody Sawyer, Saint Louis A.
135--Isaac Savella, Saint Louis A.
140--Isaac Miguel, Kamehameha B.
145--Chad Taniguchi, Punahou A.
152--Rudie Schaefer, Punahou A.
160--Shaun Shimose, Pac-Five A.
171--Seth Kapoi, Kamehameha A.
189--Adam Hom, Pac-Five A.
215--Jaimin Meletia, Kamehameha A.
275--Tytan Timoteo, Saint Louis A.
OIA results were not reported.
