JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM Waiakea's Ryan Higa locked up Saint Louis' Isaac Savella at 135 pounds during first-day action at the boys state wrestling tournament at Blaisdell Arena. Higa won by majority decision and will face Troy Murakawa of Punahou in today's semifinals.

Punahou boys on course for state title

For decades -- 28 years, to be exact -- Punahou wrestling was always a contender, not a champion.

That changed last year as coach Matt Oney's squad stormed to the boys crown in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, and then the state throne.

Yesterday, the Buffanblu showed that they still have the fighting mentality of an underdog. With two huge upset wins in the 103- and 215-pound divisions, the Buffanblu are running away with this year's state tourney. Punahou, led by two-time champion Daniel Chow, has a 37-point lead entering today's semifinals.

One of the upsets came from 215-pound senior Matt Sasaki.

"He's a good wrestler, but he's never placed before," Oney said. "This is his last chance. I'm proud of our whole senior class."

The other stunner was provided by Jordan Ng in the 103 class. Ing toppled top-seeded Jason Spiker of Kaiser. Oney hopes his team finishes strong.

"There's still a lot of wrestling left," he said.

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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM Aiea's Jack Oliveros controlled Lahainaluna's George Chihara in the first round last night.

The biggest upsets, oddly enough, gave a boost to Goliath rather than David at the Chevron/HHSAA State Wrestling Championships yesterday at Blaisdell Arena.

The opening day featured two upsets by wrestlers from Punahou, the favorite and defending boys state champion. That helped propel the Buffanblu to an astounding 36.5-point lead over second-place Lahainaluna entering today's semifinals.

Kahuku had control of the girls' standings with a substantial lead ahead of a host of contenders. The Red Raiders (70 points) have an 18-point lead over second-place Kamehameha. Kahuku has wrestlers in six of the 11 semifinals.

Among the notable names who qualified for the semifinals is Kahuku's Danica Auna, who lost in the OIA finals last week. She pinned both of her foes yesterday.

Punahou (111.5 points) has 11 wrestlers in today's 14 boys semifinal matchups.

In the first match of preliminary action on the boys side, Punahou's Jordan Ng shocked previously unbeaten and top-seeded Jason Spiker of Kaiser in the 103-pound weight class.

Later, Punahou's Matt Sasaki surprised second-seeded Patrick Trani of Kapolei in a 215-pound battle. The unexpected wins gave Punahou a bigger cushion entering today's semifinals.

"Every team has two or three guys who you expect to wrestle well. It's the other guys who have stepped up," Punahou coach Matt Oney said.

Ing's win was controversial. With a 1-0 lead in the final minute, he wrapped around Spiker's ankles and knees. The Kaiser wrestler was unable to get out, while Ing held on for about 35 seconds. By rule, the wrestler in command is supposed to progress with a move or be whistled for stalling by the official. That would have given Spiker another 30 seconds or so to scrounge for a single point and force an extra period.

Instead, there was no whistle. Ing's tactic worked, and Spiker saw his title hopes dashed as time ran out. The win was a pivotal point of separation between the favorites and underdog Kaiser, the Oahu Interscholastic Association champion.

"They're certainly a team in contention for a state title," Oney said. Spiker had beaten Ing twice this season and once last year. The key for Ing was flawless execution.

"He didn't make a mistake. Spiker can really capitalize on your mistakes. (Ing) didn't put himself in a bad position once and he attacked with good, solid position, and so did Spiker," Oney said. "We got an escape and Spiker didn't, and that was the only difference."

Spiker pinned his next foe in the consolation bracket, where points are extremely valuable. Kaiser coach Mike Kim was glad to see his wrestler rebound from the loss.

"You gotta forget about it and come up the back. He needs to overcome this loss and finish out this tourney tough," Kim said.

One of the blue-chip grapplers, Daniel Chow, did his part for the Buffanblu. The two-time defending champion pinned both of his foes at 145. Chow pinned Akira Ito of Aiea and Anthony Rivera of Leilehua. Both times, he used a Mills half-nelson.

"I always try to work as quickly as I can," Chow said, focused as ever. "I guess I'm mostly calm, but I'm glad to be here. There's always some excitement because it's the state tournament."

Lahainaluna's Lake Casco was one of six Lunas to reach the semifinals. The football standout could emulate the golden success of older brothers Kawika and Kainoa, who both graduated from Lahainaluna. Kawika won state crowns at 152 and 171, while Kainoa took the gold at 152 and 160.

Lake Casco won the 152 title last year. Yesterday, wrestling in the 160 class, he pinned Nathaniel Coelho of Damien and outpointed Stanley Good of Kaiser 10-4.

"It feels more important now 'cause it's my senior year," said Casco, who will play football at Penn this fall. "Every match means a little more."

Lahainaluna's preliminary and quarterfinal rounds weren't bad at all.

"A lot of guys had pins and major decisions, so that should help," Casco said before the point totals were released. "We were five points behind Punahou after the preliminaries. That got us pumped up."

HHSAA State Tournament

Varsity boys

1. Punahou 111.5; 2. Lahainaluna 75; 3. Kamehameha 68; 4. Pearl City 59.5; 5. Aiea 43; 6. Kaiser 42; 7. Saint Louis 31; 8. Radford 29; 9. Iolani 27; 10. (tie) Kapolei, Waianae 24; 12. Konawaena 22; 13. (tie) Kealakehe, Molokai 21; 15. Baldwin 20.5; 16. Leilehua 17; 17. Kamehameha-Maui 15.5; 18. (tie) Kalani, Moanalua, Waiakea 15; 21. Kamehameha-Hawaii 13; 22. (tie) Castle, Honokaa 12; 24. (tie) Hawaii Prep, Mililani, Roosevelt 10; 27. (tie) Kahuku, Kailua 9; 29. (tie) Kalaheo, Mid-Pacific 8; 31. Christian Academy 7; 32. (tie) Campbell, Maryknoll, Pahoa 6; 35. (tie) Damien, Farrington, Hilo, Lanai 4; 39. Waialua 3; 40. (tie) Nanakuli, St. Anthony 2; 42. (tie) Hana, Kaimuki 1.

Quarterfinals

103 pounds--Jordan Ng, Punahou, def. Kalei Kinimaka, Kapolei, pin; David Terao, Mid-Pacific def. Ricky Anderson, Kamehameha, 13-3; Rory Young, Baldwin def. Logan Bucsit, Farrington, 10-6; Drake Medeiros, Saint Louis def. Ryan Nakagawa, Kalani 10-0.

112--Michael Nakagawa, Kalani def. Thomas Perez, Radford, pin; Andrew Hirai, Punahou def. Keenin Cohen, Pahoa, TF 16-1; Edison Hidalgo, Lahainaluna def. Brantly Yakabe, Kaiser, 8-2; Shayden Terukina, Kamehameha def. Brady LaFortune, Moanalua, 5-0.

119--Bill Takeuchi, Pearl City def. Elviro Atacador, Lanakila Baptist, pin; Jimmy Romnaldo, Konawaena def. Thanh Troung Vu, Iolani, pin; Dallas Collier, Aiea def. Rodrigo Tabladillo Jr., Lahainaluna, 6-4; Jacob Luning-Hoshino, Kamehameha def. Mathias Yacapin, Leilehua, 7-5.

125--Reid Oshiro, Punahou def. Braxton Delos Santos, Pearl City, 13-2; Kena Gugudan, Christian Academy def. Andrew Johnson, Castle, 6-4; Ikaika Kekua-Luis, Kamehameha def. Nick Lafarga, Kealakehe, 9-6; Tyler King, Kaiser def. Jack Oliveros, Aiea, 4-0.

130--Travis Okano, Lahainaluna def. Dillon Cadina, Kahuku, 10-1; Maika Nagata, Punahou def. Tai Johnson, Konawaena, pin; Robert Herbst, Baldwin def. Ian Akamine, Iolani, 6-3; Byron Apo, Kaiser def. Jason Wong, Pearl City, 8-6.

135--Chad Diamon, Mililani def. Joshua Tingman, Moanalua, 20-8; Jireh Torres-Umi, Molokai def. Thomas Graham, Leilehua, 6-4; Ryan Higa, Waiakea def. Arnold Berdon, Waianae, 14-4; Troy Murakawa, Punahou def. Jared Panlasigui, Lahainaluna, 8-4.

140--Ray Mathewson, Waianae def. Jordan Factora, Campbell, pin; Kainoa Terukina, Moanalua def. Geovani Chavez-Pardini, Honokaa, 8-5; Matthew Higa, Aiea def. Holden Mowat, Lahainaluna, 8-6; Raynald Cooper III, Pearl City def. Chad Taniguchi, Punahou, 13-6.

145--Daniel Chow, Punahou def. Anthony Rivera, Leilehua, pin; Kyle Saiki, Kamehameha-Maui def. Alfred Franco, Kealakehe, 7-3; Keani Nishigaya, Saint Louis def. Branen Yamamoto, Moanalua, pin; Ryley Mayo, Lahainaluna def. Sheldon Yoshida, Kalani, 7-6.

152--Rudie Schaefer, Punahou def. Brian Freeman, Kaiser, 4-2; Junior Fischer, Hawaii Prep def. Nolan Agena, Mililani, 7-3; Nicholas Chambers, Aiea def. Ben Blake, Radford, 6-5; Daniel Quinlan, Lahainaluna def. Rikki Rutt, Pearl City, pin.

160--Lake Casco, Lahainaluna def. Stanley Good, Kaiser, 10-4; Charlie Egesdal, Punahou def. Caleb Friel, Kamehameha-Hawaii, 12-6; Kameona Hokoana, Kamehameha def. Helam Casey, Kahuku, 5-1; Christian Pavo, Pearl City def. Brandon Perea, Hilo, 14-4.

171--Lowen Tynanes, Kailua def. Iloilo Tokio, Nanakuli, 15-2; Kolu Buck, Punahou def. Daniel Gibney, Waianae, 10-6; Kalai Parish, Kapolei def. Luke Knittle, Konawaena, 4-2; Cole Loewen, Lahainaluna def. Darren Kalulu-Sugai, Saint Louis, pin.

189--Truman Chun, Kamehameha def. James Hill, Honokaa, pin; Alan Brown, Radford, Isileli Tupou, Lahainaluna, pin; Aaron Puahala, Pearl City def. John Lotuleilei, Baldwin, pin; Brandon Santiago, Kealakehe, Passi Iafeta, Punahou, pin.

215--Jesse Santana, Kalaheo def. Soani Letisi, Honokaa, 3-2; Jamin Meletia, Kamehameha def. Jaysen Ferreira, Castle, 8-7; Niklas Streng, Iolani def. Douglas Barton, Kealakehe, 6-4; Matthew Sasaki, Punahou def. Kekona Wener, Kailua, DQ.

285--Kawika Kaahanui, Molokai def. Tuapasi Toetuu, Kaiser, 9-4; Scott Suapaia, Aiea def. Michael Pohina, Kamehameha, 9-1; Sani Fuimaono, Punahou def. Robert Kudlich, Lahainluna, pin; Tyler Lauifi, Pearl City def. Jacob Taitague, Radford, pin.

Varsity girls

1. Kahuku 70; 2. Kamehameha 52; 3. Iolani 48; 4. Pearl City 42; 5. (tie) Campbell, Punahou 41; 7. Kapolei 40; 8. Kamehameha-Maui 35.5; 9. Waianae 33; 10. Farrington 28; 11. (tie) Baldwin, Kamehameha-Hawaii 27; 13. Hilo 22; 14. Leilehua 20; 15. Konawaena 19; 16. (tie) Moanalua, Radford 18; 18. Mililani 17; 19. Kalaheo 15.5; 20. (tie) Aiea, Hawaii Baptist, St. Anthony 15; 23. Hana 14; 24. (tie) Molokai, St. Francis, University 11; 28. Kalani 10.5; 29. Roosevelt 10; 30. King Kekaulike 9; 31. (tie) Castle, Kealakehe, Kohala, Waipahu 7; 35. Kailua 5.5; 36. Maui 5; 37. (tie) Keaau, Waiakea 4; 39. (tie) Honolulu Waldorf, Lanai 3; 41. Kaiser 2; 42. Nanakuli 1; 43. (tie) Hawaii Prep, Honokaa, Ka'u, Lutheran, Pahoa, Sacred Hearts, St. Andrew's Priory, Waialua 0.

Quarterfinals

98 pounds--Renee Michell, Konawaena def. Heather Omori, Mililani 7-0; Hazel Asperin, Pearl City def. Jennifer Arao, Waianae, pin; Caitlin Mizoshiri def. Alyssa Santos, Castle 9-1; Taylor Ibera, Farrington def. Jayci Ventura, Campbell, pin.

103--Keiko Akamine, Iolani def. Tristtany Samson, Campbell, pin; Malia Medeiros, Kamehameha-Maui def. Briana Delos Santos, Pearl City 6-3; Brittni Dinong, Waianae def. Macy Yonamine, Kamehameha 3-2; Andrina Ramos def. Alexandra Aoki, Konawaena 5-4.

108--Kala'e Johnson, Kahuku, def. Tani Mashima, Kamehameha 13-0; Tehani Ibarra, St. Anthony def. Kari Watase, Iolani 6-0; Kira Hagi, Kapolei def. Kaety Enos, Hawaii Baptist, pin; Carronne Rozet, Kamehameha-Maui def. Kelly Ancheta, Pearl City, pin.

114--Chaelynn Tan, Kapolei def. Ashley Bullard, Waipahu, pin; Megan Morisada, Iolani def. Courtney Tsuchiyama, Waiakea, pin; Jaydene-Kailin Curran, Campbell def. Jasmine Dollopac, Maui 16-3; Chrissy Chow, Punahou def. Chelsy Eugenio, Kalaheo, pin.

120--Megan Yamaguchi, Kalani def. Deandra Bataya, Pearl City 21-6; Judy Heiger def. Sybrina Kelly, Kapolei, pin; Danica Auna, Kahuku def. Liko Fukumoto, Moanalua, pin; Reiko Campos, Kamehameha def. Joy Yamashita, Aiea, pin.

125--Tani Ader, Farrington def. Kanani Ruiz, Radford, pin; Jada Antolin, Pearl City def. Carli Kubo-Chinen, King Kekaulike 12-5; Cianah Hee, Kahuku def. Makanalani Hussey, Kamehameha-Maui, pin; Courtney Kinimaka, Kapolei def. Kelia Parilla, Kamehameha, pin.

130--Jenny Ojerio, Punahou def. Carolyn Ringor, Leilehua, pin; Anela Santiago, Kahuku def. Eva Kaaa, Kamehameha-Maui, pin; Risha Mishima, Hawaii Baptist def. Priscilla Wassman, Kamehameha-Hawaii 16-5; Raquel Paaluhi, Waianae def. Rachael Ostovich, Moanalua, pin.

140--Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, Punahou def. Piikea Kalalau, Baldwin 6-4; Stephanie Geltmacher, Kalaheo def. Teenaysha Yadao, Kohala 24-8; Taisha-Ann Santiago, Kamehameha def. Jaime Hoku Kubota, Kamehameha-Maui, pin; Kuuipo Badayos, Mililani def. Ashley Jhun, Moanalua, pin.

155--Amanda Soliai, Kahuku def. Eliza Logan, Kamehameha, pin; Kacie Davis, Kamehameha-Hawaii def. Chelsea Drazkowski, Lahainaluna, pin; Melody Aoki, St. Francis def. Anjelica Arevalo, Campbell, pin; Anjahlee Akuna, Hanalani def. Anechia George, Keaau, pin.

175--Kailee Andrade, Baldwin def. Courtney Singlehurst, Kalaheo, pin; Ariel Moniz, Hilo def. Shaina Cruz, King Kekaulike, pin; Chabrielle Gushi, Campbell def. Gina-Bell Mataafa, Lahainaluna 11-7; Justina Luafalemana, Molokai def. Cheray Brzezowski, Kamehameha-Hawaii, pin.

220--Olivia Fatongia, Iolani def. Joeleen Lavea-Jennings, Leilehua 4-3; Vicky Green, Waianae def. Alohilani Adachi-Jose, Hilo, pin; Maiki Mafi, University def. Shanthally Alboro, Lanakila Baptist PIN; Brayanne Moe, Radford def. Pomai Barton, Kealakehe, pin.