Luning-Hoshino on his way
POSTED: Saturday, February 27, 2010
Jacob Luning-Hoshino has learned a thing or two about sacrifice.
Even after winning the 135 weight class at the Chevron/HHSAA State Wrestling Championships as a sophomore, Kamehameha's Luning-Hoshino embarked on a busy summer schedule. At the Camp of Champions in Colorado, he took the mat for Greco and freestyle matches while wrestling at 140. After that, he was in Fargo, N.D., for the national championships, competing at 130.
“;I got a lot of matches and got to wrestle a lot of wrestlers,”; said Luning-Hoshino, who struggled with a sinus infection, but kept chugging along. “;There were about 26 or 27 matches.”;
Luning-Hoshino (27-2) is back in the state tourney at 135 and opened with lopsided wins in yesterday's opening round. He overwhelmed Robert Pedro Jr. of Pearl City 16-1 (technical fall), then shut out Sean Mitchell Hew-Len of Castle 5-0.
The defending champ will be on the mat this morning for the semifinals. A victory will send him back to the final, but he won't be looking ahead one bit even though his semifinal opponent is John Hommel (Moanalua), a wrestler he defeated 15-0 at the 'Iolani Classic two months ago.
“;I try to stay as low to the ground as I can. If anything, I trained harder this year. It's tough winning the title, but it's harder defending it,”; Luning-Hoshino said.
One of his toughest foes, Bryan Peralta of Punahou, is the No. 2 seed at 135. Peralta beat Luning-Hoshino twice in the regular season, though the Warriors wrestler went on to defend his Interscholastic League of Honolulu crown.
Luning-Hoshino wasn't even the state favorite last year, so he knows what an underdog is capable of. Like last year, he spent the past four weeks getting up early to run, and if that wasn't timely, he ran after practice.
“;That helps me burn off the weight,”; said Luning-Hoshino, who has barred fast food from his diet lately.
“;I gave up McDonald's,”; he said. “;I've been eating brown rice.”;
In team competition, defending champion Punahou is on track so far. The Buffanblu, working on a fourth state crown in a row, lead contenders Kamehameha and Lahainaluna by 15.5 points.
Co-coaches Matt Oney and Jimmy Takatsuka have developed a formidable unit despite the loss of several seniors to graduation.
“;We're a little younger overall and that youth brings less experience,”; Oney said. “;There's a big level change from intermediate to varsity.”;
One of the sage leaders is senior Sani Fuimaono, who is unbeaten again this season and the top seed in the 285 weight class.
“;He's put in a lot of time and work. He's a little more fluid with his movements, in his transitions,”; Oney said. “;But he's going to have two tough matches tomorrow.”;
HHSAA State Championships
First day team standings
1. Punahou, 104; 2. Kamehameha, 88.5; 3. Lahainaluna, 73; 4. Campbell, 47.5; 5. Moanalua, 41.5; 6. Farrington, 41; 7. Pearl City, 30.5; 8. Kahuku, 29; 9. Molokai, 26.5; t10. 'Iolani, 26; t10. Mililani, 26.
Today's semifinal matches
108 pounds—Bradley Sua, McKinley vs. Eleomar Cabbat, Baldwin; Sage Aoki, Konawaena vs. Cassidy Oshiro, Maryknoll.
114—Jordan Ng, Punahou vs. Jacob Palimo'o, Moanalua; Tyson Kuahine, Kamehameha vs. Ryan Nakagawa, Kaiser.
120—David Terao, Mid-Pacific vs. Logan Bucsit, Farrington; Nalu Souza, Kamehameha-Hawaii vs. Nainoa Tompkins, Mililani.
125—Todd Murakawa, Punahou vs. Austin Hayashi, Pearl City; George Chihara, Lahainaluna vs. Brady Lafortune, Moanalua.
130—Shayden Terukina, Kamehameha vs. Bradley Viloria, Farrington; David Arcangel, Lahainaluna vs. Jon-Ross Okuda, Aiea.
135—Jacob Luning-Hoshino, Kamehameha vs. John Hommel, Moanalua; Bryan Peralta, Punahou vs. Jimmy Romualdo, Konawaena.
140—Galen McCleary, Punahou vs. Stalin Myers, Aiea; Chanse Uyeda, Lahainaluna vs. Rodney Howard, Radford.
145—Ian Akamine, 'Iolani vs. Blake Ball, Lahainaluna; Isaiah Fonoti, Kamehameha vs. Ty Estabillo, Maui.
152—Holden Mowat, Lahainaluna vs. Keoni Colson, Hawaii Prep; Zachary Hernandez, Punahou vs. Robert Ostovich, Moanalua.
160—Kameona Hokoana, Kamehameha vs. Kevin Corbett, Campbell; Kalae Carr, Kahuku vs. Raynald Cooper III, Pearl City.
171—Patrick Sheehan, Punahou vs. Nathaniel Henderson, Kapolei; Garret Chan, 'Iolani vs. Punahele Soriano, Kahuku.
189—Tyler Hayashi, Roosevelt vs. Evan Johnson, Punahou; Tyson Tynanes-Perez, Campbell; Zachary Batara, Kamehameha.
215—Marcus Finau, Damien vs. Diego Meyers, Campbell; Kolu Buck, Punahou vs. Dane Pestano, Kamehameha.
285—Jonathan Fuimaono, Punahou vs. Keith Chargulaf-Tuileapa, Farrington; Hayden Wills, Kamehameha vs. Jheryl Makaiau, Kahuku.
Girls
First day team standings
1. Kahuku, 76; 2. Punahou, 59; 3. Pearl City, 58.5; 4. Kamehameha, 56.0; 5. Aiea, 50.0; 6. Kamehameha-Hawaii, 45.0; 7. Lahainaluna, 36.0; 8. Konawaena, 31.5; 9. Campbell, 26.0; 10. Roosevelt, 24.0.
Today's semifinal matches
98 pounds—Megan Chun, St. Andrew's Priory vs. Megan Akina, Kamehameha; Mikayla Pico, Molokai vs. Erin Uehara, Punahou.
103—Macy Yonamine, Kamehameha vs. Darian Auna, Kahuku; Quinn Nagatani, Pacific Buddhist Academy vs. Alexandra Aoki, Konawaena.
108—Bree Rapoza, Kamehameha vs. Brittany Balanay, McKinley; Nicole Taniguchi, Punahou vs. Lacee Toyama, 'Iolani.
114—Marisa Fukunaga, Roosevelt vs. Jenna Aina, Kamehameha; Megan Yamaguchi, Kalani vs. Kehau Kamakaala, Kahuku.
120—Joy Yamashita, Aiea vs. Apelila Hokoana, Pearl City; Alana Iseke, Kahuku vs. Kari Watase, 'Iolani.
125—Chrissy Chow, Punahou vs. Tanalei Louis, Konawaena; Kiana Borengasser, Kamehameha vs. Kelly Ancheta, Pearl City.
130—Mindy Choy, Punahou vs. Rustee-Ann Johansen, Kamehameha; Elizabeth Chong, Aiea vs. Morgan Yamaguchi, Kalani.
140—Anela Santiago, Kahuku vs. Eliza Logan, Kamehameha; Tiara Kaye, Punahou vs. Makanalani Hussey, Lahainaluna.
155—Amber Ah Sue, Kahuku vs. Tracy Poch, Waiakea; Jayna Koko, Roosevelt vs. Kaimana Lundquist, Punahou.
175—Gina-Bella Mataafa, Lahainaluna vs. Mei Ling Keiki, Pearl City; Kaopua Sutton, Kamehameha vs. Chabrielle Gushi, Campbell.
220—Brayanne Moe, Radford vs. Makamae Smith, Hana; Sanoe Spencer, Pearl City vs. Libby Petrie, Kahuku.
