By WAYNE JOSEPH Tribune-Herald correspondent ADVERTISING Who let the Cats out? That’s what many Big Island Interscholastic Federation wrestlers — besides a few from Kamehameha — were wondering when they exited the Konawaena Gym on Saturday after a grueling day
By WAYNE JOSEPH
Tribune-Herald correspondent
Who let the Cats out?
That’s what many Big Island Interscholastic Federation wrestlers — besides a few from Kamehameha — were wondering when they exited the Konawaena Gym on Saturday after a grueling day on the mats.
The host Wildcats were short on numbers and experience, according to coach Mark Aoki, but huge on heart and determination as Sage Aoki (120 pounds), Justin Raymond (108) and Amiee Shiraki (220) came up in big matches.
Shiraki was unstoppable going 3-0 while winning all of her matches by pins against formidable opponents from Ka’u, Pahoa and Hilo.
“I like the outside single move,” Shiraki said. “Sometimes I get too ambitious with my moves and get caught off balance.”
Shiraki utilized the right moves and proper balance last year when she won a BIIF judo championship.
“Judo has definitely helped me in wrestling,” she said. “I like wrestling because it is different and I like the competition and the chance to meet new people.”
Shiraki made it to the state championships last year, missing out on a medal by one match.
“My goal is to make it back to states this time around and to hopefully medal,” she said.
Sage Aoki and Raymond are vying to repeat their BIIF championships, and they both wrestled in extremely competitive matches Saturday that should pay dividends at the end of the season.
In what was considered the premier matchup of the day, Sage Aoki, who won his title at 108 last season, bumped up in weight class to face Kamehameha’s Nalu Kekona-Souza.
In a 125 match the went the distance, Kekona-Souza used a single leg take down and won 14-3, but both he and Warriors coach Brendan Courtot appreciated the fact that Aoki gave him his stiffest test of the season.
“I admire Sage for bumping up to face one of the best wrestlers in the league,” Courtot said. “Sage wrestled up to challenge himself and gain better competition.”
“Sage is great competition and when he gets on top he is a hammer as he always comes into the match with the right attitude,” said Kekona-Souza, who won all three of his matches and is 6-0 on the season.
With two BIIF titles and a state runner-up finish at 120 last season, Kekona-Souza’s goals are clear.
“I’m hoping to be a three-time BIIF champion and to go on to win a state title,” he said. “I’m pretty happy with my wrestling performance, but I still want to get better.”
Kamehameha sophomore Troy Gibson wrestled at 135 and won two matches by pin and another by a score of 17-0.
“My favorite pinning combination is the cradle move,” Gibson said, “but I still need to work on my cardio.
“I’ve always liked wrestling since middle school because I like the one-on-one action and there are no excuses when you lose. My goal is to be the best student-athlete that I can be.”
Kamehameha’s Charlie Aina (130) also won all three of his matches. The junior beat a wrestler from Pahoa 17-2, pinned his Keaau opponent, then finished with a narrow 4-2 victory over a Konawaena participant.
“In most of my wins I use an ankle pick,” Aina said. “I have good endurance and I have really good conditioning which helped me in my final match.”
Aina also credits his judo background with helping him on the wrestling mat.
“I condition year-round for judo and I run on my own and lift weights on the weekends,” Aina said. “I’m hoping I can take the BIIF title, but I know I need to improve my attacks as I tend to wait too long.”
Meanwhile, Waiakea standout Tanalei Louis (130), who sports a gaudy 9-0 record, sat out with a ear infection but plans to compete when the season continues Saturday with a 10 a.m. all-schools meet at Keaau.
