By KEVIN JAKAHI
By KEVIN JAKAHI
Tribune-Herald sports writer
KEAAU—Kamehameha senior Megan Aina capped her Big Island Interscholastic Federation judo career with perfection on Saturday, winning her fourth title to add to her four league wrestling crowns — an 8 of 8 accomplishment.
Aina, whose sister Jenna (2010 Kamehameha graduate) also won four BIIF judo titles, defeated teammate Tehani Soares for the 103-pound championship. Her previous titles were in the 98 class. It’s the same pattern for wrestling, three golds at 98 and one at 103.
She has three bronze medals for judo at the Hawaii High School Athletic Association state championships. Only a gold is missing. She pocketed a gold in wrestling as a sophomore at states.
“At states, I know the competition, who’s up there. I’m kind of nervous. It’s my last tourney ever,” said Aina, who will study business at UH-Hilo.
Her brother, Charles Aina III, fell to Waiakea’s Dayton Towata in the 132 championship. Judo is the Aina family sport. Megan has set a really high bar with her 8 for 8 BIIF title collection.
“It’s a big accomplishment. My older sister coaches me and pushes me,” Aina said. “We all push each other. We started off young and didn’t try other sports. But I appreciate it now. I like the fact that I’ve traveled to Japan and Europe to meet people.”
Konawaena junior Justin Raymond is on a perfect path for judo, too.
He beat Hilo’s Julian Tongpalan for the 114 championship, finishing with a perfect 14-0 BIIF record. Raymond won the 108 title the last two years. He was sixth at states last year.
Raymond also wrestles. He’s a two-time BIIF champion at 108 pounds. He took fourth as a freshman. At the state championship, he was third.
Most times, the heavier the weight class the tougher the competition, especially at states. With that in mind, Raymond jumped up from 108 to 114. That also opened the door for his teammate, freshman Lihau Matsuoka, who won the 108 title.
“It feels good. The opponents are more strong,” Raymond said. “It feels like it’s more earned. The key was my mental mindset. I was more focused. At states, 114 is tough but I’ll try my best.
“It’s easier to get down to that weight. I feel the same. Wrestling helps me for judo with mat work and it flows together. Judo helps me for wrestling because some of my matches I use judo throws.”
Hilo and Waiakea tied with six champions.
Hilo’s boys gold medalists were Federico Vento, 121; Alika Lawrence, 161; Brayden Cruz-Silva, 220; girls gold medalists: Shaylyn Arakaki, 98; Lahi Kanakanui, 139; and Lia Nakamura, 172.
The Warriors’ winners were Towata, 132; Kayed Rodrigues, 178; Scott Miyake, 275 for the boys; and Cara Nakayama, 109; Skye Matsuura (uncontested), 115; and Tanalei Louis, 129.
Konawaena coach Rodney Branco had an ace in Raymond, a first-time winner in Matsuoka and two other runner-ups in Gunner Nagata (178) and Ruby Suarez (122).
“Raymond played well. He’s got super technique and works hard,” Branco said. “At states, 114 is pretty stacked. Hopefully he gets a first-round bye. That should help us. We’ve got a pretty young team. We’ve got a bunch of freshmen.”
A promising one is Matsuoka, who also wrestled. He competed at 108, the same class as Raymond, and sat out for the BIIF championships.
For judo, Matsuoka caught a break when Raymond moved up a weight. He won, following the footsteps of his brothers Nahe and Kamaheu, past BIIF judo and wrestling champs.
“They pushed me to train hard like them,” Matsuoka said. “I wanted to do the same as them and be exactly like them, and work like them. As I was growing up, they would show me how to work out.”
He also gets friendly competition from Raymond, who is also setting a standard for Matsuoka.
“Justin and I grew up together and we practice at the same judo club in Kona. He and I train together. We’re partners and he helps me all the time. When you compete with someone as good as him you want to be just like him,” said Matsuoka, owner of a judo medal, the same gold color as Raymond and his brothers.
Boys
108 pounds: 1. Lihau Matsuoka, Konawaena; 2. Adam Onishi, Waiakea; 3. Justin Raymond, Kealakehe
114: 1. Justin Raymond, Konawaena; 2. Julian Tongpalan, Hilo; 3. Zac Correa, Waiakea
121: 1. Federico Vento, Hilo; 2. Sheldon Graham, Hilo; 3. Joshua Ohara, Waiakea
132: 1. Dayton Towata, Waiakea; 2. Charles Aina III, Kamehameha; 3. Shon Inouye, Konawaena
145: 1. Ikaika Villanueva, Kamehameha, 2. Alan Ikehara, Waiakea; 3. Cheyden Quiocho, Keaau
161: 1. Alika Lawrence, Hilo; 2. Benjamin Camero, Waiakea; 3. Raymond Andrade, Hilo
178: 1. Kayed Rodrigues, Waiakea; 2. Gunner Nagata, Konawaena; 3. Thomas Soares, Keaau
198: 1. Haaheo Chan, Keaau; 2. Calvin Arca, Keaau; 3. Justin Gray, Waiakea
220: 1. Brayden Cruz-Silva, Hilo; 2. Jerome Licoan-Kalani, Waiakea; 3. Kamalani Crum, Kamehameha
275: 1. Scott Miyake, Waiakea; 2. Zeph Pavao, Waiakea; 3. Aaron Arellano, Kealakehe
Girls
98: 1. Shaylyn Arakaki, Hilo; 2. Nellie Towata, Kamehameha
103: 1. Megan Aina, Kamehameha; 2. Tehani Soares, Kamehameha
109: 1. Cara Nakayama, Waiakea; 2. Tiari Carreira, Kamehameha; 3. Seysha Bondaug, Hilo
115: 1. Skye Matsuura, Waiakea
122: 1. Phoebe Oda, Kamehameha; 2. Ruby Suarez, Konawaena; 3. Brittney Cabalace, Waiakea
129: 1. Tanalei Louis, Waiakea; 2. Leah Mello-Waiwaiole, Ka‘u; 3. Noelle Pohina, Kamehameha
139: 1. Lahi Kanakanui, Hilo; 2. Kathleen Shon, Hilo
154: 1. Allison Felix, Kealakehe; 2. Nissi Flores, Kamehameha; 3. Jasmine Iuta, Kamehameha
172: 1. Lia Nakamura, Hilo; 2. Shavon Mello-Waiwaiole, Ka‘u; 3. Kailey Lapenia, Kamehameha
220: 1. Kiani Mello-Waiwaiole, Ka‘u